Brake cleaner to degrease before spraying?

[mattri]

We all know that prep is 99% of any good finish- regardless of which method/product you go with.

Would there be any ill effect to using brake cleaner to spray down a barreled action as a final degrease/rinse before applying a coating of one's choice?

If not brake cleaner, than what?

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I have used thinners and acetone (not together) to clean before Duracoat without issues. I guess any de-greaser will suffice so long as it removes any oils from the surface and leaves no residue behind.

 

[std7mag]

I use starting fluid. No oils in it.

 

[Twdmar]

I don't like brake cleaner for that. Some seem like they leave a residue. Lacquer thinner cleans well.

 

[shortgrass]

Brake cleaner for the heavy grease, oil and grime,,,,, denatured alcohol to 'wash' the residue, from the brake cleaner, away.

 

[hpshooter]

If not brake cleaner, than what?

If I were to use an aerosol I think I would use contact cleaner. I generally use Acetone or Lacquer thinner on a rag. Yea, it is politically and environmentally incorrect and most likely has adverse affects on my health but other than the growth of a third eye in the back of my head I am pretty much the same as when I popped onto this rock.

BCZ will most likely contribute his thoughts as to what the pro painters use. When I moonlighted in a body shop in the dark ages we used Martin Senior "Final Wash".

 

[338 dude]

We all know that prep is 99% of any good finish- regardless of which method/product you go with.

Would there be any ill effect to using brake cleaner to spray down a barreled action as a final degrease/rinse before applying a coating of one's choice?

If not brake cleaner, than what?

Acetone

 

[Sandstorm]

Naptha work's well for paint prep after de-greaser.

 

[spudgun]

Use Acetone on the surface, heat up with a heat gun and then wipe it down again (heat will help bring oil's out of the pores).

Save the brake cleaner (which I use a lot) for the heavy carbon and oil surfaces. Great on AR actions and gas tubes.

Just remember that some bakelite grips and older plastic grips and stock may soften when using brake cleaner. If in doubt take them off.

 

[DirtySteve]

I spray everything with brake cleaner to get it ready to soak in Acetone for an hour.. I use a 3 1/2 foot piece of 4" pvc pipe with a cap to soak the barreled action in. Then bake it to off gas the part.. Cerakote has some good videos..

 

[DocCarbon]

When a coating MUST stick to a metallic substrate ,I suggest the following regiment .

Hot soapy ( Dawn Dish washing soap and Boiling water ) wash pieces or parts with clean soft brush .
Rinse in Very very clean water rinse twice . Place parts into a 40% solution of Hydrochloric aid with tongs preferably plastic with rubber tips ,followed by a neutral water and baking soda rinse . Followed by Clean water rinse . Preferred Rinse in de-ionized water and immediately placed into either acetone or MEK Methyl Ethyl Ketone solvent submerged ( NO air contamination ) . Remove when ready to apply coating .

I use that process whenever applying , Dura coat ,ceramic ,epoxy , urethane ,polyester, vinyl ester even parkerizing onto bare metallic surfaces . It's NEVER failed .

 

[mattri]

Thanks for all the great replies.

 

[Daddymac]

When a coating MUST stick to a metallic substrate ,I suggest the following regiment .

Hot soapy ( Dawn Dish washing soap and Boiling water ) wash pieces or parts with clean soft brush .
Rinse in Very very clean water rinse twice . Place parts into a 40% solution of Hydrochloric aid with tongs preferably plastic with rubber tips ,followed by a neutral water and baking soda rinse . Followed by Clean water rinse . Preferred Rinse in de-ionized water and immediately placed into either acetone or MEK Methyl Ethyl Ketone solvent submerged ( NO air contamination ) . Remove when ready to apply coating .

I use that process whenever applying , Dura coat ,ceramic ,epoxy , urethane ,polyester, vinyl ester even parkerizing onto bare metallic surfaces . It's NEVER failed .

Sounds like the EPA needs to pay you a visit, what are you running over there, a chemical plant?

 

[Daddymac]

We all know that prep is 99% of any good finish- regardless of which method/product you go with.

Would there be any ill effect to using brake cleaner to spray down a barreled action as a final degrease/rinse before applying a coating of one's choice?

If not brake cleaner, than what?

As others have said, almost anything that will remove the oils without leaving a residue behind, for commercially available sprays, electrical contact cleaners may be what you should look in to but be careful, some clean and some clean and lubricate.

 

[Hino895]

Denatured alcohol.

 

[boltfluter]

While my coating is limited to bolts only, chlorinated brake cleaner has never let me down yet. Acetone is also excellent.

Paul

 

[Gappmast]

Nothing cleans like Dawn dish soap and hot water

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Acetone. Soap has some kind of fats in it. When you use it on boat carpet it builds up and it gets matted down. You have to scrub it with vinegar to break that down so the carpet gets fluffed again so im sure it leaves a residue on anything you wash. I use acetone or if im going to paint i use a wax and oil remover made by the car paint mfrs.

 

[scasa]

Read the labels on the brake cleaner first, I got a can of brake cleaner several years ago that was acetone in a spray can. I was trying different brake cleaners when CRC took the perk out their brake clean. It used to be really good, now it's like mineral spirits in a spray can

 

[DocCarbon]

Sounds like the EPA needs to pay you a visit, what are you running over there, a chemical plant?

Lol : Prior to retirement ,I sold most of My personal lab equipment a 45 year accumulation ,as there was NO financially feasible way to transport chemicals or pack instruments . Besides IF I'd kept MY Lab ,I wouldn't be reloading and shooting . Believe Me we dealt with the EPA ,Fire marshal as well as Planning and zoning far too long and Not just MY personal Lab but work as well .