Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber

[sthornwall]

http://www.birchwoodcasey.com/sport

[EricCartmann]

http://www.birchwoodcasey.com/sport

only a third? for me it takes 1/5th the time.

there must be something wrong with your particuliar gun scrubber bottle

[sthornwall]

I used to be Army. I take extra care in cleaning my firearms. I clean them completly after every use. I probably go through about 50 Q-Tips alone for each rifle. I can't see how you could clean an AR in 18 minutes and have it ready for inspection by a drill instructor. That's the kind of clean I'm talking about. If you are talking about cleaning just for function then I could do that in five minutes as most military, retired and active could do.

only a third? for me it takes 1/5th the time.

there must be something wrong with your particuliar gun scrubber bottle

[maxicon]

Brake cleaner is the same thing as Gun Scrubber, and runs about $2 a can. I love the stuff for deep-cleaning, especially parts with lots of cosmo.

I get good results with my ultrasonic and hot water with dish detergent on smaller parts, but for the big stuff, you can't beat spray cans of brake cleaner.

[guns_and_labs]

I find it's even faster if I first drench everything in MPro or SimpleGreen, hit it with a toothbrush, and then use the Gun Scrubber to hose it off. I think it's even faster than 18 minutes, but I haven't timed it. Nor do I have a DI handy, but it might well pass.

[EricCartmann]

I used to be Army. I take extra care in cleaning my firearms. I clean them completly after every use. I probably go through about 50 Q-Tips alone for each rifle. I can't see how you could clean an AR in 18 minutes and have it ready for inspection by a drill instructor. That's the kind of clean I'm talking about. If you are talking about cleaning just for function then I could do that in five minutes as most military, retired and active could do.

I was in the Army too. 12B Active Duty for 3 friggin years. If you have gunscrubber you can clean it in 18 minutes easily. Takes off all the carbon that break free does not.

[deez]

Brake cleaner is the same thing as Gun Scrubber, and runs about $2 a can. I love the stuff for deep-cleaning, especially parts with lots of cosmo.

I get good results with my ultrasonic and hot water with dish detergent on smaller parts, but for the big stuff, you can't beat spray cans of brake cleaner.

+1 on the brake cleaner. I use the nonchlorinated version.

[Shane916]

I have heard all brake cleaners harm plastic. I have introduced plastic to Gun Scrubber on numerous occasions and have seen no negative effects thus far.

[deguello]

yes, definitely keep the gun scrubber/brake cleaner away from any type of plastic-fiberglass-composite material on your weapon. It'll change not only the looks of the part but will weaken it as well.

[maxicon]

I have heard all brake cleaners harm plastic. I have introduced plastic to Gun Scrubber on numerous occasions and have seen no negative effects thus far.

Try brake cleaner on the same plastics - you'll see the same results. Gun Scrubber will definitely eat some plastics; it depends on what kind of plastic it is. Use extreme caution with any first-time solvent use around any plastics you care about.

The only issues I've seen with brake cleaner and plastics was when I hosed down my Ruger P95 for a deep clean after doing an abrasive trigger smoothing on it. The plastic body got a frosted look, and showed the marks from the gripping dots on the gloves I used. I wiped it down with CLP, and everything was back to normal. This was several years ago, and you can't see any trace now, but I always test in an inconspicuous place first.

The problem is that this type of solvent strips oils and related chemicals very aggressively, and all plastics contain compounds called plasticizers that provide flexibility and toughness. For the tough plastics used in guns, it generally only strips the surface layers, but this can result in a color change, and can cause cracking/crazing and brittleness if used repeatedly over time.

The things that either one can damage are plastic grip panels (CZ75 factory grips have been reported melted), paint (safety markings, sight dots), wood finishes, certain plastic parts like the Marlin 60 trigger guards, etc.

Personally, I only use it occasionally for specific high-power cleaning jobs, and usually only on metal parts.

[Fjold]

I find it's even faster if I first drench everything in MPro or SimpleGreen, hit it with a toothbrush, and then use the Gun Scrubber to hose it off. I think it's even faster than 18 minutes, but I haven't timed it. Nor do I have a DI handy, but it might well pass.

Simple Green is corrosive to aluminum so I would think carefully before using it.

Boeing and General Electric put out a technical alert a couple of years ago prohibiting the use of Simple Green on aluminum airframes and engine components for all aluminum alloys.

Simple Green has come up with a new formulation called "Simple Green Extreme" to address this issue.

[chiefcrash]

You might wanna give Break Free's Powder Blast a shot too. It's a little less harsh, especially on plastic, wood, and finishes...

I think they also make a "synthetic safe formula" version of Gun Scrubber too, if you need it

[EricCartmann]

The Honda Brake Disc Cleaner sold at motorcycle shops is also plastic safe. This because motorcycles have lots of nice and shiny plastic parts, hence the need for this stuff to be plastic safe. Stuff works great but is just as much as gunscrubber, so not really saving any money using it.

Brake Disc Cleaner was meant to just spray on (no wiping), and I am willing to bet if it can take off brake pad particle embeded in the disc, it will have no problem taking off carbon off a gun.

I find both work... Pick your pie.

[guns_and_labs]

Simple Green is corrosive to aluminum so I would think carefully before using it.

Boeing and General Electric put out a technical alert a couple of years ago prohibiting the use of Simple Green on aluminum airframes and engine components for all aluminum alloys.

Simple Green has come up with a new formulation called "Simple Green Extreme" to address this issue.

Thanks for the alert. How about the citrus stuff?

[EricCartmann]

Simple Green is corrosive to aluminum so I would think carefully before using it.

Boeing and General Electric put out a technical alert a couple of years ago prohibiting the use of Simple Green on aluminum airframes and engine components for all aluminum alloys.

Simple Green has come up with a new formulation called "Simple Green Extreme" to address this issue.

+100 on that

I use to use it when cleaning my dirt bikes and have found that it leaves white residue that would never come off without sanding! I believe this white residue is aluminum rust? I stopped using simple green (PERIOD).