Ed's Red question

[OrangePwrx9]

In the 12/26 thread on using lacquer thinner to clean bores, someone posted the recipe for making Ed's Red, a homemade bore cleaner that apparently works well. The formula is equal parts Mineral Spirits, K1 kerosene, Automatic Transmission Fluid, and Acetone.

Got to thinking that the acetone might damage plastic/fiberglass stocks and plastic gun parts. Of course, restricting it to the bore would avoid any problem...but we all know how that goes.

Was wondering what the experience of users might be.
Bob

 

[Rottweiler]

The acetone won't hurt fiberglass. Plastics....you're going to have to try each plastic part individually. I haven't found any plastic parts on any of mine that are affected by Ed's red

 

[USSR]

I use Ed's Red to clean powder fouling prior to using a copper cleaning solvent. Any that may get on my fibreglass stock is wiped up without incident. And, if you have plastic gun parts, that is something bad just waiting to happen anyways.

Don

 

[Ed Harris]

I am the same Ed who developed Ed's Red. Acetone will attack some plastic and stock finishes. You can leave the acetone out if you want to reduce fumes, etc. The cleaner works fine without it, but it doesn't cut through heavy fouling quite as fast for use at the range, etc. so you may need to let it soak a while.

 

[janobles14]

^ man its like a celebrity sighting!

 

[Horsemany]

someone posted the recipe for making Ed's Red

That was me. I treat Ed's Red like any other solvent and keep it away from plastics and wood finishes. Most solvent that works well cleaning bores is bad for wood or plastic. I've not had any problems with Ed's Red if a bit gets on the wood just wipe if off quickly. Over time the acetone does evaporate out of the solution from opening and closing your container.

Ed Harris, thank you sir for the solvent recipe. I've been a happy user for years as are my shooting buddies.

 

[Smith357]

I have been using ER since before AlGore invented the Internet. I use it exclusivly on all my firearms, also all my firearms are blue steel and walnut and I have never had any issues with ER doing any damage to the finishes on my firearms. I did once make the mistake of soaking an Anschutz sight set in ER overnight and it did dissolve the tinted plastic insert in the front globe, but I get those for 5-6 bucks for a full set from the sight man at the gun show.

 

[MichaelK]

I've also used Ed's Red for about 15 years now without any finish problems, and I use it as my routine cleaner for everything. There's one point to mention about using acetone. Acetone is hydroscopic, and an open container can absorb water out of the air. When making Ed's, always use a newly opened acetone container.

I had tried to use acetone from a 1 gallon steel container sitting on the shelf for several years. When dissolved in the hydrocarbon solvents, it formed a milky white water suspension. I disposed of that old acetone and started over with a new, unopened bottle. Problem solved.

 

[Mini30]

Ed's Red did leave permanent fingerprint marks on the original high-gloss plastic grips on a Czech Vz82. But generally the worst damage from Ed's Red was to my skin if I got ahead of myself & didn't use gloves.

Oh. Old Ed's Red makes a great accelerant.

 

[slamfirev10]

there is an ed of ed's red, cool

i always make 2 batches at the same time, 1 with and 1 without acetone

thanks for the recipe ed

 

[CZguy]

^ man its like a celebrity sighting!

I agree. I've used ER for years and really like it.

Ed I want your autograph.