Suggested solvents for cleaning nickel plated guns?

[emc]

I may be able to pick up a 4 inch barreled S&W M29-2 in nickel plate at a reasonable price in near new condition. I know that Shooter's Choice and Hoppe's both have warnings on them about use with nickel finished guns. So far, I haven't found a good alternative. I've thought about the Blue Wonder cleaner, but haven't had the opportunity to check the formulation. Any suggestions for something safe to use that will do a proper cleaning job?

Thanks,

emc

 

[45R]

Check into FP10. I've used it with good results on all my blued and stainless guns. I dont believe there is a warning about nickel plated guns.

 

[RON in PA]

The problem is that Hoppe's and Shooters Choice dissolve copper which has been deposited on the steel so that the nickel will adhere. If the underlying copper is destroyed the nickel finish will peel.

You need a solvent that doesn't affect copper, maybe the already mentioned FP10 or maybe Breakfree CLP. You need to contact the solvent manufacturer to find out if their product attacks copper.

 

[dfariswheel]

The truth is, most ordinary solvent like Hoppe's #9, Accubore, and Shooter's Choice can be used on nickel pistols safely.

Hoppe's has been used on nickel guns for ???? MANY years without damage.

Some people who have reported problems with nickel damage were found to be using super aggressive copper solvents like Sweet's 7.62 an others.

Revolvers don't develop copper fouling near as bad as rifles, and really don't need these aggressive copper removers.

All that's necessary is to NOT let it stand on the nickel.
Clean your revolver the normal way, and wipe the solvent off the plated finish.

Applying a coating of solvent to the outside of the revolver and allowing it to soak for hours COULD "over time" damage the finish.

Again, in order to prevent damage, simply wipe the solvent off the finish as you clean the revolver.

The truth is, you will do far more damage to the finish by shooting and handling the gun.

 

[Mikul]

I've used Hoppes and even brake cleaner on my nickel CZ many, many times without a problem, but I always wipe them down afterward.

My current favorite cleaner is Kroil. I'm truly amazed at it's cleaning abilities, and it doesn't stink like Shooters Choice and Butch's Bore Shine. Although it doesn't remove as much copper as the latter two.

 

[RWK]

Permit me to try to explain the mechanism that is at work here. Some nickel plate adheres to a copper base. As long as the nickel plate is not nicked, pitted and is otherwise intact, solvents (such as Hoppes #9) that degrade the copper base will not adversely affect the weapon, BECAUSE THEY CANNOT REACH THE COPPER BASE. However, if the nickel is not COMPLETELY sound and allows the solvent to reach the copper, it can degrade the nickel surface by undermining the copper base.

Breakfree CPL does not undermine the copper base.

Incidentally, Sig-Sauer’s gunsmiths recommended that I use CPL – and not use Hoppes #9 – for my P220, since they feel the Hoppes will attack the anodized aluminum receiver/frame.

 

[P5 Guy]

My 1st job was in a plating shop at Struthers-Dunn Inc in NJ.
I've done three kinds of nickel plating and all of them can be removed with ammonia strippers. Copper as a base plating is not required on mild steel for the types of nickel plating I did.

 

[115grfmj]

Electro, or Electro-less

Copper is only used in Electro plate Nickel, used to provide a conductor
for the nickel to adhere to. Electro-Less Nickel does not use copper as a
base. The part about hoppes potentially undermining the coper base is
correct but there would have to be some area where the copper was
exposed, and then you would literally have to SOAK the parts in it for
a matter of hours. With not expose areas even electro nickel would be
would stand up to repeat endless cleaning. Fortunately, the modern
way of doing it is Electroless, which does not have the same weakness.
My Uncle owns a very sucessful plating business in central florida, that
does defense work. He is also a gun enthusiast, and has tested his
nickel jobs extensively with prolonged Hoppes baths (several Weeks)
and had no failure. He plated one of my rifles, and I can tell you
that in all the years I have owned it, and cleaned it I use hoppes
exclusively, with no problem. My father also owns an older S&W
topbreak, with elctro plating, that has been cleaned with hoppes
for the last 25-30 years with no problem. Unless you have an Electro-plated
gun with an already damaged finish, you truly don't have any thing to
worry about.

 

[Shootcraps]

I know that Shooter's Choice and Hoppe's both have warnings on them about use with nickel finished guns.

Yes, but did you actually read the warning???

"Do not soak nickel plated firearms in No. 9. Wipe nickel surfaces dry after cleaning."

Just like dfarriswheel said.


Thanks for the posts dfarriswheel and 115grfmj. The voice of reason. I love hearing that.


I have also heard, but cannot verify that S&W does not use copper as a base for it's nickel plating.

 

[Sistema1927]

"Get rid of that nickel plated sissy gun and get a Glock."

(Sorry, I couldn't help myself.)

 

[Jim Watson]

I use M-Pro 7 for most gun cleaning, it is a detergent system.
I use the conventional "nitro solvents" on rifle barrels which have some coppering to remove with an ammonia bearing product, and occasionally on a pistol shot with jacketed bullets.
I don't use the oily CLPs except for field cleaning when that is all I have along.

But I would not worry about Hoppe's on a nickel plated pistol, if it were, according to instructions, used to clean and then itself cleaned off.

 

[Shootcraps]

"Get rid of that nickel plated sissy gun and get a Glock."

(Sorry, I couldn't help myself.)

LOL...that's a funny joke! I get it.

Vince Pinto where are you???

 

[Hal]

- Ballistol - <--- good stuff

Safe on anything. I started using it on my nickeled Smiths, High Standard and Buckmark and ended up using it on everything.

Being "King of the Klutzes" that I am, I usually have a small cut or 2 or 3 or more somehwere on my hands/fingers. Solvents like #9 remind me of exactly where each one is. Ballistol OTOH, doesn't. Plus,, it doesn't stink.