JB Bore Cleaner

[300meter]

I have used JB Bore Cleaner since the early 80s. The color has always been brown. The latest I purchased from Brownells is now gray. Anyone else notice this? Wonder if they changed the formula.

I asked Brownells and they claim it has always been gray.

Let me know what you think.

 

[SSL]

Near as I can remember, mine has always been gray.

 

[jonbearman]

It starts out gray and as it ages it turns brown.It still works fine with no problems.

 

[Dave M.]

The old stuff seemed to turn brown much quicker. My tub of JB is over 2.5 years and it’s still grey.

 

[madmixerman]

I had some that turned brown and developed tiny balls in it. Switched to Iosso and never looked back .

 

[LHSmith]

I got a complimentary jar when I attended the 2007 Score Nat'ls in '07 at Weikert. It was brown in color then and still remains brown although I seldom use it as I prefer Iosso.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Iosso is a bit more agressive, thus it works quicker. They both work.I use it about every 100 to 150 rounds as needed.

 

[bugman]

I have used JB Bore Cleaner since the early 80s. The color has always been brown. The latest I purchased from Brownells is now gray. Anyone else notice this? Wonder if they changed the formula.

I asked Brownells and they claim it has always been gray.

Let me know what you think.

the old stuff used rouge for the abrasive. rouge is reddish brown. The new stuff use diatomaceous earth, which is a grayish color. I can't remember the year the switch was made.
The kid you talked to at Brownells probably wasn't even born then. lol.

 

[LHSmith]

the old stuff used rouge for the abrasive. rouge is reddish brown.

IIRC jewelers rouge comes in different colors depending on the courseness. In the shop I worked in I remember red, green and white. It was used on buffing wheels to polish stainless steel and aluminum parts to a mirror finish. It was the worst job in the whole plant.

 

[Bill K]

Mine JB's over the years is always grey.

 

[358WCF]

The jars I have from the 80s/90s are brown.

 

[mousegunner]

I had some that turned brown and developed tiny balls in it. Switched to Iosso and never looked back .

I strained those out with my wife's stockings, she didn't care for that .

FYI, my JB that just ran out was brown also, new jar is gray.

 

[JEFFPPC]

Don't worry about the little clumps. Stir it up and use it. We are talking about steel and carbon, not open heart surgery.

 

[PopCharlie]

I've only ever seen gray. I've been using it for years. Their Bore-Brite product is red.

PopCharlie

 

[ebb]

I've had mine get brown and had balls and hard chunks in it. I just stir it with a little table saw ripping or a popsicle stick and it gets just like brand new

 

[alf]

I've had mine get brown and had balls and hard chunks in it. I just stir it with a little table saw ripping or a popsicle stick and it gets just like brand new

Nuking it in the microwave for a few seconds brings it back to new.....

 

[ebb]

There is no right thing to do. Maybe learn from all the many times in the past when stuff dried up, to stock up. I am sure that this was not possible for everybody and buying at todays prices in inevitable for some. but screaming i got a sweet deal when you got gouged is not even close to the truth. Call a spade a spade.

 

[divingin]

IIRC jewelers rouge comes in different colors depending on the courseness. In the shop I worked in I remember red, green and white. It was used on buffing wheels to polish stainless steel and aluminum parts to a mirror finish. It was the worst job in the whole plant.

I believe you're talking about polishing compounds. Jewelers rouge is powdered iron oxide (or ferric oxide), and is usually a red color (may change if it's in an oil or wax solution in bar form.) The other colors of differing grits are other material (aluminum oxide, emery, DE, etc.) They're usually color coded by use or target material, though, so the color doesn't necessarily indicate what abrasive is used. To add to the confusion, the color codes seem to be standardized by manufacturer, so a given color may change in grit or target material from brand to brand.

 

[lotech]

I've used JB for a long time and never really paid attention to the color. I'm much more interested in how well it works. I haven't seen any difference over many years.

 

[Eraser]

Nuking it in the microwave for a few seconds brings it back to new.....

What do you think the little balls/clumps are.
I've separated some of them out and kind of smushed them flat, I don't think they are clumps of the abrasive. Maybe a wax type of carrier gotten hard. I'm going to try the microwave.
Also, my "Bore Cleaner" is ten years old and is brown.