Rubbing Alcohol to clean

[TNP]

Hey fellow cgunners,

Lately I've been using rubbing alcohol and ballistol to clean my g19, g26, and sr22. I use the alcohol to clean the frames, underneath of the slides to the rear and the firing pin channels, and I use the ballistol to clean the barrels. I really like how the rubbing alcohol gets the grime off without leaving anything behind like oil would. My question is rubbing alcohol in any way bad for the gun?

[NorCal Einstein]

With first hand experience, it's bad on blued parts.

[ThiZZ]

rubbing alcohol would be bad for any metal parts as it would increase chances of rusting. it also weakens the metal

[Hamilton]

Rubbing alcohol has no effect on most metals. It is used as a disinfectant on medical equipment and needles. But it can remove some oils and as stated above it can affect bluing. Since it may strip protective oil on gun metal you could create a surface that is susceptible to rust if not re-oiled.

[huckberry668]

rubbing alcohol is bad for guns because it contains water. alcohol evaporates quickly but water remains. that's why you use a dehumidifier in your safe.

instead, use 'electric motor cleaner' from auto parts stores. it doesn't harm plastic parts, removes gunk and grime exactly like 'Gun Scrubber' but cost only a fraction. Spray some WD-40 on the cleaned areas afterwards to prevent rust. wipe it down and then apply 'Slide Glide' on major moving parts.

[TNP]

Ok got it alcohol bad. My question is since glocks are tenifer heat treated does that mean alcohol wont have an effect on it?

[ontmark]

Actually alcohol is excepted if you can get the 91 to 99% very little water.
There is a SIG Forum member that is an armorer and has published a cleaning guide and alcohol use is stated in it

Below are excerpts from his guide.

This gentleman is highly regarded for his knowledge.

These procedures were originally written for the officers of my agency who, like most other LEOs, don’t know much about guns and usually have even less interest in them except as a seldom-used tool of their trade. My goal was to prepare a “cookbook”-style set of instructions that could be followed by new shooters to achieve an adequate level of firearms maintenance. Knowledgeable and experienced gun owners may find them to be either somewhat simple and overly-detailed on one hand or that they’ve left out some things they think are important on the other. The thing to remember is that this is a guide, not carved-in-stone, the-only-way-to-do-things dogma. As with any guidance, users should make their own evaluations and judgments as they go along and decide for themselves what’s best for them.
a. Wipe the outside of the barrel with a rag or paper towel to remove all lubricants, loose dirt, and firing residues. Remove all grease and oil from the locking and camming surfaces on the bottom of the barrel. Although the outside of barrel may be wiped with a solvent-moistened patch if desired, it’s not usually necessary. Thoroughly wiping off the old lubricant is normally all that’s required. For removing old, dirty lubricant I prefer to use 91 or 99 percent isopropyl alcohol (see below), but use it on metal parts only, not plastic or the sights.
a. Wipe all parts with a patch lightly dampened with cleaning solvent or 91-99% isopropyl alcohol. Avoid using a patch that is so wet that solvent is squeezed into the firing pin hole or other openings in the breechblock. Dirty solvent that runs into the breech block mechanism is difficult to remove and if it builds up enough, can interfere with the firing pin. Holding the slide with the muzzle end down while cleaning the breechblock will minimize solvent running inside.

[rice_man]

rubbing alcohol is bad for guns because it contains water. alcohol evaporates quickly but water remains. that's why you use a dehumidifier in your safe.

instead, use 'electric motor cleaner' from auto parts stores. it doesn't harm plastic parts, removes gunk and grime exactly like 'Gun Scrubber' but cost only a fraction. Spray some WD-40 on the cleaned areas afterwards to prevent rust. wipe it down and then apply 'Slide Glide' on major moving parts.

This! Rubbing alcohol can contain up to 30% water. And from what the previous post says you just have to make sure you are using pure isopropyl alcohol.

[1911su16b870]

Alcohols can promote corrosion on metals. Use and then follow with liberal oil.

[tbc]

Depending on the concentration of the alcohol. Less water is better. Solvents do not cause corrosion, water is. Especially salt water.

However, just like above post, why just use Ballistol?

If you want to use alcohol, just make sure you dry them first before applying oil or else the oil will trap the water layer.




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[TNP]

I use alcohol on the rear of the slide because I dont want to get any oil/ballistol in the striker channel which leads to build up and possibly could cause a failure.

[DArBad]

There are different kinds of oils. I use the full synthetic oil that we use at work in cryostats. Now, the temperature that we set the cryostats are at less than 20 degress F, and even at that cold temp. the oil does not congeal and remains slippery, protecting the gears of our machine.

That's the kind of performance that you will like, and the one that I used to fortify my Eds Red. It gives me a very effective cleaner and a strong lubricant. I have not discerned any build up. Just wipe with a modicum amount and you're set.

[rsmorgan]

I once used a combination of a patch with 70% alcohol followed by Ed's Red for cleaning the bore when I shot corrosive ammo but long ago shifted to the 50/50 Ballistol and water mix.

I just clean the breech face with Hoppes or CLP then hold the slide with the breech face down with a dry patch against it to sponge-out most of the solvent that gets into the firingpin mechanism. About every 2000 rounds I detail strip and clean my pistols, and part of that process is a shot of spray brake cleaner down the firingpin or striker channel, a q-tip with a little CLP on it followed by a dry q-tip. I've never had any problems with this system.

[tbc]

I use alcohol on the rear of the slide because I dont want to get any oil/ballistol in the striker channel which leads to build up and possibly could cause a failure.

I hear your concern. I actually used Ballistol to clean the striker chamber all the time. But I cleaned it every range trip. I have not experienced any malfunction. But this is just my opinion.

BTW, the Ballistol I have was concentrated, not the 50/50 water mixture.


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[Blademan21]

rubbing alcohol is bad for guns because it contains water. alcohol evaporates quickly but water remains. that's why you use a dehumidifier in your safe.

instead, use 'electric motor cleaner' from auto parts stores. it doesn't harm plastic parts, removes gunk and grime exactly like 'Gun Scrubber' but cost only a fraction. Spray some WD-40 on the cleaned areas afterwards to prevent rust. wipe it down and then apply 'Slide Glide' on major moving parts.

WD-40 over time will gum up and may cause a malfunction or worse. Google WD-40 handguns and read for yourself. No disrepect just an FYI.