Cleaning Firearms: Bristling At The Thought?

[BobM]

Basic cleaning of firearms can be an easier task when using other various tools from different fields like as in automotive, other mechanical specialty areas and some other fields such as in painting fields such as with "bristle" type brushes. Many cleaning implements come in various different sizes, shapes, construction types, coarse or fine materials and configurations to make clean ups better and easier.

The materials used for firearms cleaning are important for different areas, functions and to clean properly and more thoroughly w/o causing damage depending on what application area is at hand. Be very aware that some cleaning implements can cause or lessen damage to some materials and some, like plastics, can dissolve in some cleaning solvents. Or, some harder metals can damage softer metals. There are many more types of brushes available than what's listed. Those listed here are only posted for possible ideas and some can be very difficult to locate or source in just one place. As always, good judgement and precaution is always advised with any tool, even with simple cleaning tools.

Much is available from different sources. Below are a few examples in just one shop:

Basic Acid Brushes for easily seen and reached areas, they can come in different lengths and widths:

1/2 in. Horsehair Bristle Acid Shop Brushes, 36 Piece

Amazing deals on this 36 Pack Shop Brushes at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Detail Brushes for cleaning up larger areas in some tight areas:

Detail Brush Set, 6 Piece

Amazing deals on this 6 Piece Detail Brush Set at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Airbrush Cleaning Brushes are very tiny bottle type brushes and can clean out very small chambers:

Airbrush Cleaning Brushes., 5 Piece

Amazing deals on this 5Pc Airbrush Cleaning Brushes at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

"Chip Brushes" are disposable brushes come in a variety of sizes. Some are good for some solvents and finishes:

1 in. Chip Brushes, 36-Pack

Amazing deals on this 36 Pk 1In Chip Brushes at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Tube or Bottle Brushes can come in a variety of different materials, diameters and lengths:

Tube Brush Set, 6 Piece

Amazing deals on this 6 Pc Tube Brush Set at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Engine Brushes can come in different configurations and materials for different uses:

Engine Brush Kit, 20 Piece

Amazing deals on this Engine Brush Kit at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Bench cleanups after firearms finished can be easier with these:

7 In. Bench Brush

Amazing deals on this 7In Bench Brush at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Cotton Swabs, although related are not bristled and can be quite handy for various tasks:

Cotton Swab Assortment, 175 Piece

Amazing deals on this 175 Count Cotton Swabs at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[Annihilator]

Good article Bob, one of my downfalls is cleaning of my guns after a range trip.

 

[BobM]

Good article Bob, one of my downfalls is cleaning of my guns after a range trip.

Thanks Anni, mine too at times. Can be easy being distracted by other things if out and about when returning sometimes.

Those airbrush cleaning brushes are good on cleaning out 1911's plunger tube assemblies and other small areas, but some pipe cleaners and other brushes can also work.

 

[Annihilator]

Thanks Anni, mine too at times. Can be easy being distracted by other things if out and about when returning sometimes.

Those airbrush cleaning brushes are good on cleaning out 1911's plunger tube assemblies and other small areas, but some pipe cleaners and other brushes can also work.

Yea, I use pipe cleaners all the time, even when I owned AR’s, yes, I did own several of the black rifles…….also use tooth brushes and a dental pick at times

 

[Old_Me]

i too clean a gun after it's trip to the range.

my usual cleaning tools are a toothbrush, brass brush that i get at an auto-parts or hardware store, q-tips, blue shop paper towels, pipe cleaners, mini straight blade screw driver (for scraping carbon in the crevices of the breech face).

for my buddy when i sold him my 1911, i made him a slide rail cleaning tool, by removing the head of a toothbrush, melting slowly (with a heat gun) the end to a flat shape. now he can "dig into" the rails for a better cleaning.

(i have a rail cleaning tool) https://www.brownells.com/gun-clean...essories/channel-cleaning-tool-prod75004.aspx

then an assorted number of cleaning chemicals, and lubes

 

[Annihilator]

i too clean a gun after it's trip to the range.

my usual cleaning tools are a toothbrush, brass brush that i get at an auto-parts or hardware store, q-tips, blue shop paper towels, pipe cleaners, mini straight blade screw driver (for scraping carbon in the crevices of the breech face).

for my buddy when i sold him my 1911, i made him a slide rail cleaning tool, by removing the head of a toothbrush, melting slowly (with a heat gun) the end to a flat shape. now he can "dig into" the rails for a better cleaning.

(i have a rail cleaning tool) https://www.brownells.com/gun-clean...essories/channel-cleaning-tool-prod75004.aspx

then an assorted number of cleaning chemicals, and lubes

That’s a pretty cool tool, never saw one before, may have to get one, thanks for posting link

 

[C. Sumpin]

Yea, I use pipe cleaners all the time, even when I owned AR’s, yes, I did own several of the black rifles…….also use tooth brushes and a dental pick at times

Uhhhh. Anni; you are ARless? Have you made an appointment with a therapist? There's hope.

 

[Annihilator]

Uhhhh. Anni; you are ARless? Have you made an appointment with a therapist? There's hope.

Yea, gave the last one up couple years ago, not my cup of tea….

 

[BobM]

Yea, I use pipe cleaners all the time, even when I owned AR’s, yes, I did own several of the black rifles……also use tooth brushes and a dental pick at times

Yup, here too. Whatever worked within reason.

 

[Old_Me]

That’s a pretty cool tool, never saw one before, may have to get one, thanks for posting link

i actually bought that for my first 1911, the Remington R-1911, that i then sold to my buddy. but i only bought one at the time, and so that he can easily clean the 1911 rails, i home made one out of a toothbrush.

i now have since bought a second one for "just in case" i lose mine.

and it's GREAT to get into the rails with a patch wrapped around it.

 

[Old_Me]

Uhhhh. Anni; you are ARless? Have you made an appointment with a therapist? There's hope.

Yea, gave the last one up couple years ago, not my cup of tea….

yeah, me too. my "shooting buddy" takes his brothers AR, and i have shot it maybe all of 4 times...


not for me either.

too much love for my revolvers and semi-automatics

but i might someday scoop up a Henry repeating rifle

 

[BobM]

i too clean a gun after it's trip to the range.

my usual cleaning tools are a toothbrush, brass brush that i get at an auto-parts or hardware store, q-tips, blue shop paper towels, pipe cleaners, mini straight blade screw driver (for scraping carbon in the crevices of the breech face).

for my buddy when i sold him my 1911, i made him a slide rail cleaning tool, by removing the head of a toothbrush, melting slowly (with a heat gun) the end to a flat shape. now he can "dig into" the rails for a better cleaning.

(i have a rail cleaning tool) https://www.brownells.com/gun-clean...essories/channel-cleaning-tool-prod75004.aspx

then an assorted number of cleaning chemicals, and lubes

Yup, agree. Brownells carries a good variety of cleaning tools. The one mentioned is a goody. Popsicle sticks can work wonders too.

 

[Old_Me]

Yup, agree. Brownells carries a good variety of cleaning tools. The one mentioned is a goody. Popsicle sticks can work wonders too.

yeah, this special tool, i don't think can ever be broken, maybe not even worn down...it's super tough.

 

[C. Sumpin]

Good article Bob, one of my downfalls is cleaning of my guns after a range trip.

I used to be meticulous in complete disassembly/cleaning, no more; clean just enough to keep them operational/reliable.
Why I prefer Stainless and other finishes, the blues just take too much care. Break free and Spray Rem oil is about it, touch of grease on the 11.

 

[Annihilator]

yeah, me too. my "shooting buddy" takes his brothers AR, and i have shot it maybe all of 4 times...


not for me either.

too much love for my revolvers and semi-automatics

but i might someday scoop up a Henry repeating rifle

Yea, that’s also my weakness is the Henry rifle……lol

 

[Annihilator]

I used to be meticulous in complete disassembly/cleaning, no more; clean just enough to keep them operational/reliable.
Why I prefer Stainless and other finishes, the blues just take too much care. Break free and Spray Rem oil is about it, touch of grease on the 11.

Yea, I don’t buy all those magic cleaning products that show up all the time, I use Lucas Oil Extreme CLP, if needed there Extreme Duty Bore cleaner and at times on my 1911’s I will use there Extreme Duty gun oil, these work fine for me

 

[Wirenut]

Yea, I don’t buy all those magic cleaning products that show up all the time, I use Lucas Oil Extreme CLP, if needed there Extreme Duty Bore cleaner and at times on my 1911’s I will use there Extreme Duty gun oil, these work fine for me

I use those same products on the parts you don't see and Mothers Mag Polish on the parts you see.
It makes wiping fingerprints off easy.
Works for me anyway.

 

[BobM]

Yea, that’s also my weakness is the Henry rifle……lol

Gotta love those lever action rifles!

 

[javbike]

Thanks bobm I never really thought of all those goodies at harbor freight I am definitely due for a trip

 

[BobM]

Thanks bobm I never really thought of all those goodies at harbor freight I am definitely due for a trip

You're welcome javbike, you're not the only one, skips my mind most times about harbor freight too.
Their quality may leave something to be desired or be debatable some times with certain tools, but it depends on what job it is and what's going on too. Got to the point over the years of disliking cheaply made tools of any sort mostly due to them breaking at inopportune times in the middle of a job. But, sometimes there's very little difference between good name brand tools and basically no name tools anymore or so it seems?

Brushes and things like that there seem to be fine as well as a few other things. Is partially why those tools listed are from HF. That, and it can be a one stop shop for some expendable things like brushes, some batteries and gloves.