Silicone Cloths OK to Clean With?

[Rustynuts]

I thought I read somewhere to avoid using the silicone cloths to clean weapons? OK to use, or no? If not OK, why not?

 

[Don Lu]

I use them to give some of my guns, a new, just out the box, after I clean them the traditional way. I've never clean w/them thought, they are just the final touch for me.

 

[MICHAEL T]

I wipe down a gun after its been handled or carried . Their not for cleaning

 

[Rustynuts]

Didn't really mean for cleaning, but the article I read (I think it was on the Actions by "T" website) implied you should never use it at all for some reason, even for wiping down?

 

[default]

I've been using them for wipedown after cleaning or handling for a few years, on blued, parkerized, tenifer, alloy, polymer, and wooden surfaces, with no ill effects. The Kleenbore and Hoppe's ones are "greasier" and more aromatic than the Birchwood Casey cloths, for what it's worth.

 

[ZeSpectre]

My understanding (and I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong) is that the silicone cloths are mostly to lay down an anti-rust barrier (a final step before storage). Proper use is to give a quick wipe down before putting a gun in a cabinet, or in my case I wipe down the slides on my CCW every now and again to help prevent rust.

I don't believe silicone cloth really "cleans" much so if you are trying to remove accumulated grime and such there are other things that do the job much better.

If you wipe a dirty gun down with a silicone cloth you may be trapping the crud UNDER the layer of silicone where it could cause trouble.

 

[PPGMD]

Your gun should really be clean before you wipe it with a silicon cloth. I clean my guns, then wipe them with a paper towel, and then use a silicon cloth.

 

[Eightball]

Silicone cloth is the finishing touch--it doesn't replace all the "cleansing" touches that come before it.

 

[jlh26oo]

bought one just for a handy way to wipe fingerprints b/f putting away. said "silicone cloth", but unlike any silicone product ive used before. smelled like kerosene, and sense it hours after. haven't used since.

probably nothing wrong with them, just personal preference.

 

[Bezoar]

Well if your going to use a silicone gun cloth, MAKE YOUR OWN. I spent an entire rifle season with a 30-30. Lots of snow and rain. When id get out to the blind, id wipe the gun down with a hoppes one, then when id get back in id wipe it down again. Ironcally, when i put it up for storage when season ended, i found that the screws and screw areas on the reciever were starting to rust.

SO go get a nice, super soft piece of flannel, and spray it down with "camp dry" as its all silicone. And then rub it into your clean gun as a preservative.

 

[JohnBT]

I used to use a silicone cloth and it worked fine. I just got to the point I hated getting the stuff on me and everything else.

John

 

[sm]

Clean?
Silicon Cloth ?

I did not get the memo.
Don't worry about sending a memo.