Do you clean a gun before selling?

[BONECUTR]

I clean before selling. I have seen a few PPT's go south when the buyer is inspecting the firearm and its dirty. They have cancelled the transaction or asked the seller for a discount.

I get it that I can't verify the condition and wear on a gun when its dirty.

 

[sonofeugene]

No. Ultrasonic cleaners cause cavitation and can create pitting even with just water. You should really read up or watch informational videos about ultrasonic cleaners.

Of course there are cleaning solutions made especially for aluminum, but in a machine that can cause aluminum to dissolve in just water, I would not trust, and why. It ain't hard to clean aluminum parts by hand while throwing steel in ultrasonic if needed.

Better yet, just run your gun under scorching hot water and you'll see the carbon and fouling disappear.

From Google:

“No, an ultrasonic cleaner cannot dissolve or "remove" solid metal objects using just water.”

And personal experience backs this up.

 

[RedHemi]

to play devils advocate, does cleaning a pistol actually make it last longer? There may be an argument for running a gun dry even that is a stretch though. But for me I clean my guns so that they work when I want them to work but is there actually a level where the gun needs to be "taken care of" to avoid excess wear? I really don't think it makes a difference in that regard and would even say that a gun that is constantly taken apart would have more wear just from being taken apart a lot, like guns that rely on pins that go through polymer will be looser etc. Like I would rather buy a gun that had never been cleaned but had 2000 rounds and looked like than a pristine gun with 10000 rounds.

I would think that taking care of it would make it last longer. As for pins and some consumable parts they normally only wear out from use more than taking them apart. As for polymer that's where your judgement comes in on how often you completely take them apart. I don't do a complete tear down on my shooters every time I only do that once I get over 500 rounds if it looks dirty enough. As for when you buy a used gun inspection is the key as to weather you buy it or not clean or not. I'd rather inspect a clean gun because you can see any wear on parts that you might miss on a dirty gun.

 

[RustVendor]

I would think that taking care of it would make it last longer. As for pins and some consumable parts they normally only wear out from use more than taking them apart. As for polymer that's where your judgement comes in on how often you completely take them apart. I don't do a complete tear down on my shooters every time I only do that once I get over 500 rounds if it looks dirty enough. As for when you buy a used gun inspection is the key as to weather you buy it or not clean or not. I'd rather inspect a clean gun because you can see any wear on parts that you might miss on a dirty gun.

that's the thing though, it doesn't really make a gun last longer to clean it all the time it just ensures reliability and for modern plastic guns it doesn't even do that you can just lube them without cleaning. Guns will last far longer than it takes to wear the finish off the frame rails, most people won't even hit 5k let alone enough to wear a gun out in any way

 

[chiroken007]

well. You could ask the military and the armory. Do they tolerate dirty inventory?

On a more practical note. We are dealing with combustion and friction between metal surfaces like an automobile. I find it hard to believe you don’t change the oil. The dirtier the oil. More friction, more build up, more damage. It’s simple.

For a more direct example. The BG 2.0 is picky. It shoots dirty and get hot real quick. We took it for its first joy ride with 200 rounds. Did great. I was lazy and didn’t clean it between range days. The second time we got PMC ammo. Terrible 60% of the rounds got stuck in battery and could hardly get them out. I cleaned the gun thoroughly and took it out a third time. This time with both fiocci and PMC. The Fiocci was flawless. And the PMC shot way better but not great. 2 out of 40 jammed in towards the end of 140 rounds.

Clean shot better… dirty shot worse in both instances.

 

[BONECUTR]

well. You could ask the military and the armory. Do they tolerate dirty inventory?

On a more practical note. We are dealing with combustion and friction between metal surfaces like an automobile. I find it hard to believe you don’t change the oil. The dirtier the oil. More friction, more build up, more damage. It’s simple.

I long time ago in the boltgun world (and still some today) pushed this barrel break in for long range guns where you shot once and clean for xx number on rounds,..shoot two/clean for XX rounds ....all types of variations.

When people actual did this it was causing more wear to the barrels and shorting the life..... some people swear it makes the gun shoot better.... but at what cost?

Cleaning the gun with solvents "can" shorten the lifespan of the gun....but every gun is different.

 

[chiroken007]

Yes with solvents.
Can always have too much of a good thing for sure. But no cleaning leads to wear and failures

 

[RustVendor]

well. You could ask the military and the armory. Do they tolerate dirty inventory?

On a more practical note. We are dealing with combustion and friction between metal surfaces like an automobile. I find it hard to believe you don’t change the oil. The dirtier the oil. More friction, more build up, more damage. It’s simple.

For a more direct example. The BG 2.0 is picky. It shoots dirty and get hot real quick. We took it for its first joy ride with 200 rounds. Did great. I was lazy and didn’t clean it between range days. The second time we got PMC ammo. Terrible 60% of the rounds got stuck in battery and could hardly get them out. I cleaned the gun thoroughly and took it out a third time. This time with both fiocci and PMC. The Fiocci was flawless. And the PMC shot way better but not great. 2 out of 40 jammed in towards the end of 140 rounds.

Clean shot better… dirty shot worse in both instances.

clean for function, not for wear or longevity. If it was working out of the box cleaning would have no effect on the longevity. They aren't cars, we are asking 100k-200k cycles which a car hits in 1 hour.

 

[RustVendor]

I long time ago in the boltgun world (and still some today) pushed this barrel break in for long range guns where you shot once and clean for xx number on rounds,..shoot two/clean for XX rounds ....all types of variations.

When people actual did this it was causing more wear to the barrels and shorting the life..... some people swear it makes the gun shoot better.... but at what cost?

Cleaning the gun with solvents "can" shorten the lifespan of the gun....but every gun is different.

yeah a lot of people use bore paste and a bore scope and they want the rifling shiny, but for what? almost certainly reducing barrel life

 

[sonofeugene]

Gun cleaning solvents have no effect on metal gun parts.

 

[RustVendor]

Gun cleaning solvents have no effect on metal gun parts.

probably not but abrasives do, and many use abrasives on bores.

 

[sonofeugene]

I would never use anything abrasive on any part. Except a brass brush on a barrel bore.

 

[sonofeugene]

I have, however used silicone rubber dental “stones” impregnated with fine abrasives for polishing on certain trigger components. Works far better than sand paper. Then I clean the parts thoroughly and apply molybdenum disulfide powder in a synthetic grease base. The result is a super smooth trigger.

 

[sonofeugene]

I’ve also, on new rifles after an initial cleaning, run a synthetic oil soaked swab coated with moly powder down the bore. This lubricates the bore and supplies a super slick moly coating that is impervious to all heat and pressure the barrel will ever see. That and a light coating on the first rounds sent down range.

 

[TangoDown]

I think a good rule is, always clean your guns AFTER the range. This way when you do sell the gun, it’s already pretty much cleaned

 

[Plenty_Pack_556]

From Google:

“No, an ultrasonic cleaner cannot dissolve or "remove" solid metal objects using just water.”

And personal experience backs this up.

Also from google (next time why don't you copy and paste the complete exerpt, not just what makes you right.):

Ultrasonic cleaners , do not chemically dissolve bulk metals, but intense physical cavitation (collapsing microscopic bubbles) can erode, pit, or disintegrate thin metal foils and damaged surfaces, while incompatible chemical solutions can rapidly corrode or dissolve specific metals.

Here is a video that shows and explains:

What was that?

 

[Plenty_Pack_556]

You not wanting to use em. Got it, loud and clear. Makes sense, you see it as risky - also, some people just enjoy cleaning their guns (and a few don't according to this thread!).

Also, science. What you are saying about utlra sonic equipment dissolving aluminum is just factually false. Can is create increased problem if you are using chemicals with high-pH alkaline, thats true. Can it dissolve aluminum in just water, nope. Dissolving is a chemistry problem, not an ultra sonic problem.

Does ultrasonic cleaner bubbles pierce aluminum foils?

Yes it does.

Have you heard of the Ultrasonic Aluminum Foil Test?
Obvious from your reply you have not.

Also science.

 

[Skilly]

Does ultrasonic cleaner bubbles pierce aluminum foils?

Yes it does.

Have you heard of the Ultrasonic Aluminum Foil Test?
Obvious from your reply you have not.

Also science.

This is funny actually because foil (16 microns thick) is sometimes used to confirm a cleaner is working. You wrote it yourself "thin metal foils".

Firearm aluminum is a structural alloy thousands of times thicker and has a type III coating on it. Using an ultra sonic cleaner correctly will have zero impact.

I can explain it to you, but I cant understand it for you.

 

[Plenty_Pack_556]

This is funny actually because foil (16 microns thick) is sometimes used to confirm a cleaner is working. You wrote it yourself "thin metal foils".

Firearm aluminum is a structural alloy thousands of times thicker and has a type III coating on it. Using an ultra sonic cleaner correctly will have zero impact.

I can explain it to you, but I cant understand it for you.

And, does it dissolve aluminum or not? I proved a point, which you failed to prove.

Did it dissolve the aluminum or did it not?
I don't understand how much a dumbass you gotta be.

You said UC does not dissolve aluminum? I said it does. Now you walking back?

Is aluminum foil not metal. Aluminum is aluminum. I proved my point, where's yours.

Retarded.

 

[Plenty_Pack_556]