Gun Scrubber vs. Brake Cleaner: Which one should you choose?

Let’s compare Gun Scrubber vs. Brake Cleaner to find the difference in this article.

The easy part of having a gun is firing it for enjoyment or sport; the hard, less enjoyable part is cleaning and maintaining it. A gun may look nice on the shelf, but it’s pretty much worthless if it can’t fire.

How well a weapon is maintained has a significant impact on its performance. It’s good to clean your pistol after each use. Knowing which solvents to employ to remove the fouling is tough to avoid carbon fouling.

Some individuals use soap and water to remove dirt and grime. However, soapy water is not a suitable choice for eliminating heavy fouling. Some individuals like to use a brake cleaner, while others prefer a pistol scrubber.

Also check: Recommended gun cleaning kit & Pistol Cleaning kit

Gun Scrubber vs. Brake Cleaner

However, the question is whether or not you should clean your pistol using brake cleaner. Which of the 2 is the best for cleaning guns?

These solvents are made for diverse applications and have the same chemical makeup with small changes. While it may be difficult to decide which one to use, it is advisable to do some research and understand the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Gun Scrubber

A gun scrubber is a solvent designed particularly for cleaning firearms. It swiftly evaporates and protects a handgun from jamming while improving gun accuracy.

Cleaning bolts, slide actions, barrels, and other gun parts is a breeze with a gun scrubber. A gun scrubber can be used to clean a gun, flintlock musket, handgun, or almost any other firearm.

It’s versatile in that it may be used to clean your gun’s plastics, wood, rubber handles, and other materials without disintegrating them. However, you must use a gun scrubber in conjunction with a bore cleaning solution and lubricate the pistol afterward since it will remove all of the gun’s oils.

Pros

It is easy to use. 

It cleans fast and dries quickly.

It does not leave any residue.

It can be used on a plastic gun.

Cons

It strips the oil from a gun.

Brake cleaner

Chemical solvents are used to clean engine parts and brake discs, including a few applications. They’re mostly used to clean and degrease metal surfaces and pats.

The two types of brake cleaners are chlorinated and non-chlorinated. Non-chlorinated wheel cleaners contain aliphatic or aromatic chemicals in polar solvents such as acetone, ethanol, alcohol, and isopropanol.

It’s also known that when it becomes heated, it produces phosgene gas as a by-product. Even in little amounts, inhaling phosgene gas can induce scarring in the nose and lungs.

Non-chlorinated brake solvents are less dangerous, although they can cause skin irritation and induce dizziness, loss of coordination, lack of appetite, nausea, eczema, and unconsciousness if breathed over lengthy periods. It may damage wood, plastic, and paint due to its high strength.

Pros

It can be used for stains and stuck parts.

It is a good solvent for oil-based gunk.

It is cheap.

Cons

It corrodes plastics, wood, and rubber parts.

Gun Scrubber vs. Brake Cleaner: Which one should you choose?

If you’re looking for a gun cleaning solution and aren’t sure whether to get a gun cleaner or a break remover, here are some things to think about.

1. Effectiveness

A gun cleaning solution ensures that your weapon is free of powder residue, oil buildup, filth, and dirt. While both a firearm scrubber and braking cleaner are good degreasers, a braking cleaner would not be the best choice if your gun includes wood, rubber, or plastic products.

2. Price

When comparing the differences between these two pistol cleaning solutions, price is considered. You can use a braking cleaner or a gun scrubber on a firearm that is totally made of metal.

On the other hand, a gun scrubber is better for guns with plastic, rubber, or timber parts since it won’t corrode or damage them. When used on components other than metal, a braking cleaner would be an unsuitable option since it is too abrasive. Even though a brake cleaner is less expensive than a gun scrubber, don’t use it if your gun is constructed of anything other than metal.

3. Safety

Because gun cleaning solutions are comprised of chemicals, attention should be exercised when purchasing and handling them. Examine the label and instructional manual to find out what compounds are in a product’s formula.

Conclusion

We hope this information provided will assist you in selecting an appropriate pistol cleaning solution for your firearm’s upkeep. While brake cleaners are useful when you don’t want to invest in a gun scrubber, they aren’t the ideal option for weapons with non-metallic components.

Gun scrubbers are specifically designed for gun cleaning and would be an excellent choice when selecting a gun cleaning solution. You can clean the carbon fouling with soap and water. However, water will not eliminate tenacious carbon fouling. You may learn a lot by experimenting with different cleaning chemicals but do your homework first to prevent hurting your gun.

gunsafetynow.com is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.


Photo of author

-Author

James

I'm an passionate gun cleaning expert from NY US. My goal is to save you time by doing the leg work for you and putting all the essential information in one location to be confident about the cleaning your gun.

Leave a Comment