Cleaning Ruger P95 Frame.

[stchman]

Hello all. I recently purchased a Ruger P95.

My question is will non-chlorinated brake cleaner do anything to the polymer frame.

I clean my SR9 and LCP polymer frames with the brake cleaner and have not had any problems. No discolorations or any other problems.

The SR9 has fiberglass-reinforced nylon polymer while the P95 has a fiberglass-reinforced polyurethane based on Dow Chemical's "Isoplast". Has anyone used the non-chlorinated brake cleaner on a P95?

Thanks.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

This gun and its frame should be able to be cleaned with any normal gun cleaning product, including non-chlorinated brake cleaner ("Gun Scrubber" is one, and is very similar to brake cleaner). You can try some in an unobtrusive place, such as the inside of the frame "dust cover" (it will not be visible when the slide is assembled on the gun), to see what might happen. My guess would be nothing.

 

[stchman]

I think too that nothing will happen.

Thanks.

 

[railroader]

I have a p95 and a p97. On the p97 I tried brake cleaner and it made the polymer discolor. I don't dare try it on my p95. I use brake cleaner on the slides and barrels though. If you are going to try it on your p95 put some brake cleaner on a cue tip and put on the inside of the frame with the slide off. It's funny but I have used brake cleaner on other polymer guns with no problems until I got the p97. I use polymer safe gunscrubber on the frames. Mark

 

[REAPER4206969]

There is no reason to use something as harsh as brake cleaner. Hoppe's/CLP.

 

[stchman]

Frame tuned white in spots.

Well, I am here to report that the non-chlorinated brake cleaner turned the frame white in some places.

I did not panic and after I was done rubbed the entire plastic frame down in 3 in 1 oil and let it sit for a while.

After that the frame was black again. I will not be using brake cleaner on this frame anymore. The LCP and SR9 are un-affected by the brake cleaner.

Any thoughts?

 

[Kingofthehill]

Any thoughts?

yeah, don't use break cleaner again. hahahaha

reason being is that they use a different chemistry, its cool though. Its just designed to be cleaned with Gun related products.

JOe

 

[19-3Ben]

There is no reason to use something as harsh as brake cleaner. Hoppe's/CLP.

Agreed.

 

[railroader]

Frame tuned white in spots.

Well now when some asks about brake cleaner and the polymer P series pistols you know the answer to tell them. It's weird because I have used brake cleaner on all kinds of guns without problems. As for oiling up the frame to remove the discoloration it seemed to work but the polymer on my P97 now looks a little off compared to my P95. Mark

 

[stchman]

Yes, the polymer does not have the shine it did before.

What should one clean the frame with? I know people are saying Hoppe's or CLP, but those products will loosen any gunk up. How does one remove the gunk?

Would some light steel wool on the outer frame be an OK thing?

 

[rcmodel]

NO!

Steel wool will scratch it and dull the shine.

Wipe it down with WD-40 or gun cleaning solvent to restore the oils the Gunscrubber took off of it.

rc

 

[stchman]

To rcmodel:

I wiped the frame down with 3 in 1 oil. The frame is black again but not shiny. So you are saying wipe the frame down with Hoppe's #9, WD-40, or CLP? Those products will work better to shine the frame back up than 3 in 1 oil?

 

[REAPER4206969]

What the hell are you doing to your pistol that it is so dirty? I've shot/carried pistols hard and only used Hoppe's #9/Breakfree CLP/patches/Q-Tips/rag.

 

[REAPER4206969]

Don't use WD-40 either.

 

[rcmodel]

Why not?

It is perfectly fine & dandy for restoring dry polymer that has had the natural oils stripped out of it by harsh solvents!!

Boy, I get tired of all the internet BS about WD-40 & guns!

rc

 

[stchman]

Ok, since the frame has already had the brake cleaner used on it and the white spots are there what do I use to bring the shine back to the frame?

I am getting so many different opinions.

I gather that Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber Synthetic Safe Cleaner will work for FUTURE frame cleanings?

 

[rcmodel]

You are making this a lot harder then it should be.

I have a 15 year old Glock that has had the plastic grip cleaned with spraw solvent exactly never in that length of time.

I use a toothbrush and Hoppes #9 on it when it needs it maybe once a year.
Still looks like brand new.

At the worst, a plastic grip frame will pick up dirt & sweat from your hands.
Clean it with a shot of Windex and wipe it off with a rag if you must.

Leave the gun-scrubber & brake cleaner for the steel guns.

rc

 

[stchman]

What about Armor All on the polymer frame?

 

[rcmodel]

Doesn't work.

Ever put it on black plastic auto trim that has turned white?

You will find it is still white after the Armor-all goes on.

Besides that, it would make your gun so slick you couldn't hold onto it while shooting it.

rc

 

[REAPER4206969]

WD-40 turns to varnish after long periods of time. Anyone that has bought used firearms "cleaned" with WD-40 knows that.

 

[stchman]

So WD-40 will take the white spots away permanantly?

 

[railroader]

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I like the Gun Scrubber type products because they are very good degreasers and, most importantly, dry quickly. Newer "environmentally correct" brake cleaners do not.

 

[801sureshot]

+1 on the what in the world are you doing with your gun? Hoppes and clp, like a normal person please.

 

[JAguirre]

+1 on the Hoppes and CLP. Ive used them both on my P-95 since 1999, and its still going strong.