Cleaning your cleaning rod brushes

[CovertGunny]

There is probably a super simple way of doing this, but what can you soak your cleaning rod copper brushes in to clean them after they have been heavily used... I know they arent that expensive, but still.

 

[mr45man]

I give them a little squirt of brake cleaner
John H.

 

[Trapper243]

Hot soapy water, then blow them dry them with some compressed air. Or just let them air dry.

 

[Dave T]

Like mr45man said, I buy the cheap quick drying brake cleaner and spray them off and let them dry, Badda Boom Badda Bing.
Dave T

 

[ridgeway]

Yep, non chlorinated brake cleaner. One squirt the length of the brush and its done.

 

[tenring]

I keep an empty 4 oz Hoppes bottle filled with denatured alcohol, simply dip the brush in it once, dry with paper towel.

 

[MFG_BOP]

Sonic batch?

 

[KMart]

Like Tenring, I use an old Hoppes bottle, but filled with some cheap paint thinner(100% mineral spirits).

 

[BillPa]

Brake cleaner.

 

[Preacher]

I just toss them in my ultra sonic for a while...

 

[rkj1313]

I just dip'em in a bottle of alcohol every time when done.

 

[butchlambert]

I do nothing to them other than throw them away after the weekend of shooting.

 

[M-61]

The brushes....sure....but I always wipe the cleaning rod down. That's where the money is.

 

[Lapua40X]

There are times when I leave them in my shirt pocket and my wife washes them in the laundry ;D
But typically I use a spray brake cleaner (outside) with a quick squirt the length of the brush.

 

[Mega]

Some people aren't rich enough to throw expensive cleaning items away in bulk so they clean them.

Generally here in Aussie Land a common cleaning liquid used is called "Shellite" which is "Naphtha" derived cheaply from Natural Gas or "White Spirits" a Dry Cleaning Liquid which both evaporate very quickly leaving little to no residue. A bottle just taller than a typical cleaning brush. Obtained from the corner Hardware Store cheap in bulk. Also used to neutralise cleaning products by running a wet patch down a Bore then followed by a dry patch. They both smell nice too.

Denaturated Alcohol but a bit expensive.

The likes of BoreTech Eliminator just some soapy water if at home and let dry in the sun or near a heater.

Beware of "Brake Cleaning Fluids" ....they can be corrosive and will remove some paints / rubber surfaces. Not something I'd use around a Firearm.

 

[jnyfeler]

I squirt the brush with lighter fluid and it cleans it right up.

Jeff

 

[Changeling]

I through the brushes in a box, when I get a few dirty ones I put in an old sauce pan with some detergent and boil for a few minutes, then just pour them all out, rinse and air dry.

Cleaning rod I use rubbing alcohol, let dry and put in a PVC pipe till need it again.

 

[bobm]

The old 5 oz. glass Hoppes bottle filled with camp fuel. A few shakes while capped does the trick. They air dry quick. Change fluid when it gets dirty.

 

[Mega]

Rubbing Alcohol = Denaturated Alcohol = Isopropyl Alcohol. A deadly poison so don't drink it.... ;D

Also used for cleaning electronic equipment, diamond stylus / tape heads as it doesn't leave any residue being a pure substance.

Not so cheap though.

The "camp fuel" and "lighter fliud" sound okay but I'd be interested to see the results with substances like Nylon Brushes and the like. Paint Thinner I know is not kind to plastic.

Any of these I have in mind to take care when it comes to spills or whatever on your Rifle Stock, be it wood / plastic / epoxy carbon fibre and /or paint finished with whatever. Alcohol I know is pretty safe with most but an oiled finish maybe not.

Interesting topic.

 

[SS427]

Hot water and soap. Dawn dishwashing soap works great.

I wonder if anyone else does this...when my 6mm brushes wear down I start using them in my .22 caliber rifles. Surely there is not harm in this?