Proper prep of a new kahr

[rogerthedodger]

I decided to repaint my P380 LCI (retired, lots of time on my hands LOL), got some of the wifs fingernail polish, put it on a vice-grips for a test. CRC brake cleaner removed polish, CRC contact cleaner had no effect. I also use CRC contact cleaner on other pistols, Glock and Rugers, I'm afraid I will do damage w/brake cleaner. Just my $0.02.

[kahrinca]

I decided to repaint my P380 LCI (retired, lots of time on my hands LOL), got some of the wifs fingernail polish, put it on a vice-grips for a test. CRC brake cleaner removed polish, CRC contact cleaner had no effect. I also use CRC contact cleaner on other pistols, Glock and Rugers, I'm afraid I will do damage w/brake cleaner. Just my $0.02.

Well, I called Wal-Mart, and FWIW, I was told by the operator they would accept a return for a full refund if I have the receipt, or an exchange or credit on the CRC Brakleen. So, I think I'll make the drive and get some other things while there and I'm glad that I did not touch, use or mess with the bottle. It probably doesn't make a difference, but I'm just glad anyway. It was my poor choice.

I intend to exchange it for the CRC Contact Cleaner if they have it, or some other type of electronic cleaner.

From the post, roger, can I assume the spray force is strong enough to do an adequate job? You seem to be happy with it.

[Ressom]

I use this stuff I got at Wal-mart(CRC Brakleen - the 50 state formula) on the striker path of the slide. Stick the plastic tube in the little hole. Cleans out the area really good. No grease is left at all. Just as it should be. I occasionally use it on the trigger area and sear area of the frame and it doesn't hurt the plastic at all. It's good stuff.

[kahrinca]

Yes, that is the exact bottle that I returned to Wal-Mart. I'm not so concerned about damage to the gun-it's the smell and gases, even if outdoors, that I'd like to avoid.

Based upon prior posts, I ended up getting the CRC QD Electronic Cleaner instead.

This costs more but I don't want the hassle or smell of the brake cleaner, don't want it near my person, and I can apparently use it indoors without or with minimization of ill effect.

The other night, when I sprayed the striker hole, I used an old spray can of the cheapest Wal-Mart non-chlorinated brake cleaner that I had used previously. It is pretty strong, noxious, it seems.

It's all good for the purpose intended, I just don't know how safe-I have allergies, which can trigger mild asthma, and chronic bronchitis.

[rogerthedodger]

I use this stuff I got at Wal-mart(CRC Brakleen - the 50 state formula) on the striker path of the slide. Stick the plastic tube in the little hole. Cleans out the area really good. No grease is left at all. Just as it should be. I occasionally use it on the trigger area and sear area of the frame and it doesn't hurt the plastic at all. It's good stuff.

Yes, this is the stuff that removed the red paint on my LCI.
Roger

[rogerthedodger]

Well, I called Wal-Mart, and FWIW, I was told by the operator they would accept a return for a full refund if I have the receipt, or an exchange or credit on the CRC Brakleen. So, I think I'll make the drive and get some other things while there and I'm glad that I did not touch, use or mess with the bottle. It probably doesn't make a difference, but I'm just glad anyway. It was my poor choice.

I intend to exchange it for the CRC Contact Cleaner if they have it, or some other type of electronic cleaner.

From the post, roger, can I assume the spray force is strong enough to do an adequate job? You seem to be happy with it.

Yes, the CRC contact cleaner has the same pressure as the Brakecleen.
Roger

[kahrinca]

Thanks, Roger.

I used it tonight on all my semi-auto slides, whether they had the hole or not.

(I then oiled and greased the firearms and then added a thin coat of BreakFree CLP [to avoid rust and corrosion] as they are going back into storage in an unheated facility in SoCal).

CRC QD Electronic Cleaner certainly seems less toxic and offensive than the brake cleaner, but I found it less powerful a spray than the cheapo Wal-Mart offering of "Super-Tech" Brake Cleaner, the only one I've tried. I did return the Brakleen without using it.

However, the CRC QD Electronic Cleaner was adequate and did not make me feel ill. Thanks, again.

[skiflydive]

I heard that the VOC was a brain child of Obama's super committee for cost savings and greenenergy saving. They said in 10 years it would save over 35 bucks. cost our committee and the accountants 18.5 million to come up with this new VOC ruling. Yup gonna save the world. I can see my 3 evergreens in my back yard growing already due to less VOC coming out of spray cans..

Low VOC stuff has been around for a long time. It's making its way into more and more products as the Greenies gain momentum. The VOC's are the things that used to make products dry more quickly as I understand it and that made your liver jump up and say "Howdy." I always thought it was the stuff that made those chemicals smell so good.

[Hognutz]

I always thought that it was the Crown Royal that made my liver jump up and say "Howdy''.

[jocko]

crc brakclean is non cholorinated and works fine. i have used it also and find it as good as anything I have ever used. Priced right to..

[Hognutz]

Do you use the green can or the red? Don't really know the difference?

[skiflydive]

I sold a few million dollars worth of industrial spray lubricants and cleaners for a company I represented that will remain nameless, but who at one time sold scads of stuff to the military armories. Their stuff was at the time recommended by several gun manufacturers ( It's NOT WD-40). We also sold ultrasonic cleaners and the Michigan State Police and several municipal departments here in Michigan used to break down their firearms and buzz them in bulk brake cleaner in the ultrasonic tanks. OK...that's my credibility statement.

Brake cleaner, chlorinated or non, will not in itself harm metal. It is designed to remove grease and/or oil from brake drums and rotors and pads and shoes. It's very effective against grease and oil. It will not eat gun barrels. What it will definitely do is remove all the protective surface oils from metal allowing it to rust in very short order just from humidity (even some series of stainless) and especially from the acids in fingerprints. It will definitely soften paint and some soft plastic components. Try spraying a little in a styrofoam cup. I'm not sure what the "polymer" is that Kahr uses but polymer doesn't necessarily mean plastic per se. It might be worthwhile to soak a q-tip in some brake cleaner and dab it on an inconspicuous place on the frame to see if it has any effect but I'm not going to do it on mine. Brake cleaner is potent stuff.

Contact cleaner is designed to remove carbon and some VERY light surface oils. It's probably sufficient for cleaning out the striker channel because there "shouldn't" be any grease or oil in there. It "should" remove the carbonaceous deposits but may take several applications because it's NOT very powerful. The PD's sometimes used the contact cleaner I sold in their ultrasonic cleaners.

In my mind, if you're going to use brake cleaner in the striker channel hole go ahead but do that first and don't get it on any plastic or paint. It'll dry in short order but plan on a full blown re-lube after you're done with it because it WILL remove any grease or oil it gets on by evaporating it as it dries. If you spray a little on your fingerprints you'll notice they turn sort of white and powdery looking because it removes all the oil from the surface of your skin.

As always, it's your pistol, you do what you think is correct. Your mileage may vary.

[jocko]

I just

Do you use the green can or the red? Don't really know the difference?

seen the green can in wal mart this week, so up until then it was the red can, but I swee the green can says no VOL or what ever. Have no idea WTf that even means and for $2.97 a can at wal mart, I will start buying it. Non cholornated is what must be on any spray cleaner I buy, then price is next..

[jocko]

Humm< I thought that was what "cleaners" were supposed to do CLEAN and to me that means take all the oil, grime, grease out of my gun. If not it is not cleaning but merely surface cleaning at best. Post lubing is a must with any good cleaning, I would think that would be a given. These non cholor8inated spray cleaners won't bother the polymer in guns, been using it on my glock, Smith and kahrs for years, just not gonna happen. Not sure a styrafoam cup is in the same leaque as the polymer in guns. But if one is in doubt pre test it for peace of mind. Cholorinated can harm polymer. Not even sure one ckan find much cholornatred cleaners in store shevles even, Maybe industril stuff is still avalable no doubt..

Hoppe's #9 will soften paint to, I ruined anice set of grips by getting some of it on my J frame smtih grips but thanks to good ol Bawanna he made those Herretts stocks look better than new. I would not recomment getting any spray cleaners on wood grips or u will end up seeing Dr. Bawanna like I did..

[Hognutz]

Thanks for the info, gentlemen..