Simple Green and Shaving Cream?

S

sigcurious

New member
I was buying some CLP today, and the guy at the shop recommended simple green and shaving cream to clean firearms. His method is to soak the parts in simple green then do the scrubbing/wiping part of the cleaning cleaning with shaving cream. Says he did it all the time in the Marines for weapons inspection, and still does it on his personal firearms. Has anyone heard of this or tried it?
 
sig-

I've watched a number of AGI (American Gunsmithing Institute) DVD's on the disassembly and reassembly of different pistols and Bob Dunlap, the gunsmith, always uses Simple Green to clean the parts. Never mentioned shaving cream however.

best wishes- oldandslow
 
I always use Simple Green unless the gun is very badly in need of lead and/or copper removal. Then I will use a solvent. Truthfully, I very seldom need to use solvent. Did he explain what exactly the shave cream does that the SG does not do? Interesting post. Thank you.
 
Simple Green is over 75% water, with tetrasodium pyrophosphate (which is detergent) and alcohol.

Probably cleans as well as Dawn dishwashing liquid or Tide laundry detergent.
 
Did he explain what exactly the shave cream does that the SG does not do?
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I've read about the SG + shaving cream routine. Apparently the shaving cream is intended to fill cavities, to capture sand and grit. You flush it out when you wash off the simple green. I think that it's something that GIs came up with - do they get free shaving cream?
 
shaving cream??..and i thought a buddy/ffl dealer/hunter had been drinking too much hooch when he told me to use Windex to clean a Rem 700 barrel during the initial break-in :D
 
I don't why it wouldn't work. A gun is nothing but a hunk of metal, wood, and/or plastic. Anything you use to clean metal/plastic should work to clean gunk/grime off it. You might need something more specialized if you have lead or copper fouling.
 
Simple Green is over 75% water, with tetrasodium pyrophosphate (which is detergent) and alcohol... Probably cleans as well as Dawn dishwashing liquid or Tide laundry detergent.
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It's better. :) I use it all the time for all sorts of household chores, albeit not for guns; I prefer not to use water-based products for gun cleaning due to the difficulty of getting all the water out of the nooks and crannies.

The exception is removing cosmoline, in which case nothing beats boiling water. :)
 
Be sure to follow directions when using Simple Green on aluminum:
However, caution and common sense must be used: aluminum is a soft metal that easily corrodes with unprotected exposure to water. The aqueous-base and alkalinity of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner can accelerate the corrosion process. Therefore, contact times for unprotected or unpainted aluminum surfaces should be kept as brief as the job will allow - never for more than 10 minutes.
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More here: http://www.simplegreen.com/solutions_faqs.php?search_query=aluminum
 
Good to know about Simple Green and aluminum...

I've used SG with paper towels and a toothbrush to de-cosmo the smaller parts of surplus guns and it has worked very well.
 
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SG will not be touching my Sig it seems, maybe when I get some all steel guns, I'll give it a go though.

This brings me to another question, when people use water based cleaners, what methods do you use to ensure the firearm is completely dry afterwards?
 
10 minutes huh? No wonder my anodized aluminum flash hider had a melt down when I soaked it for a couple days in SG.:o

SG works good for cleaning guns, but I do refrain from cleaning revolvers with it, being mostly unable to get inside without fuss.

How to deal with the water based cleaner...rinse it out real good with water, crank up the heat a little and put a hi velocity fan on it for awhile, then do an oil cure on everything steel. (i.e. coat everything in oil and let sit a couple/few hours. Later, all excess oil is wiped off and gun is reassembled.

Nada problem yet. SG is a degreaser so don't skip the oil cure.
 
If you want a simple degreaser that removes just about everything, non-chlorinated brake cleaner works well also - just avoid wood and plastic
 
Simple Green is very hard on aluminum (as in it etches aluminum).
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Very true! I would not use Simple Green on aluminum gun parts. I used Simple Green to clean an antique Harley Davidson once. The rims are more modern, (1970’s) made of aluminum but the rest of the bike is 1956. Due to my great stupidity, I left a puddle of Simple green on the rims while I ate supper. I now have white spots on both rims where the puddles were at. To this day I am still kicking myself for it.
 
Ether in an aerosol can is great for cleaning metal parts. Outside, of course. And with no ignition sources nearby. Never tried it on a gun, but it works similar to brake cleaner on metal, only better. I'd stay off the plastic with either until found out differently.
 
WD 40

WD-40 stands for "Water Displacement – 40th Attempt". The developer was attempting to concoct a formula to prevent corrosion in nuclear weapons, by displacing any standing water. He arrived at a successful formula on his 40th attempt. Kind of like Jack Daniels ole Number 7 whiskey.

That should take out any water from corners and grooves after rinsing out the Simple Green and a lot easier to wipe off.

Also if you warm the part and set it in a freezer or out side' if it is good and cold' any water "boils off in the dryer cold air".

Just my 2 cents worth.
 
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