Kerosene

mobayjd · September 10, 2007, 12:03 PM

Just got home from shooting navy arms 1860 army and Uberti 1849 pocket, noticed one of my cleaners listed kerosene as an ingredient. As it was nice outside I poured some straight kerosene in a bucket and brushed and swabbed till clean then dried with air compressor, quick and easy.
Just wondering if there will be any bad effects of this method?

Jim Watson · September 10, 2007, 12:26 PM

Most BP shooters use a water based cleaner to dissolve the potassium compounds. But kerosine will not itself hurt the guns.

45Marlin carbine · September 10, 2007, 12:26 PM

I use kero for cleaning modern guns by your method. BP needs water to remove the corrosive elements IMO. I use hot W/W fluid, it has water and alcohol and little ammonia in it besides detergent. don't let it dry on the bluing, I havent yet I always rinse off with hot water after using.

Hawg · September 10, 2007, 03:25 PM

Ask five different people how to clean bp and you'll get five different answers. Kero won't hurt it but probably won't do a real good job by itself. All you need is hot soapy water and make sure you don't use any petroleum based lube afterward.

K.A.T. · September 10, 2007, 05:09 PM

Safety First, there might be some bad effects on your hands.Wear gloves.

Gbro · September 10, 2007, 05:39 PM

I use a black powder solvent now instead of hot/hot soapy water. I then cover it over with a good dollop of bore butter.
No question the HSW will clean, but i just wasn't getting a seasoned barrel.

oldmaster111 · September 10, 2007, 10:06 PM

Kerosene is one of the ingredients in Ed's Red, which I clean all my modern firearms with.

mobayjd · September 11, 2007, 11:52 AM

Hi all Jack here, well today raining so I decided to go ahead and strip the Uberti down and as for my kerosene bath, in a word NOT CLEAN!
I guess I should have listened to the pros, HOT soapy water and HOT rinse, really clean now. No excuse for me as I,m retired and have the time.
Anyway, this is a new gun and normally I strip and clean a new gun just got sorry I guess. While the little Uberti was nice on the outside different story when I opened it up, numerous burrs and machining remnants a little work with swiss files and hones now I have a slick and clean colt pocket!
Once again guys listen to the pros, HOT water.

September 10, 2007, 12:03 PM	#1
mobayjd Member Join Date: August 10, 2007 Posts: 35	Kerosene Just got home from shooting navy arms 1860 army and Uberti 1849 pocket, noticed one of my cleaners listed kerosene as an ingredient. As it was nice outside I poured some straight kerosene in a bucket and brushed and swabbed till clean then dried with air compressor, quick and easy. Just wondering if there will be any bad effects of this method?

September 10, 2007, 05:09 PM	#5
K.A.T. Member Join Date: May 31, 2007 Location: Gainesville,Ga. Posts: 80	Bad Effects Safety First, there might be some bad effects on your hands.Wear gloves.

September 10, 2007, 05:39 PM	#6
Gbro Senior Member Join Date: February 21, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,084	I use a black powder solvent now instead of hot/hot soapy water. I then cover it over with a good dollop of bore butter. No question the HSW will clean, but i just wasn't getting a seasoned barrel. __________________ Gbro CGVS For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, But to us who are being saved, It Is The Power Of God. 1Corinthians 1-18

September 10, 2007, 12:26 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 19,169	Most BP shooters use a water based cleaner to dissolve the potassium compounds. But kerosine will not itself hurt the guns.

September 10, 2007, 12:26 PM	#3
45Marlin carbine Junior member Join Date: January 26, 2007 Location: South-Western North Carolina Posts: 1,124	I use kero for cleaning modern guns by your method. BP needs water to remove the corrosive elements IMO. I use hot W/W fluid, it has water and alcohol and little ammonia in it besides detergent. don't let it dry on the bluing, I havent yet I always rinse off with hot water after using.

September 10, 2007, 03:25 PM	#4
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,378	Ask five different people how to clean bp and you'll get five different answers. Kero won't hurt it but probably won't do a real good job by itself. All you need is hot soapy water and make sure you don't use any petroleum based lube afterward.

September 10, 2007, 10:06 PM	#7
oldmaster111 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2006 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 199	Kerosene is one of the ingredients in Ed's Red, which I clean all my modern firearms with.

September 11, 2007, 11:52 AM	#8
mobayjd Member Join Date: August 10, 2007 Posts: 35	Hi all Jack here, well today raining so I decided to go ahead and strip the Uberti down and as for my kerosene bath, in a word NOT CLEAN! I guess I should have listened to the pros, HOT soapy water and HOT rinse, really clean now. No excuse for me as I,m retired and have the time. Anyway, this is a new gun and normally I strip and clean a new gun just got sorry I guess. While the little Uberti was nice on the outside different story when I opened it up, numerous burrs and machining remnants a little work with swiss files and hones now I have a slick and clean colt pocket! Once again guys listen to the pros, HOT water.