ed's red vs. CLP?

[SwageMeister]

How does Ed's Red match up against CLP for general cleanings/preserving? By ed's red I'm talking about this recipe:

1 part Dexron ATF, GM Spec. D-20265 or later.
1 part Kerosene - deodorized, K1
1 part Aliphatic Mineral Spirits
CAS #64741-49-9, or substitute "Stoddard Solvent", CAS #8052-41-3, or equivalent.
1 part Acetone, CAS #67-64-1.

Is it safe on chrome-lined bores and nickel plated bolt carriers? Any noticeable difference in cleaning ability?

The reason I ask is that my local gun dealer stopped carrying break free CLP and now carries some "tactical" brand CLP with a picture of a commando on the front for twice the price. Home Depot doesn't carry it any more either. So I'm looking for a chrome and nickel- safe substitute.

[klewan]

What about Froglube? Those fanatics will be posting in a bit....

[PyroFox79]

Just use CLP. you can order it online off Amazon. Or go to another store.

[bigbearbear]

Froglube FTW! Woot! (just to annoy the anti-FL crowd...)

Seriously though, I use WD-40 as a solvent (not as a lube) for flushing the bore of my AR-15. It is not the best, but it is cheap (available by the gallon!), available everywhere and gets the job done. Spray your bore down and drench it with WD-40, brush it with bore brush and then run a few patches through. Then apply a thin layer of lube/CLP with a patch afterwards.

[-hanko]

How does Ed's Red match up against CLP for general cleanings/preserving? By ed's red I'm talking about this recipe:

1 part Dexron ATF, GM Spec. D-20265 or later.
1 part Kerosene - deodorized, K1
1 part Aliphatic Mineral Spirits
CAS #64741-49-9, or substitute "Stoddard Solvent", CAS #8052-41-3, or equivalent.
1 part Acetone, CAS #67-64-1.

Is it safe on chrome-lined bores and nickel plated bolt carriers? Any noticeable difference in cleaning ability?

The reason I ask is that my local gun dealer stopped carrying break free CLP and now carries some "tactical" brand CLP with a picture of a commando on the front for twice the price. Home Depot doesn't carry it any more either. So I'm looking for a chrome and nickel- safe substitute.

What happened to the lanolin...from the original Ed's Red recipe?? Original recipe also noted acetone could be deleted to protect plastic guns and/or wood finish.

[gl0ckc0ma]

Frog Lube
FTW

[Twystd1]

CLP is better at preserving because of the paraffin in it.

Ed's red is VASTLY superior as a cleaner.

Neither is all that good for lube IMHO.
There are better products for lube than either of the above chemicals.

Thats my .02 worth of data garnered by well over 40 years of buying and using everything under the sun.

I like Fire Clean for carbon cleaning and to prevent carbon build up on my revolver cylinders and forcing cone. I also use Carbon Killer or KG1 to remove the carbon ring from a barrel.
MPro 7 for basic gunk cleaning. Odorless and no harmful solvents. It is my all around cleaner for tools around my shop. Including my office chair. Really. No kidding.
Penzoil Synth 10-30 weight for general oiling.
Slip 2000 oil for my highest end comp guns.
Butch's Bore Shine for most barrel cleaning.
Kroil for all things that are stuck. I also use it inside my barrels to help loosen crud. The stuff has never ending uses.
I use Hoppes and a brass brush for rust on blued guns. And occasionally on general crud buildup.
EEzox for long term storage of guns. (placed in socks)

I use Mpro 7 in my ultrasonic. Or soap and water. Just depends on the need.
I use MPro 7 in my small solvent tank. Or soap and water. Just depends on the need.
I use Brownells tank solvent in my big solvent tank. (De-Oderized Kerosene)
I use Palm oil to cook popcorn.

-T

[desertrider]

What, no love for Ballistol?

Hickock45 would not approve.

[Mayor McRifle]

What, no love for Ballistol?

Hickock45 would not approve.

Sure he would. He couldn't care less what you use, as long as it works for you.

[SwageMeister]

CLP is better at preserving because of the paraffin in it...
Ed's red is VASTLY superior as a cleaner... Neither is all that good for lube IMHO ...Butch's Bore Shine for most barrel cleaning...
-T

kinda figured both Red and CLP were jacks of all trades.

I was looking at Butch's bore shine as a temporary substitute, but it looks like it's also a copper solvent. That might be a problem with chrome-lined bores - my understanding is that copper is used to bond the chrome to the steel, and that a copper solvent could seep through microcracks and wear away at the bond. By all means correct me if I'm wrong.

[sofbak]

What happened to the lanolin...from the original Ed's Red recipe?? Original recipe also noted acetone could be deleted to protect plastic guns and/or wood finish.

The lanolin is an "option" for a good oil preservative formulae. Leave out the acetone, add the lanolin instead, and it makes a great oil/surface protector. I bought a 1 lb. jar of anhydrous lanolin decades ago, and am just now about to run out. I wondered if the liquid lanolin would be a good substitute, but haven't quite got there yet.

kinda figured both Red and CLP were jacks of all trades.

I was looking at Butch's bore shine as a temporary substitute, but it looks like it's also a copper solvent. That might be a problem with chrome-lined bores - my understanding is that copper is used to bond the chrome to the steel, and that a copper solvent could seep through microcracks and wear away at the bond. By all means correct me if I'm wrong.

True. Most copper solvents contain ammonia, and nickel plating is done on a "base layer" of copper plating. Any small micro fissures or cracks in the nickel will allow the solvent through to the base plating, and if it contains ammonia, it will erode the copper. Then the nickel blisters and comes off....always check the bottle contents to be sure..

[FeuerFrei]

How does Ed's Red match up against CLP for general cleanings/preserving? By ed's red I'm talking about this recipe:

1 part Dexron ATF, GM Spec. D-20265 or later.
1 part Kerosene - deodorized, K1
1 part Aliphatic Mineral Spirits
CAS #64741-49-9, or substitute "Stoddard Solvent", CAS #8052-41-3, or equivalent.
1 part Acetone, CAS #67-64-1.

Is it safe on chrome-lined bores and nickel plated bolt carriers? Any noticeable difference in cleaning ability?

The reason I ask is that my local gun dealer stopped carrying break free CLP and now carries some "tactical" brand CLP with a picture of a commando on the front for twice the price. Home Depot doesn't carry it any more either. So I'm looking for a chrome and nickel- safe substitute.

It works. No need to worry about chrome lined barrels or NiB parts.
You can play with the recipe and add or remove as needed too.
Example: kerosene and ATF to clean + lube. Try this and you'll discover it works better than most OTC lubes/cleaners.
ATF to lube only and a can of brake cleaner to clean carbon out.
Nothing fancy or spensive needed.

[GreaterFool]

I use Slip2000 EWL ($13 for 4oz on Amazon). It does not gunk up my gun like BreakFree CLP

[FLIGHT762]

I use Ed's Red for cleaning only, not as a lubricant / protectant. It's very thin. It works well as a cleaner.

CLP is better as a lubricant / protectant.

Also, Ed's Red does NOT dissolve the corrosive salts from chlorate primers, no matter what some may say. I cleaned an AK well with Ed's Red after firing chlorate primed ammo and the next few days, I found rust forming on the parts I cleaned.

A water based cleaner is needed for dissolving the salts.

[DEPUTYBILL]

For pistols.
CLP for internals.
Slide glide for the rails, and barrel lockup.