Is brake cleaner too harsh?

[fatboy]

All I mostly use is alcohol and or simple green and water 50/50

 

[George]

.... you need to listen to this: Do not get them on any finished surface you care about. Wear gloves. latex wont last, I prefer the blue nitrile but even these go to pieces with just a little exposure to the chemicals. Wear eye protection. You do not want to get any in your eyes and you will no matter how careful you try to be. Use only with adequate ventilation. (http://www.ehow.com/list_7426582_hazards-chlorinated-brake-cleaner.html) I can detect even the smallest spritz in my basement work area which is half the size of my house. Do not use them near an open flame or smoke while using them (http://www.brewracingframes.com/id75.htm). Don’t apply them over or in conjunction with other cleaning materials as you may end up with an unhealthy brew. Place your used patches, rags, paper towels, etc. in a sealed metal container or a plastic bag that you can leave outside till you can get rid of the trash. All my used cleaning materials go into a sealed container which then goes into a self closing industrial safety can.

Don't you guys find shooting in a hazmat suit to be hot, clumsy, slow and awkward?

Spence

 

[hawkeye2]

I shoot in period clothing and load on the line from a bag. I do most of my cleaning at home with non traditional methods.

I spent a lot of my life dealing with these types of substances and I'm fairly healthy but I know a fair number of people who aren't. I posted for those who might care. If you wish you can brush your teeth with it :grin: I'm not going to.

 

[George]

If you wish you can brush your teeth with it :grin: I'm not going to.

I see absolutely no sense in removing oil from my guns before shooting. When they are cleaned, I put a film of oil or lube on them, not a puddle. So, I have no need to stand them muzzles down or scour them with chemicals to get oil out of them. When I get ready to shoot, I just load and shoot, without wiping them, even if the guns have been in extended storage. I have no interest in alchemy, and I've proven to myself very thoroughly that, for me, all that chemical nonsense is a waste of time, money and effort, and is absolutely not necessary for my way of shooting.

Same thing goes for cleaning my guns and lubing my patches, I do no chemical warfare.

Spence

 

[1911nutjob]

I shoot in period clothing and load on the line from a bag. I do most of my cleaning at home with non traditional methods.

I spent a lot of my life dealing with these types of substances and I'm fairly healthy but I know a fair number of people who aren't. I posted for those who might care. If you wish you can brush your teeth with it :grin: I'm not going to.

We're on the same page. I was exposed to brake cleaner quite often in my tech days and also used it to clean guns. I quit doing that when it starting causing damage to my nervous system. I was fortunate enough to connect it in time with my doc, and the small motor tremors I suffered were only temporary as a result. No matter how much ventilation you have, it's not enough-use it OUTDOORS if you insist on cleaning guns with it. I don't believe gunscrubber is any safer. The chlorinated stuff is still put into the red brakleen cans. Not surprisingly, the non-chlorinated stuff in the green can doesn't work as well, just like any other "safer" product. I still use the red, but ONLY when it's called for, and never again to clean guns. Soapy water for BP and weaponshield for smokeless is working just fine.

 

[hawkeye2]

Spence10 it's nice to hear you don't over oil your guns. I store all my guns nose up and if anything I'm guilty of under oiling them. Even better news that you don't need any of these chemicals for lube or cleaning. There are many efective alternatives and I wish every one on this forum would use them. So why do I use 'em? I spent most of my life with them and they are always on hand for working on cars and equipment, it's just second nature to reach for them.

1911nutjob, thanks for kicking in with your experiences. I'm 100% in agreement with you. I clean with Dawn and hot water, dry with WD-40 (non-aerosol), and do a final check with carb cleaner while OUTDOORS wearing nitrile gloves all the while. Even the fumes from rubbing alcohol annoy me.