Ed's Red (Homemade bore cleaner)

[flypops]

I was perusing some older posts and found this well regarded formula for cleaning bores of various types and want to make up a batch. Being here in Kommiefornia it seems the solvents that are used (Varsol and or Mineral Spirits) are not available. The mineral spirits for example say right on the can "not for sale or use in California" as seen from the Home Depot website picture.

So what can be used in place of the solvent?

I have a can of paint thinner and another of denatured alcohol for use in place of the kerosene, although I believe the kerosene won't be that difficult to find, my real question is the Varsol or Mineral Spirits. What are you guys who mix this stuff using?

Thanks for any guidance provided.

[G-forceJunkie]

It stinks and doesn't clean like some magic sauce. Unless you are shooting ALOT of shotguns, and using a high volume of cleaning fluids...just stick to buying a pint or quart of cleaner every few years. That said:

Kerosene you can subsitute K1 of diesel. Dont use alcohol, its mostly water.

[JagerDog]

ATF, paint thinner (in place of MS), acetone and kerosene. That's the recipe I know of.

Low odor MS should be available, but not a good. Naptha would work.

Dunno what Varsol is.

Skip the acetone from plastic parts (including stock coatings).

Can buy a quart of kerosene (made for lamps).

Just ATF and kerosene make a pretty good gun oil.

[flypops]

ATF, paint thinner (in place of MS), acetone and kerosene. That's the recipe I know of.

Low odor MS should be available, but not a good. Naptha would work.

Dunno what Varsol is.

Skip the acetone from plastic parts (including stock coatings).

Can buy a quart of kerosene (made for lamps).

Just ATF and kerosene make a pretty good gun oil.

Thank you sir, this is what I was looking for. The paint thinner I have should be GTG then. Just need to get some kerosene.

[Ducky's Dad]

The paint thinner I have should be GTG then.

If the paint thinner you have is SCAQMD-legal, it is crap. Last time I looked at that mix, it contained acetone and surfactants and is worthless even for thinning paint. You can get real paint thinner and mineral spirits in places like San Diego, Sacramento, Arizona. You can also find it sometimes in places like Big Bear because there is (or used to be) a high-altitude exemption for areas above 4,000 ft elevation. But I would just stick with something like CLP and forget the Ed's Red. It's a cult item.

And anything with acetone is likely to damage your wood finish, unless it's polyurethane.

[BillyMays]

You can also find it sometimes in places like Big Bear because there is (or used to be) a high-altitude exemption for areas above 4,000 ft elevation.

Last month when I was at the hardware store they claimed this exemption still applies. I believe it is 5,000 feet because I can get the good stuff in Rimforest (5,500ft) but not Ace in Crestline (4,800ft). I have absolutely no legal confirmation of this.

[Carcassonne]

Ed's Red is an old recipe. The ATF he used was most likely made from whale oil. You can't get that stuff anymore.

WD40 is made with Kerosene. It is listed as "refined jet fuel" on the MSDS. Jet fuel is refined kerosene.

As mentioned by others, you are better off buying ready made gun cleaner like Break Free CLP or Hoppes #9.

.

[FeuerFrei]

For de-greasing firearms I use 91% medical grade alcohol.

Cleaning is usually done with kerosene (K1) or Coleman white gas. (naptha) or brake cleaner.

Lube is a cornucopia of stuff I use on/in other machines I have around the ranch. Grease/oil. ATF will do a job any time if you're in a pinch for lube.

I have found eds red formula un-necessary to keep around after mixing some up for firearm use. YMMV. Works great for hedge trimmer blades tho.

[md2020]

If the paint thinner you have is SCAQMD-legal, it is crap. Last time I looked at that mix, it contained acetone and surfactants and is worthless even for thinning paint. You can get real paint thinner and mineral spirits in places like San Diego, Sacramento, Arizona. You can also find it sometimes in places like Big Bear because there is (or used to be) a high-altitude exemption for areas above 4,000 ft elevation. But I would just stick with something like CLP and forget the Ed's Red. It's a cult item.

And anything with acetone is likely to damage your wood finish, unless it's polyurethane.

Paint thinner to thin paint??? Wrong forum

Paint thinner to clean guns... Right forum.

I bought a used gun, took off the furniture and then let the action soak in paint thinner for a day. All of the gunk litterally fell out of the bottom.

After air blowing it dry, I lubed it appropriately.

Works great.

[Ducky's Dad]

I can get the good stuff in Rimforest (5,500ft) but not Ace in Crestline (4,800ft).

Could be because Ace is part of a system for group buying and the Crestline store gets whatever they ship to the rest of So Cal. Last time I was at Conklin's in Big Bear, Cliff told me he was having a hard time getting real (high altitude legal) stuff because all the warehouses down the hill are stocking the sea level products that the vast majority of of their customers can use.

[mausercat]

There is DIY store in Big Bear. I wonder if they stock the real stuff?

[ocabj]

I'll piggy back on all the other comments about Ed's Red not being all that great. I tried it because the older folks at my prior club/range swore by it. But after using the specific ingredients in the appropriate proportions and trying it out, it wasn't any better than any commercially made cleaning fluids.

I don't know what you're really trying to clean given this is the shotgun forum, but I really like Bore Tech C4 for carbon.

[Oceanbob]