Isopropyl or Denatured alcohol for fancy cleaning solutions?

[Skychief]

Always one to tinker, I'm going to try a solution of Murphy's Oil Soap, hydrogen peroxide, and alcohol for a cleaning solution today.

I have all on hand. The alcohol is 91% Isopropyl rubbing alcohol. Is this the type used, or do I need to make a sorti for the denatured type?

I can't see myself going forward with concocting these mixtures forever more, unless, it proves vastly superior to plain old water in a stubborn little 32 that I have. We will see. :thumbsup:

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any eye of the newt around here.

So, is my 91% isopropyl rubbing alcohol the ticket?

Hope to hear back soon as I'm in the middle of shootin' now. Life is good. :thumbsup:

Best regards, Skychief

 

[Patocazador]

The 91% isopropyl alcohol is very good for taking up water after cleaning and then evaporating. I don't see why it would actually help cleaning the barrel.
Soap is the best choice of most people. However, I do use 409 cleaner and that might have alcohol in it. I never checked. :idunno:

Isopropyl alcohol is not safe to drink so it's already "denatured". Methanol is added to ethanol to denature it. This is to discourage people from drinking it and avoiding all the federal taxes (and dieing as a result).

 

[Gene L]

I bought a box of those alcohol swabs for wiping between shots. I don't know they do any better than water, but they dry off quickly.

 

[robinsroost]

Chief, I found denatured alcohol, (wood alcohol), in the paint section at Walmart. It is used to thin shellac.......robin :wink:

 

[Maven]

70% - 91% isoprppyl alcohol is what you want because it won't attack metal. Methanol/wood alcohol, which is sometimes called "denatured" alcohol, most certainly will. I.e., you don't want it in your bbl.

 

[necchi]

:bull: I've been using Denatured Alcohol after soap/water cleaning to dissipate water and for rinsing out storage oils for decades with no ill effects.

 

[hanshi]

I also use denatured alcohol for drying out the bore and removing oil. I don't "clean" with it or use it in lubes.

 

[nhmoose]

91 or 98 % alcohol wont make a lick of difference, remember the hydrogen peroxide gives you 97% water.

I been using the 1/3,1/3,1/3 mix for 30 plus years best cleaner I have ever used. Use wd-40 after drying the bore and then Use a good protectant. I use RIG and will put the gun away till the next shoot or season with no worry at all.

 

[Grenadier1758]

When it comes to the alcohol you use, it makes no difference whether you use the 91% alcohol or the 70% rubbing alcohol other than the cost of the rubbing alcohol. The H2O2 adds more than enough water to the mix that there is no real benefit to the higher percentage either in the alcohol or the hydrogen peroxide.

The MAP mix is a much more aggressive seeming cleaner than the soap and water alone. Ultimately does MAP clean better than soap and water? In my experience, not enough to continue to make batches.

 

[Maven]

Exactly!

 

[smo]

I've used DA for years myself without any issues :hmm: :idunno:

 

[smo]

I only use DA to dry out my WW fluid cleaning solution. Then coat inside & out with Barricade. No problems :hatsoff:

 

[RonRC]

Rubbing alcohol is, as stated above, is mostly isopropyl alcohol. However, some brands also contain additives. Because most alcoholic drinks contain ethanol, rubbing alcohol made from ethanol usually contains additives such as methanol, sucrose octaacetate and denatonium benzoate to prevent people from drinking the alcohol for pleasure.

I make certain that the alcohol I buy is only made of isopropyl alcohol and water.
Ron

 

[coloradoclyde]

70% - 91% isoprppyl alcohol is what you want because it won't attack metal. Methanol/wood alcohol, which is sometimes called "denatured" alcohol, most certainly will. I.e., you don't want it in your bbl.

Denatured alcohol is ethanol (aka moonshine) or drinkable alcohol that has been made undrinkable by adding other chemical such as methanol or isopropyl alcohol or bittering agents to make it undrinkable to discourage drinking.....

Denatured alcohol or ethanol is a better cleaning solvent because it mixes with "salts", the byproducts from black powder combustion......Isopropyl, does not. therefore it is less effective as a cleaning solvent.

Use denatured alcohol, ethanol, or HEET gasoline additive in the yellow bottle.

All isopropyl alcohol contributes to a cleaning solution is its ability to absorb water.
Ethanol/ denatured alcohol does that also and more.

As far as alcohol attacking steel....I'm not worried....Yes alcohol is corrosive, but it does little to steel, however, it will destroy lesser metals like potmetal. or zinc alloys.
:2

If you have any doubt about what denatured alcohol is, read the back of the can....it will tell you.
If it says Methanol.....move on to another brand.

 

[Skychief]

Thanks to all for the replies.

I tried the concoction today.

Simply put, I'm going back to plain ol' water for my cleaning. If I get a wild hair for something more exotic, I'll add a drop or two of dish soap to the mix.

The M.A.P. mixture didn't impress me.

Once again, I find the old ways are usually best.

Thanks for your kind replies, Skychief

 

[coloradoclyde]

How you use something makes all the difference......Also, I always give things a fair and full "shake" (try).... :v

Bottom line.....use what works best for you!...

 

[Twisted_1in66]

Yup, 91% Isopropyl is what I've used in my MAP cleaning solution for many years. When I don't have it or run out because I've let someone else use it at an event, water works fine. I think I continue to use it mainly because a gun builder friend of mine told me I should use it back in about 2000, and it does do a very good job of cleaning my rifles.

Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:
Dan

 

[smoothshooter]

70% Isopropyl is the way to go.
It is 30% water.
Any kind of alcohol that has less than 30% water evaporates too fast for me.

70 / 30 Isopropyl is almost all I use for cleaning black powder guns, sometimes using diluted Ballistol as well.

 

[Maven]

Thanks for the clarification, CC! :bow:

 

[Billnpatti]

Either one works just fine. I have tried both and I can't see any significant difference other than the price. If you want to stick with alcohol, just go to some place like a Dollar General store or one of the other discount dollar stores and buy isopropyl alcohol. That is about the cheapest place to find it.

Having said that, I find that the best cleaning solution I have found is 1:10 dilution of Ballistol in water. I disassemble my revolver and spray everything with a generous amount of the dilution. Then let it sit for a few minutes to let the solution do its job. Then it is a simple job of wiping everything out with patches and some more of the dilution. It's great stuff, just seems to melt the fouling and crud away.