rain x all season wiper fluid

[spudnut]

Ok another stupid question , At the last couple shoots I went to I forgot to take water to clean with so I used Orange rain x all weather wiper fluid ,the stuff that de ices and coats the windshield , On flushing the barrel it looks like hardly any fouling comes out and an oiled patch comes out clean. I'm only using spit to patch and 2F powder in a smoothbore 24 G.
Do you think this stuff is coating the bore? I mean theres hardly any fouling like when I clean with water.

 

[Stumpkiller]

From what I can tell on the SDS sheets it is 5% 2-BUTOXYETHANOL (aka ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, 5% isopropyl alcohol and and the rest (>90%) is water.
https://www.rainx.com/safety-data-sheets/

So yes, the glycol is likely coating the bore. In sugar. Well, glycol is a more simple hydrocarbon than sugar so it may not be quite fair. You'll have to see how the long term effects work out.

 

[Kansas Jake]

If you are doing a quick clean with the wiper fluid before using water, the wiper fluid is probably getting the majority of the fouling out. I have used a commercial black powder cleaner called Rusty Duck Black Out occasionally if I'm not going to get to clean the gun completely with water for a day or two. It does a good job of getting most of fouling out. I still like to follow up with the good old fashion soapy water cleaning. The Rusty Duck stuff seems to be very similar to RV antifreeze or wiper fluid.

 

[smo]

I've used the cheap blue washer fluid for cleaning for several years now with good results. :thumbsup:

 

[spudnut]

I've used the cheap blue washer fluid for cleaning for several years now with good results. :thumbsup:

I know Ive seen lots of guys use this . What I used was the orange stuff that supposed to melt frost and ice on your windshield and then leaves a film that water beads off.
I plugged the touch hole and poured a gill down the barrel like I normaly do with water,When I do that it pours out black goop a couple times till the water runs clear.This stuff , no goop and when I ran an oiled patch it comes out clean! Wheres the goop? LOL :youcrazy: :idunno:

 

[MC One Shot]

Blue windshield wash is generally 50-55% methanol. I have on occasion for colder climates seen some as much as 70% methanol.

 

[coloradoclyde]

I bought some blue windshield washer fluid on sale one day from a big box retailer.. It was next to the check outs, and I was in a hurry...I saw 30 on the label and took for granted it was -30....after my washer pump froze I looked at the label and discovered it said +30
They had sold me a jug of blue water... :cursing:
That's a pretty dirty trick in northern climates :td:

 

[smo]

You mean your supposed to use that stuff in a vehicle? I thought it was for cleaning rifles only... :rotf: :wink:

I have never used the rain X brand. But I could see how leaving a film on the interior of the barrel would make it easier to clean. But when it's heat treated (shot) will it cause build up in the barrel? Is there some means (denatured alcohol) or something similar to clean out the film in the bore prior to reloading. I just read a post somewhere about using a spray coating on the exterior of an "in the white" barrel to keep it from turning.I know this works because I redone a military rifle back in the early 70's with stove black and coated it with a spray low luster lacquer spray and it still looks like it did the day it was done.

 

[Nativearizonan]

I have some questions.

Is this all you have cleaned the gun with since the first time you used it?

How many times have you cleaned your gun with it, and how many times did you shoot between cleanings?

Did you get more residue the first time you used it than later cleanings?

I'm thinking it may have coated your bore with something slick that helps the residue make it out of the barrel on each shot. That would be something worth pursuing, if that is the case.

 

[Billnpatti]

The stuff that Stumpkiller mentioned as the composition of the washer fluid is all water soluble stuff. More correctly, it is miscible in water meaning that it readily mixes with water. It will all come out when you wash out the bore with soapy water to properly clean it. I would expect no residual stuff would be in your bore after a proper cleaning. While there is not a lot of the "stuff" in the washer fluid(aparently less than 10% according to what Stumpkiller found), I don't know what it would do if you shot the gun with any of it left coating the inside of your bore. Likely nothing but I wouldn't take the chance. It is okay to use that washer fluid as preliminary cleaner but the cheapest stuff that Wal-Mart sells with few, if any, additives is better.

 

[spudnut]

I have some questions.

Is this all you have cleaned the gun with since the first time you used it?

How many times have you cleaned your gun with it, and how many times did you shoot between cleanings?

Did you get more residue the first time you used it than later cleanings?

I'm thinking it may have coated your bore with something slick that helps the residue make it out of the barrel on each shot. That would be something worth pursuing, if that is the case.

I only used it one other time before, It came out pretty clean that time too.then fired 22 shots at the local shoot.
The fellow I bought it from only used it one season and I know he used balistol when cleaning( never used the stuff myself ,so I dont know if he cleaned or oiled with it or both)I always used water and poured out the expected black goop , then oiled it with olive oil or neatsfoot oil(pure) but no goop with the orange rain x. Oh and I never swab between shots

 

[MC One Shot]

I too have encountered that. I always read the label and buy several cases of the highest methanol content wash I can find. I may have to go to several outlets to find it.

 

[Black Jaque Janaviac]

Spud
Do you think the rainex is laying a coating right over the fouling?

If the coating is on the bare metal I would feel secure. But if the solvent doesn't remove fouling I would be concerned.

 

[Black Hand]

...then fired 22 shots at the local shoot.

A whole 22 shots? Based on your post, this appears to be an amazing achievement. :hmm: :hmm:

I use water (sometimes a little dish soap) to clean and lube with Bear grease - 22 shots (without swabbing) are easily achieved and surpassed (unless in extremely dry conditions).

 

[coloradoclyde]

It should be noted that 2-Butoxyethanol is toxic...
RainX Is mostly water...2-Butoxyethanol is a surfactant and acts like a soap...
So essentially it is fake soap and water...

It is found in a multitude of household cleaners...

https://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/household/search?tbl=TblChemicals&queryx=111-76-2

 

[rdstrain49]

Many years ago I used rain x as directed on a surface it was recommended for. It ruined a very expensive windshield. I contacted Rain x and their response was "ya it'll do that" and they hung up. Never used any of their product again, and never will. Anyway water is cheaper. BTW if you wipe the bore between shots your accuracy will likely improve.