What if you dunk everything in Kerosene?

[BarnsBeware]

As I do a lot of shooting, I'd like to be able to field strip all my guns at once, drop them in a pan of XXXX, and then come back to clean them later. (Wood obviously gets wiped down OUTSIDE of the magic pan).

Since Hoppe's ain't cheap by the gallon, is there any more plentiful agent that I could use to remove gunk and grime, fouling, etc that won't strip the bluing off? I suggested kerosene, as its uber-cheap, and seems alright, (you strip cosmo off of SKSs with it, I hear).

I also have Acetone, but I hear that will suck the bluing off pretty quick. I haven't done anything yet, but I'd like to really let the parts soak, and often.

Anything that works for y'all?

 

[bountyhunter]

Mineral spirits is better because it's less flammable. You can get a gallon for about $6 at Home Depot. As for soaking: I soak barrels in Kroil which is a very thin oil with super penetrating properties. It loosens crud in the barrel and probably every where else. About $25/gallon, worth it for cleaning barrels with no scrubbing.

 

[HSMITH]

Do a net search on "Ed's Red" and find the recipe. Crank up a batch of that for 1/10th the cost of Hoppes and 10 times better performance. The only thing that doesn't suck about Hoppes is the smell, good solvents like Ed's Red work drastically better.

 

[BarnsBeware]

Thanks guys, will try both!

For those wishing to read up on Ed's Red, the link is here:
Eds Red homemade cleaner/protectant

 

[dfariswheel]

For future reference, NO kerosene.
I once read of a target shooter that used kerosene to soak his .22 magazines in.

He'd come home from the range and drop the mags into a can of kerosene to soak.

On day, he pulled the mags out after a weekend soaking, to find them badly rusted.

Seems kerosene is hygroscopic. It absorbs moisture from the air.
His can of kerosene was actually a can of water with a layer of kerosene floating on top.

Mineral spirits costs a few dollars at Wal-mart, or you can spring for a big can of one of the Dunk-it type gun cleaner systems.

These are gallon or larger plastic buckets full of a cleaner/lube. You just drop the gun in, let soak for however long, take it out and let it drain.

Since it contains a lube, you don't even have to oil it.

 

[Sunray]

Kerosene is for lamps, not cleaning firearms. Not even for removing cosmoline. Mineral spirits won't remove the copper fouling or powder fouling. It does a great job on cosmoline though. A quick patch of Hoppe's or other brand of gun solvent through the barrel is the way to go. Although Ed's Red is highly thought of.
Of course, you'll have to find all those chemicals. Should be easy enough if you go to an industrial chemical supply place. Tell 'em what you're doing and what you want. I'd guess that they won't necessarily be cheap though.

 

[Desert Dog]

When I am cleaning guns I have Ed's Red in a small container sitting beside me that I drop parts into to soak. It works particularly well on revolvers when I drop the cylinder into the solvent to soak while I clean the barrel/frame.

I use bulk Ed's Red a LOT instead of expensive Hoppes. I use Hoppes for the bore clean only...

 

[fobb]

Go to your local gm dealer and get a can of Top Engine Cleaner. It is the same thing as shooters choice and about 1/3 of the price.

 

[minnesota oldie]

Dunk everything in kerosine? That would really spoil the donuts.

 

[sm]

Heed dfariswheel -

No need today with the products, and equipment we have.

Disclaimer: Do Not Do This:

Back in the day before the gummit protected us citizens, no hand held hair dryers, Gun Scrubber type products, and the mind boggling array of doodads and gadgets...

Yes as a kid I would take the grips of MY gun, or the one an adult loaned me to run rampant with and dunk it in gasoline, kerosene, white gas. Well I was waiting for sample of Hoppe's to come in, heck I taped a dime and nickel to a post card a week ago...come on send it Penguin Industries.

So we used this stuff to clean guns, car parts, bicycles and whatever. Yep, some stuff will flat rust if left to soak. So we cleaned , dried and Texaco, Esso machine oil on a 1911 and back in business. Now if a fella had some stinky stuff given to use the Nat'l Guard used, or other Military folks used...wow...stiiiiink...but hey it was special.

Somehow folks survived , guns survived all these years previous to my arrival on earth, and did for quite awhile.

Inspected, maintained, replaced springs and such. We didn't overclean, we did take care of stuff though. Adapt , Overcome, Improvise.

I didn't have a cleaning rod or a bronze brush. pulled a pc of rawhide through with a remnant of T Shirt for a patch.

The guys at the fillin' station gave me a can of Esso machine oil of my own 'cause I helped out when one fella got sick. They saved the 20wt motor oil in the bottom of cans and I put that in a empty machine oil can. Esso bearing grease I took home in a empty soup can. New kid needed a bike ,his Daddy hurt in a "conflict" and no money, completely down. I put in new bearings ( fillin' station guys gave me) and I greased/oiled her up and made one bike from the parts of 3 broken ones.

Sprocket will rust if soaked in kersosene. I had to use a brass brush and oil to remove. I learned the hard way - made remembering easy tho'.

 

[Jeff]

"""For future reference, NO kerosene.
I once read of a target shooter that used kerosene to soak his .22 magazines in.

He'd come home from the range and drop the mags into a can of kerosene to soak.

On day, he pulled the mags out after a weekend soaking, to find them badly rusted.

Seems kerosene is hygroscopic. It absorbs moisture from the air.
His can of kerosene was actually a can of water with a layer of kerosene floating on top."""



Actually, no. Kerosene is not hygroscopic. Chemists store pure sodium in kerosene. Sodium and H20 do not mix. What you are thinking of is ethanol. Ethanol (alcohol) is extremely hygroscopic and needs to be stored in an air-sealed container.

 

[Oscar Orum]

Ethyl alcohol and Ed's Red

Jeff, you are correct and providing good information. If you leave Everclear opened and do not drink it the proof or % alcohol will deminish.

H Smith, thanks for reminding me to made up some Ed's Red. I gathered together the componets about 4 years ago and even found 6 oz. bottles that would safely hold the mixture from a friend in the chemical supply business and put it all up in the garage. I was waiting on a warm day to mix it up and forgot about it. A senior moment, you know. Well, Saturday is the day. Thanks, to all for the wonderful forum.

 

[JoeHatley]

Kerosene is fine.

This is the mix I've used for over 5 years to clean every gun I own, after every range session.

1/2 gallon Kerosene
1/2 gallon Mineral Spirits
1 quart ATF Fluid
1 quart Rislone
1 pint Marvel's Mystery Oil

I remove the grips and soak the guns in a plastic bucket of the mix. Anywhere from 1 hour to 3 days, just depends on what else I've got going.

Scrub with different brass and nylon brushes, and wipe off with paper towels. Couple of dry patches down the bore, and that's it. Gun is cleaned and lubed.

Joe

 

[dfariswheel]

"Actually, no. Kerosene is not hygroscopic".

I stand corrected.
I read this one in the American Rifleman Dope Bag some years ago. Only they called it "coal oil" back in those days.