Would this cleaning technique hurt anything?

yggorf · December 26, 2009, 04:15 PM

I am looking to speed up my handgun cleaning and so began investigating the options. I found the Cylinder and Slide Dunk-Kit (too expensive) and read about ultrasonic cleaning (too expensive for new units, I'll watch for a used one). In the meantime, I thought of this idea -- half fill a coffee can with BreakFree CLP, add gun (minus grips), cover, and set on my brass tumbler. It seems like this would get the CLP really vibrating in there.

Any reason not to try this -- would it work?

DWARREN123 · December 26, 2009, 04:19 PM

If you want easy and fairly cheap go with a spray cleaner then wipe and lube.
Dumping it in a CLP you will still have to clean off the excess.
With this method only a field strip is needed.

Tuzo · December 26, 2009, 04:27 PM

Seems as if it would work.

Pluses: speed, whole gun lube, clean gun and casings concurrently

Minuses: expense of BreakFree, filtering BreakFree fluid for later use, lubricant where it does not belong, lots of duct tape attaching a coffee can to the vibratory tumbler, hope you have a good sealing coffee can lid

The tumbler may have to be modified somewhat and it may lead to a new patent. Please give it a try and report the results.

Malamute · December 26, 2009, 10:39 PM

Or, run a patch wet with shooters choice or your favorite bore solvent down the bore and chambers, let sit for a while (1/2 hr -1 hr), come back and clean it. Just like soaking dishes, give it a little time to work before jumping in, and it goes easier.

Does anyone actually "clean" a gun with break free? I use it as a lube after I'm done cleaning with Shooters Choice, Hoppes No 9, or other true copper or powder solvent.

blackeyed dueler · December 27, 2009, 04:01 AM

I actually spend little time cleaning handguns(rifles are different story),I spray off with breakcleaner,foam up the bore with outers,1hr later use a boresnake(once),spray with rem-oil,then I am done.

I think your idea would really work,and is pretty cleaver,but it would be way too time consuming for me.

later

BD

yggorf · December 27, 2009, 11:01 AM

My idea is for those times when you want to "deep clean" the internals of the frame. For normal barrel/slide cleaning, I agree it is just as fast and easier to simply field strip the gun, clean the disassembled parts, and re-assemble.

I'm thinking once every year or so for the frame internals cleaning (per gun).

Bill DeShivs · December 27, 2009, 02:20 PM

CLP is not a real good cleaner.
Use a bucket of mineral spirits, instead.

Casimer · December 27, 2009, 03:29 PM

I don't think that you're going to get the effect that you're expecting. Ultrasonic cleaners work by what's known as cavitation, which cleans by the action of collapsing bubbles. The bubbles are formed by compression waves using a transducer. Simply vibrating the cleaning solution won't have the same effect.

And I agree w/ Bill, something less viscous would probably be a better choice for dipping - like mineral spirits, or kerosene. These are a lot cheaper too.

drail · December 27, 2009, 07:54 PM

+1 for Casimer. A tumbler's vibrations aren't going to come close to what an ultrasonic cleaner will do. (and they are very expensive) If you really want the gun clean just take the time to strip and clean it. It's not really that hard or time consuming. If you do not want to fully strip it down then take it down as far as you can and soak in CLP and blow it out with an air compressor. You need an air compressor anyway for lots of other manly jobs in the garage, right?

December 26, 2009, 04:15 PM	#1
yggorf Senior Member Join Date: April 17, 2009 Posts: 125	Would this cleaning technique hurt anything? I am looking to speed up my handgun cleaning and so began investigating the options. I found the Cylinder and Slide Dunk-Kit (too expensive) and read about ultrasonic cleaning (too expensive for new units, I'll watch for a used one). In the meantime, I thought of this idea -- half fill a coffee can with BreakFree CLP, add gun (minus grips), cover, and set on my brass tumbler. It seems like this would get the CLP really vibrating in there. Any reason not to try this -- would it work?

December 26, 2009, 04:19 PM	#2
DWARREN123 Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2006 Location: BETWEEN TN & KY Posts: 1,758	If you want easy and fairly cheap go with a spray cleaner then wipe and lube. Dumping it in a CLP you will still have to clean off the excess. With this method only a field strip is needed. __________________ Have a nice day!

December 26, 2009, 10:39 PM	#4
Malamute Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2004 Location: Rocky Mts Posts: 859	Or, run a patch wet with shooters choice or your favorite bore solvent down the bore and chambers, let sit for a while (1/2 hr -1 hr), come back and clean it. Just like soaking dishes, give it a little time to work before jumping in, and it goes easier. Does anyone actually "clean" a gun with break free? I use it as a lube after I'm done cleaning with Shooters Choice, Hoppes No 9, or other true copper or powder solvent. __________________ "Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt-

December 27, 2009, 02:20 PM	#7
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	CLP is not a real good cleaner. Use a bucket of mineral spirits, instead. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

December 26, 2009, 04:27 PM	#3
Tuzo Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 797	Seems as if it would work. Pluses: speed, whole gun lube, clean gun and casings concurrently Minuses: expense of BreakFree, filtering BreakFree fluid for later use, lubricant where it does not belong, lots of duct tape attaching a coffee can to the vibratory tumbler, hope you have a good sealing coffee can lid The tumbler may have to be modified somewhat and it may lead to a new patent. Please give it a try and report the results.

December 27, 2009, 04:01 AM	#5
blackeyed dueler Junior Member Join Date: December 26, 2009 Posts: 10	I actually spend little time cleaning handguns(rifles are different story),I spray off with breakcleaner,foam up the bore with outers,1hr later use a boresnake(once),spray with rem-oil,then I am done. I think your idea would really work,and is pretty cleaver,but it would be way too time consuming for me. later BD

December 27, 2009, 11:01 AM	#6
yggorf Senior Member Join Date: April 17, 2009 Posts: 125	My idea is for those times when you want to "deep clean" the internals of the frame. For normal barrel/slide cleaning, I agree it is just as fast and easier to simply field strip the gun, clean the disassembled parts, and re-assemble. I'm thinking once every year or so for the frame internals cleaning (per gun).

December 27, 2009, 03:29 PM	#8
Casimer Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2007 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Posts: 1,918	I don't think that you're going to get the effect that you're expecting. Ultrasonic cleaners work by what's known as cavitation, which cleans by the action of collapsing bubbles. The bubbles are formed by compression waves using a transducer. Simply vibrating the cleaning solution won't have the same effect. And I agree w/ Bill, something less viscous would probably be a better choice for dipping - like mineral spirits, or kerosene. These are a lot cheaper too.

December 27, 2009, 07:54 PM	#9
drail Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2008 Posts: 3,150	+1 for Casimer. A tumbler's vibrations aren't going to come close to what an ultrasonic cleaner will do. (and they are very expensive) If you really want the gun clean just take the time to strip and clean it. It's not really that hard or time consuming. If you do not want to fully strip it down then take it down as far as you can and soak in CLP and blow it out with an air compressor. You need an air compressor anyway for lots of other manly jobs in the garage, right?