Best solvent for polymer frames?

[sffone]

What is recommended for a solvent to clean polymer frames? I notice that some solvents clearly state that they may damage plastic components, so I assume they would not be good for a polymer frame. So what do you folks recommend? Thanks for your help.

[deadeye]

Stoddard Solvent. Commonly known as mineral spirits. (Not turpentine.) It will not damage any plastic and dries leaving no residue.

[Barth]

What is recommended for a solvent to clean polymer frames? I notice that some solvents clearly state that they may damage plastic components, so I assume they would not be good for a polymer frame. So what do you folks recommend? Thanks for your help.
My only Kahr is all stainless steel.
But I've got six Heckler & Koch polymer guns too.
I use Ballistol on all my handguns.
It has a distinctive pungent smell.
But it's good stuff.
http://www.triplek.com/site/img/mod/prod_large/500.jpg

[Alfonse]

There is a version of Birchwood Casey Gun Scrubber that is safe for polymers. Actually, I think all of it is but a few years ago they started putting it on the cans.

The pistols are some sort of nylon I think, whatever it is, it is not bothered as much by solvents as some other types of plastic.

I like the aerosol because if there is something I can't reach with a brush or a rag, I can usually blast it out with the canned solvent.

[ltxi]

Hoppe's No. 9

[knkali]

I use this stuff. http://www.safariland.com/gun-cleaners-and-solvents/powder-blast-gun-cleaner-15527.html Heck, I just read that its a no no for poly but I have been using it for a few years with no ill effect.

[knkali]

these guys agree with me
http://www.steyrclub.com/vb/threads/1708-Powder-Blast-and-Polymer-frame
http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?p=5148223#post5148223

[CJB]

http://www.plasticsintl.com/plastics_chemical_resistence_chart.html
List of bad stuff for nylon 66 (above)

Polymer frames are all made from some varient of Nylon 6-6 also known as Nylon 66 which is also the stuff the Remington 66 was made from.

Those 22's from Remington were noted for hell and back before that term was used by that fancy dancy pistol company.

Amost nothing touches Nylon 66. Almost. Hoppe's is fine with it. Most of the stuff that will really screw with it will also screw with you too, such as methylene chloride.

Looking through the list of really bad things for Nylon 6-6 I see.....
Hydrogen peroxide solution
Chlorine bleach
Xylene

....as common items you might have in your house. The peroxide of hair bleaching strength would be bad for Nylon 66, as also household bleach and xylene paint stripper/brush cleaner.

Plain ol' Hoppe's is just fine

[sffone]

Thanks for all the suggestions -- much appreciated.

[WMD]

Good old WD40 is a great cleaning agent. Will not hurt the nylon and evaporates.

[kenemoore]

My only Kahr is all stainless steel.
But I've got six Heckler & Koch polymer guns too.
I use Ballistol on all my handguns.
It has a distinctive pungent smell.
But it's good stuff.




http://www.triplek.com/site/img/mod/prod_large/500.jpg



^^^^Same here, I use it on all mine.

[TennSCN]

Hoppe's Elite


12520

Cleans very quickly and I can use it in the house without..., well, you know.

[marcinstl]

any poly gun--- buy an Oxo small items basket for the dishwasher. field strip the gun and place parts in basket, run thru the usual cycle using a good, non-spotting soap. lube the parts with favorite gun lubes and your ready to go. first saw this technique in a video recommended on the Glock forum. for 1911's, wait for a rainy day and make a pot of coffee, have fun, labor of old school love.

[OldFatGuy]

any poly gun--- buy an Oxo small items basket for the dishwasher. field strip the gun and place parts in basket, run thru the usual cycle using a good, non-spotting soap. lube the parts with favorite gun lubes and your ready to go. first saw this technique in a video recommended on the Glock forum. for 1911's, wait for a rainy day and make a pot of coffee, have fun, labor of old school love.

Dishwasher????? Not everyone is as high class....

[muggsy]

any poly gun--- buy an Oxo small items basket for the dishwasher. field strip the gun and place parts in basket, run thru the usual cycle using a good, non-spotting soap. lube the parts with favorite gun lubes and your ready to go. first saw this technique in a video recommended on the Glock forum. for 1911's, wait for a rainy day and make a pot of coffee, have fun, labor of old school love.

They laughed at me when I told them that I threw my Kahr in the dish washer, Marc. Just so you know your not alone. :)

[CJB]

Dishwaher works well ! Was the trick for my Ruger Old Army, and currently when I shoot black powder in my Vaquero.

Er... just take the grips off first!

[Manzanita]

I'm a cheapskate. For the frame I use a mixture of Ed's Red (hold the acetone) for the cleaning and scrubbing then a good shot of non-chlorinated brake cleaner to wash that stinky stuff off. Then it's straight over to the air compressor to quickly blow dry the brake cleaner off. After that, a shot of ptfe dry lube around the trigger/bar/cam area.

[jocko]

I just b low the piss outy of everything with non cholorinated brake cleaner. iT drys fast,tht I don't need my air compressor to dry out anything. Mosty of these cleaners will INDEED CLEAN so be sure and lubricate the necessary area, . Kahrs lube chart is a dandy imo, jUST SAYIN..

WORKS ON ANY GUN BUT AS cjb EVEN STATED TAKE YOUR GRIPS OFF IF THEY ARE WOOD, JUST ERROR ON THE SIDE OF CAQUTION. We do have a fella here on this forum who is a master at efinishinbg grips but he is color blind. I have the finest looking (to him) Heretts grips on my odel 60 stainless that he refinished in the purdiest PINK u ever seen. I said he was color blind, didbn't I..

[marcinstl]

when I was just a mechanic (long before I became an internet firearms expert) , I just used carb/choke cleaner, then some brakleen, dab on some ATF or Marvel Mystery Oil(love the graphics on the can) and maybe some lithium grease. on real sloppy stuff like the old mossberg pump, some permatex moly anti seize grease (the silver stuff) would make it smooth and glitch free. back in the 70's when I was shooting some kind of spanish(?) made replica Remington 1858 in .36 cal., I'd paste up the end of the cylinder with bacon grease. blackpowder and bacon is a wonderful smell.