Ed’s Red? Found on the LGS shelf.

[J.J. Coe]

There's a lot of stuff we clean with that will do a number on stock finish, bedding, plastics xcetera. There's also ways to prevent it from happening while using these products.

 

[joshb]

I don't think there has been any Gibson's around here for 20 some yrs or better.
Used to be a good variety discount store to shop in.

It’s my favorite place to shop. They have everything from dishes to guns. A great hardware selection, hats and jeans, automotive, fishing, deer feed......etc.

 

[ED3]

The "original" formula is one of the best things ever concocted to use on a rusty bolt and nut, roller chain, or screw. We used it on the farm and quit buying the spray cans of stuff from the stores. Put it on, let it soak for a while and if it was going to come apart in one piece that was the stuff to use.WD

A few years ago, on RimFire Central, there was an article about a performance evaluation of various penetrate solutions, including all the popular commercial offerings.

identical nuts and bolts left exposed to salt water spray for x amount of time.

Perhaps not surprisingly WD 40 fared the worse, I recall. But the best performing was a 50/ 50 mixture of acetone and ATF.

 

[MATT HELM]

Originally ED's red was Acetone and ATF 50/50. Usually the Acetone Separates out so you have to shake it before each use. That is probably why it is only 25% acetone and 25% mineral spirits.That is how I learned it any ways in the 1990's. I used 50/50 B12 Chemtool liquid in the metal can and Mobil-1 0W40 motor oil for a decade. Today I use 50/50 Schafferes Neutra 131 and M1 0W40. I still use the B12/Oil for cleaning from time to time just not my goto any more.

Straight M1 0W40 is fantastic for lubing hand guns and AR's almost zero wear and cold weather functions in all but artic environment good to go. I used it down to -30F no function issues.

I have been using the Berryman's B12 Chemtool solvent... Pretty good for about $ 5.50 at Wallyworld . Can holds 15 ounces, & a little goes a long way. Pretty strong stuff, so use in a ventilated area. ( open a window)
I know the aforementioned Schaeffers Neutra 131... prolly' is more potent.
I don't need anything that powerful , and to find it would be a bigger chore than I would want.
Mauser 284 got some good advice. How can you go wrong with Mobil I ?

 

[Texas10]

I now use Ed's Red every time I clean. For years I've been using foaming bore cleaner to remove copper and fouling, but after buying a Teslong borescope camera, I found that it wasn't really doing the job on fouling despite patches coming out clean.

Now I use the foaming cleaner to remove copper and some fouling, and go back in with Ed's red that I mix myself. The first time I did this was while using the Teslong to see just how much better it cleaned up fouling. The results were amazing!

Adding Ed's Red to VFG intensive cleaning pellets really strips out the old fouling residue.

 

[xring]

IF you're going to use Acetone , do it where you have plenty of ventilation . The liquid and vapor are highly flammable . Acetone targets the eyes ( use safety glasses ) . Also can damage the Liver, Kidneys , Blood , etc. with "prolonged" use . I used to work with a lot of Chemicals and learned my lesson with Tri-Chlor Vapor Degreasers . Maybe I'm overly cautious now , but I always use protective gloves and only do use some Sovents very sparingly and outdoors . YMMV ! For the gentleman who asked about old Hoppes : I believe it contained Amyl Acetate ( sp? ) and IIRC some reported it was a mild hallucinogen . The Hoppes Formula has changed a few times over the years . Stay Happy you old Hoppes users !!! Better yet : stay SAFE .

 

[divingin]

Here's a little more on Ed's Red

Thanks; was just looking for where I dropped my copy of that pdf. I need to file stuff a little more logically.

 

[Dave Berg]

I wish I knew what hoppes puts in theirs to make that smell...

The almond odor in the old Hoppe's No 9 and many shoe and leather polishes was from nitrobenzene. It got a bad rap for being a carcinogen as well as highly toxic so it's hard to find. Also not something you want to try to make in the kitchen. It gets harder every day to have any fun.....

 

[Fuj]

For you old farts like me, and like that Hoppes smell.....get a
pine scented air freshener that's lost it's punch and put some
Hoppes on it. Hang it on the rear view mirror and enjoy.

As for brake fluid..... learned that one as a kid. I was checking
fluids in the family car when my Dad came out and chewed my
ass but good. I had the bottle of brake fluid sitting on the fender
of the car !! He also showed me how to take rust off a bumper
with Coca Cola.

 

[lpreddick]

I made Ed's Red once and it was a very good bore cleaner. My problem was the size of my shop...small. The ingredients in Ed's's are volitile and toxic so prolonged inhalation can be dangerous. Interesting that the "original" Ed's contained some sperm whale oil which is really hard to find today. The early transmission fluids had this also and today's ATF is a good substitute.

 

[nicholst55]

In all honesty, we should all probably wear a respirator (and other PPE) when using a lot of the crap we clean guns with (indoors). Just saying.

 

[Intheshop]

Loaded/shot this a.m.

ATF
MS
Lamp oil
Acetone

 

[Dusty Stevens]

DOT 3 brake fluid will remove paint and paint will never stick to that spot again. It also rusts stuff up pretty bad. DOT 5 brake fluid is silicone instead of mineral oil and doesnt harm paint nor cause rust

 

[bowfisher]

The ATF is doing most of the work, IMO. Ever been to a shop where they rebuild automatic trannys? I've put shift kits in trannys in my younger days, no such thing as a dirty auto-transmission. The ATF keeps them spotless inside.

You can clean any gun ever made dirty with a few things from the auto store. ATF, Carb cleaner, brake cleaner, and oil with synthetic 0-20. IMO.

Guys often tout solvent brands and oils that they know nothing about. Makes Creedmore fanboys look like Einstein...

 

[jpx2rk]

What is the best or a good way to store this mix? A glass bottle (pickle jar, etc.) and a eye dropper for applying the mix to patches, or will one of those plastic solvent bottles be safe and not deteriorate causing leaks, etc.??

 

[ED3]

What is the best or a good way to store this mix? A glass bottle (pickle jar, etc.) and a eye dropper for applying the mix to patches, or will one of those plastic solvent bottles be safe and not deteriorate causing leaks, etc.??

I would not store a flammable liquid in a glass container.
Also, I'm not sure how the soft rubber/plastic of an eyedropper bulb would fare in acetone.
Perhaps a WELL MARKED used metal solvent/ thinner can...

 

[Rube Shooter]

I don't think there has been any Gibson's around here for 20 some yrs or better.
Used to be a good variety discount store to shop in.

There is a Gibsons still open in Weatherford, Texas. They have a facebook page and make announcements when they get ammo and such in stock. Going to have to visit them next time I head to the deer lease.