I knew I should have kept my chemistry book from high school. I never was much good at it. I think I follow what you guys are saying. ku4hz is saying there's no iron in blood cells and Mike is saying it's a tiny amount in hemoglobin that accounts for the smell, right???
How to get rid of Gun smell?
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I knew I should have kept my chemistry book from high school. I never was much good at it. I think I follow what you guys are saying. ku4hz is saying there's no iron in blood cells and Mike is saying it's a tiny amount in hemoglobin that accounts for the smell, right???
Schwing
Member
This is an interesting thread. Like Cee Zee, I have always had a really good, if not overactive, sense of smell. Blood was one of the first things that popped into my mind. I can pick up that heavy iron smell from several feet away. The silverware tasting has always been a big problem for me. Some of the really cheap stuff is almost like putting tin foil on my old composite cavity fillings. Luckily, I don't find any of the firearm related smells offensive but I know exactly what the O.P. is talking about.
I worked in the CNC world for a lot of years as well and I could always tell what was being cut in the shop by the smell. It didn't matter if it was metal or polymer either. Things like phenolic are so disgustingly strong to me that they are downright uncomfortable to work with. For the longest time, I thought this was normal until I talked about it with some other people there in the shop and they thought I was nuts.
People who don't experience this think it is in your head. My own family didn't really buy into it until they found out that I can find wasp nests by smell. Now, I get called over to sniff them out. To me, I can't understand why everyone else can't smell the things.
I worked in the CNC world for a lot of years as well and I could always tell what was being cut in the shop by the smell. It didn't matter if it was metal or polymer either. Things like phenolic are so disgustingly strong to me that they are downright uncomfortable to work with. For the longest time, I thought this was normal until I talked about it with some other people there in the shop and they thought I was nuts.
People who don't experience this think it is in your head. My own family didn't really buy into it until they found out that I can find wasp nests by smell. Now, I get called over to sniff them out. To me, I can't understand why everyone else can't smell the things.
wendellgj
Member
hmmm - I'm getting a funny metallic taste in my mouth
I've said it several times already. Most smells are not pleasant. I could go into details but I won't. But any chemical type smell will make me violently sick in a very short time. And people who think a little splash of aftershave doesn't have much smell should know I could track them in a blizzard in the middle of the night with my eyes closed.
I can smell some metals under certain circumstances. If I'm doing a lot of filing or sanding on metal, I can sometimes smell what I take to be the odor of the metal. I can smell steel/iron and brass under those conditions and they definitely have two different smells. I don't recall being able to smell other metals.
At times, I can smell brass if it's been handled a lot, but I take that to be the interaction of the normal contaminants on the skin with the brass. It smells the same as brass that I'm filing/sanding so it may be that I'm not actually smelling the brass when I'm filing sanding, but only the small particles that are getting on my hands from the process.
I've never been able to smell iron/steel except when it's being filed/sanded.
Stargazer65
Member
As Mr. Krabs would say:
Ramone
Member
Oil buff it with Froglube.
Sav .250
Member
You must have a very sensitive nose.......................
That`s the first time I ever read where somebody had a gun smell problem.
That`s the first time I ever read where somebody had a gun smell problem.
Negative. Oxygenated blood is red for the same reason rust (oxygenated iron - iron oxide) is red or reddish. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemoglobin
The "Hem" part of the word Hemoglobin relates to Hematite which is the mineral form of iron oxide Fe2O3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hematite
A catalyst is a substance that facilitates a chemical reaction but does not enter into the reaction itself. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/catalyst
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalysis
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I told you I didn't understand what you were saying.
You listed a formula for something that didn't contain iron. I assumed too much. I don't have the gift for chemistry, believe me. I know there's iron in hemoglobin. I was essentially trying to figure out what exactly you did say in your post where you listed a formula for something with no iron in it.YeagersClaw
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Lock this thread
Yes, I will sell my guns immediately. I can see now that I definitely can't call myself a man anymore.
I have taken up knitting now, and wish to award you with the top contributing post for this thread.
I wretch dramatically over the smell of foul guns as I have explicitly stated how much I hate it.
However, the only thing more offensive than that is your command of written English, and unwarranted corny jokes.
Yes, I will sell my guns immediately. I can see now that I definitely can't call myself a man anymore.
I have taken up knitting now, and wish to award you with the top contributing post for this thread.
I wretch dramatically over the smell of foul guns as I have explicitly stated how much I hate it.
However, the only thing more offensive than that is your command of written English, and unwarranted corny jokes.
Baron_Null
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It disappoints me to no end that there are people like you running around the real world acting as unappointed representatives of my hobby and my passion, souring the image the average person has of gun owners.
Firearms are wonderful because they transcend the artificial boundaries of masculinity and femininity, to where almost everyone can enjoy them, and almost everyone could benefit from the additional avenue to self defense.
But then there always has to be that one vocal pseudo masculine jerk who makes everything about how "tough" X or Y is. That guy who gives people the impression that gun owners/enthusiasts are just a bunch of guys with fragile egoes having to hold on to things they consider "masculine" because they aren't secure in their own identities.
Please, keep your complex and nuanced analysis on the olfactory senses and the the neurological processing of stimuli to yourself.
Nuffs enuff
I think its time for the moderator to close this thread down.. It was actually funny at first but as an individual I think its time to Shut 'er Down. Cant believe someone hadn't already posted a scientific reply.
A quick look at Chemistry provides a clear and concise answer and I quote their comments.
"Sweaty skin corrodes iron metal to form reactive Fe2+ ions that are oxidized within seconds to Fe3+ ions while simultaneously reducing and decomposing existing skin lipidperoxides to odorous carbonyl hydrocarbons that are perceived as a metallic odor."
So, "Yes" there may be a definitive metallic odor, but it will apply to virtually all firearms that come in to contact with the OPS hands. In summary yes there may well be a slight metallic odor, combined with powder residue. ( Cant believe the OP hadn't cleaned it! )
Any way Lets see this silly thread closed and discuss more relevant issues
I think its time for the moderator to close this thread down.. It was actually funny at first but as an individual I think its time to Shut 'er Down. Cant believe someone hadn't already posted a scientific reply.
A quick look at Chemistry provides a clear and concise answer and I quote their comments.
"Sweaty skin corrodes iron metal to form reactive Fe2+ ions that are oxidized within seconds to Fe3+ ions while simultaneously reducing and decomposing existing skin lipidperoxides to odorous carbonyl hydrocarbons that are perceived as a metallic odor."
So, "Yes" there may be a definitive metallic odor, but it will apply to virtually all firearms that come in to contact with the OPS hands. In summary yes there may well be a slight metallic odor, combined with powder residue. ( Cant believe the OP hadn't cleaned it! )
Any way Lets see this silly thread closed and discuss more relevant issues
wojownik
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Actually, this thread is not that silly, or at least the OP's question is not. The explanation about the smell coming from an oxidation process is right, but it may be only part of the story. The OP may have a metal allergy (mild perhaps).
I know of a few friends who cannot wear jewelry due to aversion to the smell and a skin reaction. The smell is part of the skin reaction. Reaction to brass, copper or nickel is one type of metal allergy, again happening to folks with jewelry or even brass jacket buttons. The reaction the OP is having might not be due to the firearm, but to copper and/or brass residue.
Just a thought. I am not a physician. But I have friends who are. And I like to watch reruns of House a lot
I know of a few friends who cannot wear jewelry due to aversion to the smell and a skin reaction. The smell is part of the skin reaction. Reaction to brass, copper or nickel is one type of metal allergy, again happening to folks with jewelry or even brass jacket buttons. The reaction the OP is having might not be due to the firearm, but to copper and/or brass residue.
Just a thought. I am not a physician. But I have friends who are. And I like to watch reruns of House a lot
So exactly did you read it??? Some of us like information for its own sake. You never know when it might come in handy. At any rate there's no law that says you need to read this. You have my permission to move on to another thread.
Seriously I don't understand why you would read it if you find it such a waste of time.
Ironicaintit
Member
I dont understand the problem. I like the smell of metal, and most gun oils.
Except for that film/oil crap that metal chinese products usually have. that stuff stinks
Except for that film/oil crap that metal chinese products usually have. that stuff stinks
rodinal220
Member
Anoint it with either Hoppes#9 or Ballistol.
pikepole20
Member
My guns have a smell all there own. I can open the safe with my eyes closed and just smell to make sure they are all there.
OilyPablo
Member
The gun smell that I find unpleasant definitely contains sulfur in some form. Trust me I know the iron smell and blood smell. Sometimes it's a rainy day and a run over racoon like no tomorrow that really puts that nasty metallic aroma up. But back to the sulfur smell. Certain greases and oils contain sulfur. And they seem to not age well so get enough in the air like at a gun show and the smell is in the air.
CajunBass
Member
Polish your gun with "Pledge" or some other furniture polish. It will protect the finish, repel fingerprints, and leave a pleasant smell.
I use it on mine. Costs little, and you got nothing to lose.
I use it on mine. Costs little, and you got nothing to lose.
TimSr
Member
Get one of those nice smelling 2 cycle oils they sell.
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