bdickens
Member
Brake and carb cleaners do not harm polymer frames.
Kerosene for cleaning
- Thread starter sgt127
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Yep, me too...just wish it smelled like Hoppe's #9 instead of ATF & Kerosene...Rod
Yes, Hoppe’s #9 has a unique arroma that brings back many fond memories.
But Ed’s Red has its own interesting olfactory stimulants.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
I use brake cleaner on my Glocks every once in a while with no problems at all.
AJC1
Member
I melted a handle off a craftsman torque wrench with brake cleaner... no more exposure to plastic for me. I also got my grandfaters all steel torque wrench so fixed that also.
My personal mix is 50/50 Kerosene and ATF for 90% of my cleaning. The other 10% is pretty much evenly divided between Brake/Carb cleaner for the extremely dirty or cosmoline covered and the Kerosene/ATF mixed with ammonia for copper fouling removal.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
Oh, believe me, I understand.
I have ruined a couple of plastic devices with it by accident. I also got some on a plastic SKS stock years ago when a guy recommended brake cleaner for cleaning guns after shooting Russian and other foreign ammo.
I guess today it would be called “chemical stippling”.
The first time I tried brake cleaner on a Glock was after talking with a Snap-On tool salesman. I asked if their screwdriver handles would be affected by Brake Cleaner. He said “No”. I said specifically, in reference to CRC Brakleen, “Red or Green or both?”
He said “Both” then somehow he referenced the polymer handles and how Glock frames were made of a similar material only slightly different and how he tried green Brakleen on his Glocks and it worked without damaging them.
So, I tried it. It worked. I tried it on a magazine first. No problem. Then I squirted some on a swab and rubbed the trigger mechanism housing. No problem. Then I rubbed some on the inside of the frame. No problem.
Eventually I tried red Brakleen. Now, the difference in the red and the green Brakleen is the green is non-chlorinated and red is chlorinated in most states! States like California and New Jersey won’t allow the red chlorinated Brakleen so CRC makes a red non-chlorinated formula and to be honest I don’t know if I have been using the strongest Brakleen when I have used the red can.
Here is an excellent article in CRC Brakleen. It’s all I will use. Other brake cleaners suck.
https://thebrakereport.com/crc-indu...ke-parts-cleaner-packaging-formula-selection/
This is the Brakleen I have been using. Photo is from Amazon (best prices, by the way)
The link for the screenshot:
CRC BRAKLEEN Brake Parts Cleaner - Non-Flammable -1lb 3 Oz (05089) https://a.co/1Sg3mTv
AJC1
Member
One has to consider risk vs reward. I only cleaned my slide with the harsh chemicals. Removing the polymer frame and recoil rod just seemed to better manage risk. Due to the cost of components and abundance of other less risky products the value just isn't there. I no longer own a polymer gun so it's basically a non issue for me now. I prefer all metal guns.Oh, believe me, I understand.
I have ruined a couple of plastic devices with it by accident. I also got some on a plastic SKS stock years ago when a guy recommended brake cleaner for cleaning guns after shooting Russian and other foreign ammo.
I guess today it would be called “chemical stippling”.
The first time I tried brake cleaner on a Glock was after talking with a Snap-On tool salesman. I asked if their screwdriver handles would be affected by Brake Cleaner. He said “No”. I said specifically, in reference to CRC Brakleen, “Red or Green or both?”
He said “Both” then somehow he referenced the polymer handles and how Glock frames were made of a similar material only slightly different and how he tried green Brakleen on his Glocks and it worked without damaging them.
So, I tried it. It worked. I tried it on a magazine first. No problem. Then I squirted some on a swab and rubbed the trigger mechanism housing. No problem. Then I rubbed some on the inside of the frame. No problem.
Eventually I tried red Brakleen. Now, the difference in the red and the green Brakleen is the green is non-chlorinated and red is chlorinated in most states! States like California and New Jersey won’t allow the red chlorinated Brakleen so CRC makes a red non-chlorinated formula and to be honest I don’t know if I have been using the strongest Brakleen when I have used the red can.
Here is an excellent article in CRC Brakleen. It’s all I will use. Other brake cleaners suck.
https://thebrakereport.com/crc-indu...ke-parts-cleaner-packaging-formula-selection/
This is the Brakleen I have been using. Photo is from Amazon (best prices, by the way)
View attachment 1090757
The link for the screenshot:
CRC BRAKLEEN Brake Parts Cleaner - Non-Flammable -1lb 3 Oz (05089) https://a.co/1Sg3mTv
sevt_chevelle
Member
Those plastic handles craftsmen used were notorious for breaking down and smelled like death when doing so.
In the automotive collision world, if you take a grinder to a plastic and it smears, it's thermoset and little chemical wise will damage it.
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