Using brake cleaner on factory camo guns?

[bosshoff]

Will brake cleaner take the (painted?) finish off of camo guns? My boss has a Beretta 12 gauge auto duck gun with a factory camo finish. This gas gun needs a good cleaning. I know Gunscrubber and brake cleaner are very close in composition. Is this stuff safe to use on the factory Beretta camo finish?

 

[ArmedBear]

I wouldn't use EITHER ONE on plastic or paint!

They're made to clean blue, stainless or parkerized metal, and will dissolve many paints and plastics!

There is "plastic safe" gunscrubber, but hell, it's not THAT hard to clean a gun the old-fashioned way, is it? I like GunScrubber and I have Brakleen, too, but there's a time and a place for them.

 

[CWL]

I think all the cans have some sort of disclaimer advising you to test the product in an unobtrusive area first, you definitely should.

While the factory camos are actually a film rather than a paint, I'd not trust it until I personally tested it myself.

 

[ArmedBear]

True re film, but GunScrubber has a warning about plastic, as well.

Really, there's not too much you can't do with a large bottle of Hoppes, a rag and some Q-tips.

 

[bosshoff]

Armedbear, as far as cleaning the gun the "Olde Fashioned way?" you ought to see the inside of this silly Beretta. (One of the reasons I love my 870's) I definetly would have to read the manual to break this thing down to clean it. I can get it to forearm, barrel, nut and receiver w/ stock, without any trouble. I know the thingy pulls out of the bolt to further disassemble the receiver, but hey it's not my gun. How much time am I really gonna spend on this? I ended up using some electric contact cleaner. It came out pretty well. The contact cleaner was listed as safe on plastics (think computer boards), and it was laying around in the warehouse. I tested it on an area, and it did not soften the finish any, so I went for it.

 

[ArmedBear]

Sounds good. I think I have some of that stuff. Maybe I'll try that on some nook-and-cranny gun innards.

Oh, he's having YOU do it?

Glad to know it worked out.