Solvents & Cleaning

[BruceRDucer]

A book identified objects for cleaning from a barrel:

(1) Copper (2) Lead (2) plastic residue (4) Powder

(A) Will Spray Brake Fluid adquately clean these out, sufficient that I can then lubricate?

The book mentions Odorless Mineral Spirits as a good all around cleaner. And I know there are lots of non-gun products used. What I would like to know is whether the substitute products sufficiently clean all FOUR residues from a barrel.

If a Brush & cloth is used with the products, I guess that counts as removal, wouldn't you think?

I clean revolvers & shotgun

 

[lordgroom]

Mineral Spirits is a great cleaner but does not remove copper or lead. For lead I wrap a few strands of a copper chore boy around a brush and push it through a barrel that has been wet with Kano Kroil. Kano Kroil is a penetrating lubricant which is also a good cleaner than can creep under lead. For copper there are a few options: ammonia based cleaners such as Sweets, non toxic formulas such as Blue Wonder, or newer products such as bore tech. I have used blue wonder and sweets. They both work with some scrubbing.

I recent have begun using Ed's Red. Many site have listed the ingredients but it is equal parts Transmission fluid, mineral spirits, kerosene, and acetone. Makes a great solvent and oils the barrel for up to one year.

I use Brake Parts cleaner to blow out the bolt and other parts after they have soaked in mineral spirits but I don't relay on break parts cleaner for primary cleaning tasks. A local gunsmith gave me the idea to get bucket of mineral spirits and keep it covered. Soak you parts in the mineral spirits, minus the grips, overnight, blow off the parts with break parts cleaner and clean as normal. This is a very effect technique.