Ed’s Red gun cleaner

[3LightningTech5]

Hey yall,

First time poster but I’ve got an idea that I’m wanting to brainstorm here.

Thinking about mixing up some Ed’s Red gun cleaner which is equal parts ATF, kerosene, mineral spirits and acetone (optional). Some of you have probably heard of this and have your own preferred mixture.

Now the discussion part, I want to mix this up and put it in one of those Sure Shot sprayers for 2 purposes - aerosol application and safe storage.

Would I be introducing any additional safety issues by compressing these fluids in the Sure Shot sprayer? My research says that for something like brake cleaner, they get pressurized to about 80 psi, rated up to 200 psi.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, here’s a link: https://sureshotsprayer.com/products/a1000g

Help me nerd out, safely!

 

[Astro14]

The sprayer can handle it - the materials. I keep mineral spirits in mine.

And mine has held pressure for over a year.

However, I would not use acetone. Just a few drops of that will damage the finish on a wood stock, and it’ll probably damage the polymer and other plastic parts. If you’re gonna be spraying this stuff, it’s gonna be impossible to keep off all of the parts. Even if you’re gonna be wiping it on, it’s gonna get on the plastic and the wood.

I don’t know that I would go quite to that pressure, you’ll get a pretty good spray at 25 to 30 psi.

 

[burbguy82]

However, I would not use acetone

No, neither would I, for the same reasons, excellent advice.

I like the acetone and atf mix for breaking bolts loose, but a precision application, not in a sprayer.

What do you use your sprayer for?

 

[burbguy82]

Hey yall,

First time poster but I’ve got an idea that I’m wanting to brainstorm here.

Thinking about mixing up some Ed’s Red gun cleaner which is equal parts ATF, kerosene, mineral spirits and acetone (optional). Some of you have probably heard of this and have your own preferred mixture.

Now the discussion part, I want to mix this up and put it in one of those Sure Shot sprayers for 2 purposes - aerosol application and safe storage.

Would I be introducing any additional safety issues by compressing these fluids in the Sure Shot sprayer? My research says that for something like brake cleaner, they get pressurized to about 80 psi, rated up to 200 psi.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, here’s a link: https://sureshotsprayer.com/products/a1000g

Help me nerd out, safely!

what will this be used for?

 

[3LightningTech5]

what will this be used for?

Bore/barrel cleaning on pistol/rifle/shotgun. No wood furniture and I don’t intend on adding the acetone, it was just to explain the Ed’s Red

 

[nomas]

Never found a need for some niche home brew cleaner . Plenty of other products that are more convenient and safer . You do you .

 

[Astro14]

No, neither would I, for the same reasons, excellent advice.

I like the acetone and atf mix for breaking bolts loose, but a precision application, not in a sprayer.

What do you use your sprayer for?

I use my sprayer to clean things off around the shop. I go through a lot of brake cleaner, already, and this is way to cut down on just hitting things with the can of brake cleaner. It’s a lot cheaper if I am, say, wiping down a greasy wrench, or cleaning off a part.

 

[burbguy82]

I use my sprayer to clean things off around the shop. I go through a lot of brake cleaner, already, and this is way to cut down on just hitting things with the can of brake cleaner. It’s a lot cheaper if I am, say, wiping down a greasy wrench, or cleaning off a part.

So you use mineral spirits, from your sprayer, to clean off tools? I see. I guess you buy it by the gallon. Last time it looked it was like $20 bucks a gallon.....but a gallon would go a long way.

I use a 50\50 mix of mineral spirits and diesel fuel in a bench parts washer setup I made........diesel because it is cheaper. Yes it smells, but whatever, what chemical works that does not smell?

I thought about getting one of those handheld sprayers in the past. Maybe I will get one.

Have you ever had to rebuild it?

 

[Astro14]

I’ve had the SureShot sprayer since September 2022. No service yet.

I’ve refilled it a couple of times.

It holds pressure for months, if not years. I have only had to re-pressurize it if I refilled it. I have never had to add air. Pretty impressive durability.

 

[ChrisD46]

I’ve made a couple of home brew gun lubes (Eel Snot & Sirracha Red) but when you start having to mix kerosine , acetone , etc. for a cleaner I’d just rather not mess with it and use a environmentally friendly cleaner from MPro-7 , Ballistol , etc.

 

[f355spider]

I’ve made a couple of home brew gun lubes (Eel Snot & Sirracha Red) but when you start having to mix kerosine , acetone , etc. for a cleaner I’d just rather not mess with it and use a environmentally friendly cleaner from MPro-7 , Ballistol , etc.

Agreed. I switched many years ago to MPro-7 and Ballistol. And wear gloves.

 

[f355spider]

Another excellent gun cleaner that is non toxic is Gunzilla. It is actually a CLP (cleaner, lubricant, protectant), but like most "all in one" products, it does better at some things that others...it works best at cleaning.

 

[Maritime_Storm]

As a competitive skeet shooter, I am yet to find something the deals with plastic wad fouling better than Ed's Red.

 

[Astro14]

As a competitive skeet shooter, I am yet to find something the deals with plastic wad fouling better than Ed's Red.

I suspect that's the acetone at work.

Keep it off your skin and off your stock and you'll be OK.

 

[3LightningTech5]

As a competitive skeet shooter, I am yet to find something the deals with plastic wad fouling better than Ed's Red.

That’s pretty much why I’m interested. It takes a lot of “gun cleaner” after a day of skeet to clean out the barrel. Also the bottle I have of mpro7 isn’t conducive to really soaking the inside of the barrel.

Figure for a few bucks I can blend something that will spray with more volume.

I did just read a guy keeps his Ed’s in a regular spray bottle, how do you apply yours?

 

[Maritime_Storm]

I mix it and use it from a metal can. The acetone will eat most plastics.

 

[Astro14]

I mix it and use it from a metal can. The acetone will eat most plastics.

Which is why I don’t use it.

If you make something that eats plastics, it will eat wood finishes, too.

So, it will potentially damage every single one of my guns. There are much lower risk options for cleaning than this mix.

That said, if you’re careful - well, it’s your collection, and your risk.

This thread was as much a question about the sprayer the OP had selected - and it is an excellent choice for whatever solvents he decides to use. I use mine (same model) for solvents in my shop.

 

[Albin]

Which is why I don’t use it.

If you make something that eats plastics, it will eat wood finishes, too.

So, it will potentially damage every single one of my guns. There are much lower risk options for cleaning than this mix.

That said, if you’re careful - well, it’s your collection, and your risk.

This thread was as much a question about the sprayer the OP had selected - and it is an excellent choice for whatever solvents he decides to use. I use mine (same model) for solvents in my shop.

That's why my version of Ed's Cleaner is a 50/50 mix of Kroil and Synthetic ATF. I use an old contact cleaner bottle; one bottle last years.

 

[Hohn]

...one bottle last years.

That's why I no longer even think about homebrew cleaner setups. Yes, you can save a couple bucks, but for what purpose? Are you going broke paying for Sweet's or Butch's Bore Shine? One fewer haircut per year keeps me into commercial gun cleaning products.


I might have fewer guns than others do, or maybe I just clean less. But I'm not going broke on buying ProShot or Butch's or Iosso. Heck, I could even pop for Boretech and still not starve.

 

[dwcopple]

If acetone eats plastic, how is it sold in a plastic bottle as nail polish remover?