Ed's Red - how do you make it?

[Dan Forrester]

Ive seen dozens of ways to make Ed's Red Bore Solvent. Some call for things which appear to no longer be available such as Varsol, Sperm Oil (whatever that is ) and other things like Lanolin.

How are you guys in 2015 making your version of Ed's Red? I'm looking to make up a gallon of it for general cleaning as well as a dunk tank for suppressors.

Does anyone know how a Nalgene bottle sold at camping stores holds up? Do the solvent components (varsol, mineral spirits, turpentine) evaporate through the plastic over time?

Thanks, Dan

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I use a thirds of kerosene, ATF, and mineral spirits. I leave the acetone out because it is hard on some plastic.

 

[dagger dog]

Acetone and modern synthetic ATF will not mix, I'm talking Dexron-Mercon II through VI. The dye added to the ATF will mix with the acetone but the synthetic portion won't.

 

[jcwit]

Google is your friend. Here is a site that will not only give the formula to Ed's Red but many more.

http://www.frfrogspad.com/homemade.htm

 

[C0untZer0]

I use 1/3 ATF, 1/3 Kerosene, 1/3 Heavy Mineral Oil and the stuff works great.

I mixed up a batch once using what I thought was the original ingredients:

1 part Dexron II, IIe or III Automatic Transmission Fluid - GM Spec D20265 or later
1 part K1 Kerosene
1 part Aliphatic Mineral Spirits federal spec TT-T-2981F (CAS# 64741-49-9) or Stodard Solvent/Varsol
(CAS#8052-41-1)
1 part Acetone (CAS#67-64-1)

And I honestly didn't see a difference n cleaning power so I keep it simpler now.

 

[Schwing]

Keep it simple. I use ATF, Kerosine, Mineral Spirits and Acetone. Just mix an equal amount of each and you are done. You will see all kinds of variations on the mixture. I have yet to try one that doesn't work very well.

I have never had a problem with ATF not mixing in. I have also never had the acetone cause any problems but you can leave it out if it bothers you. I tried it without and didn't think it cleaned quite as well but in reality the original creator of the stuff, C.E Harris, put it in to remove plastic fouling from shotgun wads, not for carbon cleaning etc.

 

[Jim Watson]

You could just read what Ed Harris says about it:
http://www.hensleygibbs.com/edharris/articles/EdsRedRecipe.htm

To the OP:
The sperm (whale) oil is replaced by transmission fluid (and turpentine replaced by mineral spirits).
Do NOT store it in any sort of plastic, especially if you use acetone.

 

[burrhead]

You can buy lanolin at any REAL drugstore, maybe not at a chain store.

 

[Rule3]

The stuff is a mess to use. It is fine for Mil surplus guns and maybe shotguns.

I do not care for it but to each their own.

Here is a recipe.

http://www.frfrogspad.com/homemade.htm

 

[g.willikers]

Yeah, I use the simpler recipe, too.
Seems to be just as good.
Aluminum fuel bottles, designed for white gas, from a camping supply store would probably be suitable.

 

[joem1945]

My mix is 25% diesel, 25% red ATF,25& Koil and 25% Hoppies # 9. I even put the stuff in my sonic cleaner. Take the grips off and if auto, remove the slide and barrel. 15 mins and drain and wipe down, assemble and shoot.

 

[OilyPablo]

I mix some Kroil in my Hoppe's #9. Works better for cleaning than anything with ATF in it. On crusty AR bolts and carriers behind the bore sometimes I soak for a few hours and they come out quire clean. I wipe down and use a super light oil such as Amsoil MP for initial lube rinse, then follow up with appropriate oil/grease as recommended to that location and to match the season and probable storage time.

 

[cheep]

You can store this in an old engine oil or atf plastic jug, that's how I store acetone.

 

[cfullgraf]

I have been happy with the equal parts of Dexron ATF, kerosene, mineral spirits, and acetone but I will admit to not trying alternate formulations like leaving out the acetone.

I make about a quart at a time, store it in an old metal acetone or mineral spirits can, and it lasts a long time. The acetone part of the mix keeps cleaning off my magic marker label, though.

I have a small squeeze (4 oz or so) I obtained from Sinclair International. It is 4-5 years old and still going strong. I do not think there is significant evaporation of the acetone through the plastic. I am not sure of the material but as a rule, acetone and plastic do not get along.

 

[JimPGov]

OR BUT IT PRE-MIXED AT BROWNELLS. JP
http://www.brownells.com/gun-cleani...solvents/ed-s-red-bore-cleaner-prod19936.aspx

 

[ColtPythonElite]

A buck an ounce...no thanks. I will keep mixing my own.

 

[Jim Watson]

Ingredients for a gallon of Eds Red would cost about $25 at Lowes and Auto Zone.
And you would have the metal cans to put it in.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I keep mine in a plastic gallon jug car wash soap came in. Been using it 5 years or so. Never had a problem.

 

[Dan Forrester]

Thanks for all the information. That link from 'jcwit" on Homemade Firearm Cleaners & Lubricants was great! I read through the entire page.

I think I'm going to go get some new metal paint cans from a nearby paint shop to store it in. I'll be mixing up a batch later this week.

Thanks for the info, Dan

 

[orionengnr]

I use one part each diesel fuel, ATF, acetone and mineral spirits. Since I had several partly-used containers of ATF, mo worries there. Since my wife drives a diesel Jetta, that part was easy. I also had the mineral spirits, so all I had to buy was acetone (about $5 at Home Depot). Mixed up my first batch probably three years ago (4 oz of each, for a total of a pint) and I'm still working on that first batch. And I shoot almost every week. At this rate my supply may outlive me.

The stuff is a mess to use.

Not sure what to make of this...it is no different than Hoppes or any other liquid CLP. Really no different than a spray CLP.

 

[Dan Forrester]

Good idea. I need to round up those half empty containers. I could probably use the containers to store the bore cleaner too as long as I don't use or go lightly with the acetone.

My wife drives a the VW Jetta diesel too. She always gets weird looks when she fills it up at the diesel pump. Great cars! If VW every re-introduces the 2 door Golf Diesel i'll be getting one for myself.

Dan

 

[C.R.]

I mixed up a quart of Eds Red and it appears to work well. I had some leftover Mobile synthetic ATF *8oz each of the ATF,acetone,kerosene,and mineral spirits . a quart ought to last me a long time . I have also found,that for a penetrating oil acetone and ATF mixed 50/50 works as good as anything out there

 

[lee1000]

I just use Kroil for carbon and Sweets 7.62 or Tetra for copper. Works well

 

[Stormin.40]

No need to add both Kerosene and Mineral Spirits, they are both aliphatic hydrocarbons and perform the same task, dissolve carbon. Kerosene has a higher flash point and slower dry time.

I use 1/3 ATF and 2/3 Odorless Spirits.

If I use it to clean my shotguns I will add a little acetone to help remove the plastic residue left behind by the wad. The acetone does tend to evaporate out of the solution if you don't have a good seal on your container.

HDPE bottles or metal paint cans are great for storage.