Ed's Red

[avidflyer]

Have a AR and 2 MP5's to clean, thinking of making a batch of Ed's up for cleaning of those types of range guns. Pour off a quart to soak parts in. Never used it before any thoughts opinions.

 

[dedogs]

It's a start. In my experience it does not work as well at removing carbon as Bore-tech C4 carbon remover. JMO, dedogs

 

[Terry O]

I made a batch last year but found it to be sub par to most of the commercial products available. Now it's just another bottle on the shelf. There may however be some value for large volume soaking but I just tried it as a bore cleaner.

 

[Rustystud]

Get a Bottle of SeabfoamTop Engine Cleaner mix it 80% with 20% Kroil. It removes carbon like no tomorrow.

 

[rardoin]

Get a Bottle of Seabreeze Top Engine Cleaner mix it 80% with 20% Kroil. It removes carbon like no tomorrow.

Nate...Seafoam I presume? That is what I use for my first patches for carbon. I have not tried mixing it with Kroil. I will have to give that a go as I use Kroil as a last patch.

 

[billlarson]

Have a AR and 2 MP5's to clean, thinking of making a batch of Ed's up for cleaning of those types of range guns. Pour off a quart to soak parts in. Never used it before any thoughts opinions.

I made up a gallon a couple of years ago........ still got 1/2 of it...... I use it for preliminary cleaning.... for barrels not really bad coppered....... and exterior wipe downs...... it saves on the more exspensive stuff..
bill

 

[DRNewcomb]

As I understand it, Ed's Red was developed on the theory that environmentalists and antis would eventually find a way to ban commercial bore cleaners. The formula was developed using commercial solvents that were readily available and of so commonly used that it would be hard to ban them.

 

[jepp2]

Never used it before any thoughts opinions.

I mixed up a gallon years ago without the lanolin. Also saved a quart of the gun oil mix before finishing the mix. It is Ok, but not great. Best use is to run a patch through your barrel when you finish firing at the range, so the carbon doesn't harden so much. After that there are much better solvents IMHO. I still use it on a patch to clean my chambers. Most of the gallon is still there.

 

[Hopkins]

The old formulas for various Ed's Red included outlawed ingredients like trichloroethane or other CHC's that were effective but hazardous.

 

[Macropod]

Has anyone tried oil of wintergreen for carbon removal? Been around a long time and was used in the aviation industry as a penetrating fluid.

 

[rardoin]

Has anyone tried oil of wintergreen for carbon removal? Been around a long time and was used in the aviation industry as a penetrating fluid.

I have used it to soften racing slicks to increase grip. If it does not remove carbon, at least the rifle will smell clean or people will think you have a sore back (ala Bengay)

 

[lpreddick]

Have a AR and 2 MP5's to clean, thinking of making a batch of Ed's up for cleaning of those types of range guns. Pour off a quart to soak parts in. Never used it before any thoughts opinions.

I read about Ed's red and had to try it....flammable and hepatotoxic...I don't need either. I'v tried most but read about an old cleaner benchresters used and use it religiously. Hopper or TC black powder solvent mixed with Hoppes no 9 to a consistency of your liking...thin to soak a bore, then a little thicker to patch the bore. The soaking liquid comes out black. Brush with it for stubborn stuff. It smells great and hasn'the hurt my liver.

 

[USMCDOC]

Has anyone tried oil of wintergreen for carbon removal? Been around a long time and was used in the aviation industry as a penetrating fluid.

Yeeup.. i remember my ABE Chief coming to me once on the carrier asking for some Wintergreen, they needed to break some bolts loose on an A-6.

 

[hpshooter]

I use oil of wintergreen in my home brew penetrating oil. 47% ATF, 47% Acetone, 6% oil of wintergreen.

Works well.

 

[flatlander]

I mixed up 1/2gal of Ed's Red several years ago - still got most of it, but the only thing I use it for today is cleaning 22rf bores. Most match quality 22rf barrels don't seem to appreciate too thorough a cleaning, but a couple of wet patches of Ed's Red gets most of the fouling out without requiring 50+rds before the bore settles down again. AFAIK, it doesn't have much if any effect on lead fouling, but my Anschutz, Benchmark, & Krieger 22rf barrels don't pick up much leading from what I've seen through a Hawkeye borescope.