Whats a good cleaning solvent to use on a nickel gun??

[Kahr carrier]

I was told not to use Hoppes number 9 on a Nickel gun because it would hurt the finish. So the question is what solvent to use that wont hurt the Nickel finish???

 

[BigG]

The only thing you need to be aware of that I know is AMMONIA content. Any copper solvent contains ammonia.

The plating of a steel surface is a multi step process. The first layer is copper, the second is nickel, the third is chrome (if you go that far). What the ammonia will do is attack the copper if it can get under the surface due to some porosity or at the edge of a surface like the end of a cylinder, for example.

I use CLP for almost all cleaning. Just wet your patches down, swamp out the bore and dry out. If you need something more agressive, GUN SCRUBBER or similar is a good product.

HTH and enjoy shooting your nickel baby!

 

[jjmorgan64]

MPro7 Will make it shine. It's in charge of cleaniing mine.

 

[Ledbetter]

I use CLP on the nickel parts. Once a year or so I polish it with Flitz and wax the exterior. You can use Hoppe's on the barrel, if it's not attached to the frame.

 

[mete]

Copper and nickel are very similar chemically so the ammonia in bore cleaners that attack copper will also attack nickel. Just use a non ammonia lube.

 

[romulus]

Will an ammoniated cleaner attack electroless nickel (ie without the copper base plating)?

 

[mete]

Yes. Electroless nickel is nickel with small amounts of phosphorous which is fairly hard , about Rc50.

 

[sm]

Last time I used Zippo lighter fluid and Kleenbore's Formula 3.

Dunno, but worked 20+ years ago--proved to still be effective not long ago...shush, don't tell anyone you actually heard me admit to cleaning a gun...not mine but a friends...( mine stay dirty remember?)

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

i've been using hoppe's 9 on a nickle 29 and a bda 380 and haven't seen any problems yet....

 

[Revolver Armorer]

Shooters Choice FP-10

FP-10 cleans thru "Passivation" which is basically unagressive cleaning with penetrating oils. FP-10 contains very mild deep penetrating oil that should not hurt.

 

[Jim K]

Hi, yesterdaysyouth and guys,

True some people use Hoppe's on nickel plated guns with no problem. Ammonia can attack nickel, but much more slowly than copper, so if the nickel does not reach the copper, everything seems OK.

But if there is anywhere (muzzle, front of cylinder, sideplate joint, screw hole) that the nickel may be cracked or chipped, the ammonial cleaner will eventually get to it.

I recommend using a non-ammonia cleaner. Why take chances?

Jim

 

[10-Ring]

A few days ago, while fondling a nickle 29, I asked about maintainence. I was told MPro7 is the ticket for nickle.

 

[sm]

Jim Keenan

Re-enforces what I've seen. Used to work with precious metals and plating processes. We also used 28% ammonia diluted in a ultrasonic cleaner...Umm fumes alone would cause nickel to peel...had to take preventative measures when copper plating before nickel plating.

Zippo lighter fluid also good for degreasing firing pins before using in freezing temps.

This before Gun Scrubber, and CRC Brakleen became available.