cleaning/short-term storage

[shoff535]

OK, I have a problem. Due to excessive compulsive behaviour I now have some hand guns that don't see a lot of regular use (ranging from a s&w mod 57 to a high standard sentinel). I was wondering if I wipe them down periodically with CLP Breakfree (cleaner/lubricant/preservative), then take the flannel rag that I wiped the excess off with and wrap the gun in it and place it in one of those foam lined Chinese made cases like they sell at various sporting goods stores.

Would this be adequate? will BF damage the wood grips?

Any thought would be apreciated,

thanks,

 

[sm]

Do not put int a foam padded case.

I have some guns off site a buddy is "suggesting" I come open the safe and look at. Hell they were fine the last time I checked on them after 13 months, it has only been since July since I last checked on these...

RIG , or Johnson's Paste Wax, whatever, and stick in a Sack-Up, that is how I do mine.
This place sometimes get heat in winter, only a fan in summer, not temp controlled at all.
Blued guns except for one stainless one.

I think he wiped off a Model 10 that sits out (hidden) with BF CLP about July, and he suggesting I check on mine?
Not like him, gunsmith buddy must be getting old on me...

 

[Ala Dan]

I use a combination of Eezox (as a rust preventive), and Break Free (as a
lubricant); after recommendations from the fine THR alumni. It works for
me; but I also store all of my handguns in "Sack Ups"; which is a silicone
impregnated sock~! No problems of any type, thus far~!

 

[jwxspoon]

Yeah clean em and wipe them down with a silicone cloth. make sure you run a lightly lubricated patch down the barrel a few times. Then put them in a gunsock.

The only rusting problem I have ever had came with a 1862 Zoave replica I have, I hung it on the wall for a while and when I took it back off you'd think it had actually been in the civil war, rust everywhere. Good thing I never bought it to shoot.

jw

 

[shoff535]

ok, so you guy like the silicone sack-ups more versus the cotton? is that because the silicone isn't hydroscopic?

and the foam case idea is bad because the foam will deteriorate over time when exposed to the oils?

thanks,

 

[VHinch]

and the foam case idea is bad because the foam will deteriorate over time when exposed to the oils?

The foam will trap moisture, which is obviously very bad for your weapon. One of the owners of my company brought one of those cases into the office one day and told me he wanted me to look at a couple of his guns and give him some recommendations. Inside the case was a pair of Colt Gold Cups that had been stored in the case for the last 4 or 5 years and the finishes were absolutely destroyed.

 

[Ala Dan]

Two Colt Gold Cups with finishes destroyed, what a shame~!

 

[The Bushmaster]

Unlike sm I don't fear the plastic gun cases with the foam in them. All my handguns are stored in a safe in these gun cases. All I use to preserve them is a T shirt dampened with Hoppe's #9 gun oil. Over the years the foam has gotten a bit oil soaked (just damp with #9). Once in a while these guns have been left for a year in these cases as I was in the Navy and gone a lot. I also keep a closet dehumidifier in my gun safe...Most of my plastic foam filled gun cases are over 20 years old and I haven't seen any deteriation of the foam. All of my gun cases are DOSKOCIL...

 

[DMK]

As far as what gun oil to use, I've been looking at Break Free Collector, but haven't tried any yet.

will BF damage the wood grips?

Don't put gun oil of the wood grips. Gun oil will damage wood, long term.

If you want to protect the wood, use something like pure Tung Oil.

 

[Slugless]

I've not had a problem with hard cases for pistol storage.

But sm is always worth paying attention to.

I wouldn't store a pistol in a foam/hard case if it weren't in an air-conditioned house. That's the most important point. I back it up with dessicant bags and wipe them down with (usually) Break-Free every year or so. Run a (lightly) oiled patch through the barrel, more if crude starts coming out.

Here's a tip, hope you find it useful: I'm now putting in the case a small scrap of paper w/the gun model, date of last cleaning, and type of oil used. Since I use Breakfree, Remoil, and Tetra, the last is handy.

For long term storage I clean the interior of the piece and handle everything with clean cotton rags (I should get some gloves) while reassembling and handling.


This weekend I've been putting Johnsons Paste Wax on stocks and outside finish of some new rifles. I'll be doing this to the older oil-lubed ones when they come around again on the guitar.

 

[shoff535]

Hey,

all good comments...many thanks...

Steve

 

[sm]

I am a big fan of Old Fashioned Wax Paper and Free Cigar boxes.

Granted I grew up poor...and some stuff out of necessity still works.

So guns, knives, and other metal object were coated with RIG, Johnson's Paste Wax, and knives for instance, rolled in waxed paper and stuck in a cigar box, cardboard or wooden, the wood ones were a special treat.

Wooden Stocks off some guns, for really long storage and done this way, still the RIG or JPW under stocks protect.

Foam? Gun Case? Dang Rich folks ain't cha? *grin*


Aside.

I am a kid, and it was no big deal to clean stuff with Acetone, Gasoline , Kerosene , Mineral Spirits, Lighter Fluid and such.
Mentors cleaned tools and vehicle parts and the like...

I thought it was so special having these little Styrofoam coffee cups, some Mentors brought some back.
All I'd seen were the heavy waxed paper ones.

Mason Jars, tin cans...I knew I could put Acetone and the like into...

Mentors were doing something, asked me to pour some Acetone and bring it over.
Now my grandma was still alive so I must have been around 5.

Oh yeah, I poured Acetone into a foam cup and attempted to pick this up and everyone died laughing at the expression on my face.

 

[The Bushmaster]

sm...You'll do...Read my public profile...Poor? Been there. Done that. Cheap? Me? Yup...I retired as a Marine/industrial Master Diesel Mechanic...And I've done the styrene cup thing only with gasoline.

Life's still good...

 

[Ala Dan]

Feel'in A Little Bit Guilty Today

Congrats to both of my friends sm and The Bushmaster, as you guys
have come a long way~! OTOH, I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth;
NEVER having to want for anything. As I have gotten older (and a lot wiser
I hope?), I can tell you that this is NEVER the best way out my friends. I
was the only child, and mom & dad tried very hard to give me every thing
they thought I might ever need- EXCEPT GUNS. No toy guns were allowed
for birthday's or Christmas presents at all. Dad sold off is 2X old Colt wheel
guns when I was 'bout four years old; for fear that one day I might find 'em
and hurt myself or someone else with them accidentally. Not until 1971, did
he even own a gun (Smith & Wesson model 30-1 .32 S&W Long, 2" barrel).
I bought it for him at the old Aeromarine, Inc. in Birmingham, during the
summer of 1971. Yes, its the same Aeromarine, Inc. that sold James Earl
Ray that infamous .30-06 used to kill MLK in Memphis.

I always regretted having been spoiled, and given so much from a hard
working family. The most hourly wage that my dad ever made was $8.00
@ hour, as a machinist at Woodward Iron Company. Mom did not work,
but was a homemaker. Not until the age of 18, when I entered Uncle
Sams U.S. Army*, did I stop and think how wrong all of this had been;
or even the value of money. It made me a better person, and today
I realize that I should have been made to earn every last dime that I
spent all of those years. From clothes to cars, and beyond- you will
be a better person too, if these traits are followed. Often times, I
reflect on the past- with hope for the future~!

*FootNote: An experience I wouldn't trade for anything in the world~!

 

[The Bushmaster]

No proplem Ala Dan...We start somewhere and finish somewhere else...It's all in what we do in between. I ride horses and shoot with some of the wealthy. In most cases you wouldn't know the difference...Except they can buy a new firearm now and I have to save up...Reminds me...I need to up date my profile. I am busy training a new colt (My mare gave birth six months ago). I have three now. Small ranch is gettin' crowded...

 

[zenner22]

I had a gun rust pretty badly after six months in a zippered pistol rug. Later on I had a Smith model 19 get severely pitted on the cylinder where it rested against foam in a case. Just recently a friend's Remington rusted on the receiver where the points of the egg crate foam rested against it in its case.

I still use the foam cases for storage, but now I place the guns in plastic bags first. This seems to work really well. Some I keep in Bore Stores fabric pouches which are working out well.

I don't let metal touch foam anymore.

 

[Oohrah]

Clean them followed by a lite coat of Break Free Collector

 

[Flame Red]

Just use Johnson's Paste Wax. They sell it at Lowes for $4 for a gaint can that will last you a life time.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I have not tried them, but I've seen Rem Oil Wipes (a tissue or cloth soaked in Rem Oil, sealed in a foil packet a la "baby wipes") that look like they might be good for this.

I am not sure what did it as there was no visible rust there or on the rest of the gun when I finally got it out, but I let a CZ .22 rifle sit unused in my safe with the metal magazine in it for over a year (don't ask me why, it's a long and sordid story), and when I wanted to use it one day, the magazine was not coming out. I ruined the magazine and got a 10-round polymer one to replace it.

 

[CU74]

I wipe down with CLP, followed by a clean cotton cloth wipe and store in Bore-Stores, (buy 'em from Midway USA).

 

[marlin1888]

I did lots of experiments to try and prevent rusting. I have lived in a fairly low humidly environment for years (California and Nevada), so my technique might not work somewhere more humid. I take the "sack up" silicone idea one step further. I tried a number of silicone sprays to see which one reacted best with my firearms (wood, metal, rubber, and leather). Some of them were sticky and attracted dirt, while some of them made the wood go dart in the stocks (not what I wanted). I settled on "Gunk" brand silicone, which is now called "Gunk Liquid Wrench Silicone" (which is not a penetrant like regular Liquid Wrench). It's about $3.00 per spray can.

For foam pistol cases I soak the entire inside foam by spraying it. I then lay the firearm in the case and spray it on both sides. Between shootings (or after a range session). I hold the rifle with the muzzle down and spray the entire chamber and barrel liberally. I then spray the entire outside, which removes any fingerprints and nicely preserves the wood. I then stick the firearm in the foam case or "sack up" dripping with silicone, and stick it back in the safe. When it's time to shoot the firearm again, I just wipe it down with a cotton rag and run a quick patch through the barrel. Rifle bolts are kept separate in heavy zip lock bags, wrapped in cloth soaked in silicone. This method has worked very well for me, lasts at least a year, and keeps my firearms looking really nice.

PS: I also spray silicone inside my gun safes every month by opening the door, holding my breath, spaying for about 15-seconds, slamming the door, and running for fresh air!