question on aluminum receivers and solvents

[tmckay2]

so as im sure everyone knows aluminum receivers and bore solvents don't always mix. when i was cleaning my rifle i spilled a little solvent on the inside of the receiver, just kinda wiped it off, whatever. finished cleaning the rifle then put it away. when i took it back out a while later and the spot looks kinda lighter, or shinier. do you think it can cause any kind of long term damage to the receiver?

[lead_magnet]

I wouldn't know...I only use CLP.

[tmckay2]

ok...but then why post?

[coop68]

well my fist question is what brand of solvent are you useing?

what part of the receiver are you talking about upper/lower, the inside or outside of the receiver? you should be fine as long as you whip all of it off. i use hoppies 9 to whip down my AR. mostly on the bolt and inside the upper receiver just to keep carbon from building up. in most cases i am thinking the reason why u see a diffence is cause it took off some carbon and or dirt from the receiver would be my first guess. not knowing how you clean your rifle as we all have are own way of doing things.

[GreenScoutII]

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I can tell you I have been scrubbing the inside of a 10/22 receiver with a toothbrush and Hoppe's #9 for the better part of 20 years. The only thing that ever happens is it gets clean.

If you are using a strong solvent like Sweets 7.62, I'd say wipe it off as quick as possible. I noticed that stuff will discolor an aluminum jag tip on a cleaning rod. I think it would take a while for it to eat into the metal, but cosmetic damage might be a concern.

[BPTactical]

With any over the counter cleaner the worst damage to the actual aluminum would only be a bit of a darkening effect. If it caused immediate physical damage it would be so caustic you wouldnt be using it to start.
The thing you do have to watch is finish damage.
If the aluminum is anodized usually not much damage will occur but some things may discolor it.
Applied finishes such as Gun-Kote, Baking Laquer and Aluma-Hyde can be damaged by too strong of solvents in some solutions.

[tmckay2]

ok thanks for the info guys. i was using hoppe's 9. it basically looks like it just discolored it a bit, on the inside of the upper receiver. i just wanted to be sure it wasn't something that if some residue was left it could, over a long period of time, eat into the aluminum. on a similar note, has any tried some of the bore gels out there and mil-comm tw25 or whatever that lubricant is? ive had people in my ear about both of those lately

[Graves]

ok...but then why post?

Damn d00d, got sandy vaj?

[sniper7]

I use CLP, hoppes 9, brake cleaner, whatever I can find for my 10/22....been going strong for 10,000+ rounds (1 extractor swap is it for parts), it shoots silenced, fast, slow, and I clean the crap out of it. still looks great and the aluminum is still there. is is SS finish!

you don't have anything to worry about.

[GunTroll]

Better sell it at a huge discounted price due to the horrible discoloration of the receiver. I wouldn't get caught dead with a gun like that.

JK [Coffee]

It happens. I almost turned my Henry Golden Boy into a silver boy once.

[lead_magnet]

ok...but then why post?

Just a recommendation.

[Troublco]

I like CLP, but only as a surface treatment/rust preventative. I don't like it for moving parts or as a cleaner. I've used it that way in the military, but only because I didn't have any bore cleaner. I prefer military bore cleaner or Hoppe's #9. The military bore cleaner neutralizes corrosive primer salts without question, and Hoppe's has always worked on some of the nastiest fouling and has that unique, "I'm cleaning guns" smell. CLP leaves a very nice coating on the surface and I love it for long term storage and guns I take out and use, but for lubrication I use RemOil or a high grade mineral oil for the moving parts as I don't think the CLP provides enough lubricity. For Garands and M14's I like 130AA lubriplate.

On the original subject, I've never had Hoppe's permanently discolor anything. Could it be that what you're seeing is just a shiny area where the Hoppe's ran?