How to clean your bronze and nylon brushes?

Jack Reevez · May 29, 2008, 11:43 PM

Hi . I just want to know how to protect and clean the phosphor bronze brushes, and the nylon and tynnex brushes after using them. I use solvents like Hpppes No. 9, hoppes benchrest No. 9, clenzoil, the blue wonder and break free clp. All i do after using them to clean the barrels is put the brushes under hot running water for about 30 seconds, give am a couple of jerks, and then let put them someplace dry to let them dry off, and then just put em in a box.

Is that right? Or should i be doing something else?

Thanks in advance guys.

Martyn4802 · May 30, 2008, 05:23 AM

I use the same cleaning solvent used with the brushes to clean barrels for cleaning up the brushes. After use, I squirt the solvent down through the brush till all of the crud is washed out of the brush bristles, then dry the brush with a cotton flannel cloth.

Martyn

parrothead2581 · May 30, 2008, 10:20 AM

Rubbing alcohol works just fine.

hkg3 · May 31, 2008, 11:00 AM

+1 for rubbing alcohol.

wild willy · May 31, 2008, 03:27 PM

I use brake cleaner

wogpotter · May 31, 2008, 03:40 PM

GunScrubber, Brake cleaner, or a commercial cleaning/degreasing product called "ID Red".

One thing I would NOT do is clean with any ammonia based cleaner as it will attack the bristles just like it attacks metal fouling in the bore.

skeeter1 · June 1, 2008, 01:05 AM

I've never personally tried it (my bore brushes are all dirty), but how about tossing them in the silverware tray in the dishwasher? Sound to me like it *ought* to work. I just ran a very greasy, burned-on food grill pan through mine tonight, and it came out clean as a whistle.

Like I said, I've never tried this with bore brushes (and I have some that are 60 years old), so you're on your own. Besides, they only cost a couple of bucks, so you might want to try it.

Whisper 300 · June 1, 2008, 07:26 AM

I am seriously hoping that Skeeters idea for using the dishwasher is a joke.
If not, please don't ever invite me over to eat off of his dishes or silverware.
I can only imagine what toxic brew is on the brushes- I sure as hell do not want it coating the insides of my dishwasher.
Bad enough that I expose myself to lead, cadmium and whatever organic solvents I already do, I see no need to extend it to my dinner table.

Gary

wncchester · June 9, 2008, 09:31 AM

I clean my brushes by swishing them in oderless mineral spirtits, a paint thinner. A small pickle jar with a screw-top lid keeps the mineral spirits safely stored and it's always near at hand in my shop.

Running brushes through a dish washer is okay but over kill. The common bacteria in spoiled foods are much more of a potential hazard to our health than any possible tiny traces of "toxic brew." Oils are the base of our gun cleaning products and dish washer detergents attack oils pretty vigerously. The final hot water rinse will flush any residual traces away.

Whisper, I doubt that Jack had any plans to invite you over for dinner.

Wleoff · June 9, 2008, 11:05 AM

Brake cleaner works great and is cheap. Even some of the brake cleaner is green- environmentally friendly.

kymarkh · June 9, 2008, 12:01 PM

I usually just wipe them off with a rag or paper towels.

Rich Miranda · June 9, 2008, 01:28 PM

I use GunScrubber (which is IMO just expensive brake cleaner) and spray the brushes clean before storing them.

Lavid2002 · June 10, 2008, 12:24 PM

Water-causes rust, no good
Hoppes, or other cleaner-May include copper solvents and wear down your brush.

May 29, 2008, 11:43 PM	#1
Jack Reevez Member Join Date: April 2, 2008 Posts: 32	How to clean your bronze and nylon brushes? Hi . I just want to know how to protect and clean the phosphor bronze brushes, and the nylon and tynnex brushes after using them. I use solvents like Hpppes No. 9, hoppes benchrest No. 9, clenzoil, the blue wonder and break free clp. All i do after using them to clean the barrels is put the brushes under hot running water for about 30 seconds, give am a couple of jerks, and then let put them someplace dry to let them dry off, and then just put em in a box. Is that right? Or should i be doing something else? Thanks in advance guys.

May 30, 2008, 05:23 AM	#2
Martyn4802 Senior Member Join Date: June 12, 2007 Location: Grayling, Michigan Posts: 737	I use the same cleaning solvent used with the brushes to clean barrels for cleaning up the brushes. After use, I squirt the solvent down through the brush till all of the crud is washed out of the brush bristles, then dry the brush with a cotton flannel cloth. Martyn __________________ US Army Retired NRA Benefactor Life Member JPFO

May 30, 2008, 10:20 AM	#3
parrothead2581 Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2005 Posts: 1,268	Rubbing alcohol works just fine. __________________ But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. Psalm 52:8

May 31, 2008, 11:00 AM	#4
hkg3 Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1999 Location: Kalifornia, on my way to Arizona Posts: 1,149	+1 for rubbing alcohol. __________________ "The next time I shoot somebody I could be arrested." - Lt. Frank Drebin, The Naked Gun

June 1, 2008, 01:05 AM	#7
skeeter1 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2006 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 3,403	This is just a thought I've never personally tried it (my bore brushes are all dirty), but how about tossing them in the silverware tray in the dishwasher? Sound to me like it ought to work. I just ran a very greasy, burned-on food grill pan through mine tonight, and it came out clean as a whistle. Like I said, I've never tried this with bore brushes (and I have some that are 60 years old), so you're on your own. Besides, they only cost a couple of bucks, so you might want to try it.

May 31, 2008, 03:27 PM	#5
wild willy Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2006 Posts: 404	I use brake cleaner

May 31, 2008, 03:40 PM	#6
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	GunScrubber, Brake cleaner, or a commercial cleaning/degreasing product called "ID Red". One thing I would NOT do is clean with any ammonia based cleaner as it will attack the bristles just like it attacks metal fouling in the bore.

June 1, 2008, 07:26 AM	#8
Whisper 300 Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2006 Posts: 155	I am seriously hoping that Skeeters idea for using the dishwasher is a joke. If not, please don't ever invite me over to eat off of his dishes or silverware. I can only imagine what toxic brew is on the brushes- I sure as hell do not want it coating the insides of my dishwasher. Bad enough that I expose myself to lead, cadmium and whatever organic solvents I already do, I see no need to extend it to my dinner table. Gary

June 9, 2008, 09:31 AM	#9
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	I clean my brushes by swishing them in oderless mineral spirtits, a paint thinner. A small pickle jar with a screw-top lid keeps the mineral spirits safely stored and it's always near at hand in my shop. Running brushes through a dish washer is okay but over kill. The common bacteria in spoiled foods are much more of a potential hazard to our health than any possible tiny traces of "toxic brew." Oils are the base of our gun cleaning products and dish washer detergents attack oils pretty vigerously. The final hot water rinse will flush any residual traces away. Whisper, I doubt that Jack had any plans to invite you over for dinner.

June 9, 2008, 11:05 AM	#10
Wleoff Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2008 Location: North AL Posts: 380	Brake cleaner works great and is cheap. Even some of the brake cleaner is green- environmentally friendly.

June 9, 2008, 12:01 PM	#11
kymarkh Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2008 Posts: 181	I usually just wipe them off with a rag or paper towels.

June 9, 2008, 01:28 PM	#12
Rich Miranda Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2008 Location: San Antonio, not San Antone... Posts: 1,203	I use GunScrubber (which is IMO just expensive brake cleaner) and spray the brushes clean before storing them. __________________ Read this!: I collect .38 Special and .357 Mag cartridges and I will PAY CASH for the headstamps I don't already have! Please PM me. Please donate blood, plasma, and platelets - people's lives literally depend on it.

June 10, 2008, 12:24 PM	#13
Lavid2002 Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2007 Posts: 2,568	Alcohol Water-causes rust, no good Hoppes, or other cleaner-May include copper solvents and wear down your brush. __________________ Math>Grammar