Chlorinated solvents

[Bountyhunter]

Here is a question that may not have a definitive answer.

Chlorides. When I read about the common solvents that we use on our guns, most of them have warnings that they contain Chlorinated something or the other.

Now, the other thing I read is that the Chlorides can make internal parts brittle and are thought to contribute to cracks and breaks......

Do any of you have any information that would lend any credibility one way or the other on this? If this is so, then WD-40 and Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber and a whole bunch of others would be on the unhealthy to use list.

B

 

[john12865]

I'm not a chemist and I'm not going to lose any sleep over this. :grin:

 

[Stophel]

Of course, if one was to use just plain water to clean his black powder fouling, one would never have to worry about such things! :winking:

 

[Zonie]

A chemical must be wieghed on its own particular formula and how it interacts with other materials.
The individual elements that make up the material may or may not react with other materials.The degreasing agents which contain chlorine like the various "Trichlor"'s do not pose any threat to steel parts. They do distroy oils totally which is why some of them are used to clean and degrease parts.
At least one of them poses a health/pollution problem so it's banned, but another with a similar name does not pose a threat so it is still used in industry.
Other Chlorides are a different animal.

 

[john12865]

Of course, if one was to use just plain water to clean his black powder fouling, one would never have to worry about such things! :winking:

:thumbsup:

 

[Bountyhunter]

Well, I have used water and MOS for years to clean my rifle. Problem was, it didnt completely clean it. Read "Seasoning Barrels" thread.

Anyway, I have read several technical writings that mentioned internal lock parts that have chipped or cracked, and the writers were of the notion that it was caused by hardening of the small metal parts from the Chlorides in WD-40 or some of the other solvents normally used for cleaning/lubricating.

I just curious if any of the rest of you had heard anything on this order.

B

 

[Swampman]

Of course, if one was to use just plain water to clean his black powder fouling, one would never have to worry about such things! :winking:

What he said

 

[MikeChapin]

I'm not a chemist and I'm not going to lose any sleep over this. :grin:

I was a chemist and I don't loose much sleep over it either either. Best degreaser I ever used was a gallon of Carbon Tet that I picked up in a lab decomission.

 

[john12865]

I'm not a chemist and I'm not going to lose any sleep over this. :grin:

I was a chemist and I don't loose much sleep over it either either. Best degreaser I ever used was a gallon of Carbon Tet that I picked up in a lab decomission.

:rotf: :rotf: :rotf: Your killing me man!!!!

 

[Stophel]

I have never had a problem with water EASILY washing out powder fouling.

On the "chlorinated solvents" I cannot imagine how they could possibly damage steel in any way. Even if they somehow attacked the surface of the steel (as in corrosion of some sort), I can't see how it could penetrate deeply enough to actually cause cracking. Besides, I have never heard of such a case actually happening. WD 40 is a LOUSY lubricant, but does a good job of blasting out the crud from the lower action/mechanism of a Marlin m. 60 .22 rifle..... Modern powder is a different animal entirely...