Is surgical spirit OK to clean inner barrels?
- Thread starter Jdcolli
- Start date
Model/airfix type shops might have isopropanol. It's used for thinning pain and brush cleaning.
It's also cheap online. You can order 1L for about £6 delivered.
It can be used for barrels, Cleaning up inside gearboxes, and degreasing externals if you are planning on painting them. It's a decent all round product to have at home for dealing with airsoft equipment. Be careful with plastics but generally it is safe for use on just about everything.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1L-Isopropyl-Alcohol-IPA-PROPAN-2-OL-ISOPROPANOL-C3H7OH-99-9/112434172504?epid=2218475838&hash=item1a2d995258:g:drQAAOSwrhBZN7Ok
It's also cheap online. You can order 1L for about £6 delivered.
It can be used for barrels, Cleaning up inside gearboxes, and degreasing externals if you are planning on painting them. It's a decent all round product to have at home for dealing with airsoft equipment. Be careful with plastics but generally it is safe for use on just about everything.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1L-Isopropyl-Alcohol-IPA-PROPAN-2-OL-ISOPROPANOL-C3H7OH-99-9/112434172504?epid=2218475838&hash=item1a2d995258:g:drQAAOSwrhBZN7Ok
Last edited by a moderator:
Rogerborg
Supporters
- Aug 22, 2017
- 9,190
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At a quick Googols, Boots / Superdrug "surgical spirit" contains random gloop like Methyl Salicylate, Diethyl Phthalate, Castor Oil.
As above, I'd go with straight / 99% isopropanol / isopropyl alcohol. It's great for general cleaning and degreasing, I'm currently getting through 5 litres of the stuff.
Countryman
Members
- Jan 22, 2018
- 103
- 3
This is the stuff i use to make a release agent for reloading. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Isopropyl-Alcohol-Isopropanol-99-9-Pure-FREE-Shipping-Various-Sizes-Available/121467503384?var=&hash=item1c48070318
This will be very similar to the above. if you are in the Warminster area I can give you some as i bought a bulk lot for a project I havent started yet.
This will be very similar to the above. if you are in the Warminster area I can give you some as i bought a bulk lot for a project I havent started yet.
emilianoksa
Members
- Jan 25, 2018
- 1,858
- 98
Isopropyl alcohol is not readily availabe in British shops.
It is however easy to get online from Amazon or Ebay. I have been using 99% isopropyl for years. Various manufacturers make it and sell it in plastic bottles from half a litre upwards. I have several uses for it and generally buy it in one litre bottles. It is ideal for degreasing airsoft barrels, and for degreasing springer airguns. Takes all the grease off air rifle internals before relubing in seconds. It evaporates quickly, doesn't damage materials and leaves no smell. Excellent stuff.
Just type the name into Google and it will bring up dozens of British suppliers on Amazon.
ImTriggerHappy
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- Feb 25, 2015
- 5,374
- 2,228
Given up on all that just use flash kitchen wipes now. The degreaser in them works wonders and your gun smells all lovely and lemony after.
ImTriggerHappy
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- Feb 25, 2015
- 5,374
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No totally safe although the antibacterial action might be dangerous to some airsofters.
Sitting Duck
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- May 11, 2014
- 4,894
- 1,735
just buy the alcohol wipes for cleaning the odd barrel now n then....
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-IPA-FASTAID-70-ISOPROPYL-ALCOHOL-SWABS-WIPES-PRE-INJECTION-TATTOO/271227481280?epid=28003298498&hash=item3f266aecc0:g:Wg4AAOSwjVVVu5ji
normally they are folded squares, unfold it to a rectangle, cut with scissors
(you will likely need scissors as the swab doesn't tear very easily)
take one of the two squares, fold in half, stick in cleaning rod, jam in barrel
give it a clean, discard & use other swab to finish off
shove a couple in ya bag in case ya gun gets drowned or buried in dirt etc....
easier than carting a bottle of very flamable liquid about - great for getting bbq's/bonfires started btw
(seriously - that alcohol needs to be stored with some common sense though, it goes up well)
Same as not leaving ya gear in your car with a gas can in ya bag
a couple of car windows have been blown out when gas cans cooked over the summer
OK we have probably had our summer now, but just saying wipes "might" be easier or better suited perhaps
(yeah OK you are not likely to carry a bottle of alcohol around I know, but wipes might be more suitable in bag)
Just highlighting some safety crap as we have had a couple of warm days
But yeah 99.9% alcohol is good stuff for cleaning many things, the bottles are pure 99.9%
wipes are 70% - use what you like or have to hand I guess
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-IPA-FASTAID-70-ISOPROPYL-ALCOHOL-SWABS-WIPES-PRE-INJECTION-TATTOO/271227481280?epid=28003298498&hash=item3f266aecc0:g:Wg4AAOSwjVVVu5ji
normally they are folded squares, unfold it to a rectangle, cut with scissors
(you will likely need scissors as the swab doesn't tear very easily)
take one of the two squares, fold in half, stick in cleaning rod, jam in barrel
give it a clean, discard & use other swab to finish off
shove a couple in ya bag in case ya gun gets drowned or buried in dirt etc....
easier than carting a bottle of very flamable liquid about - great for getting bbq's/bonfires started btw
(seriously - that alcohol needs to be stored with some common sense though, it goes up well)
Same as not leaving ya gear in your car with a gas can in ya bag
a couple of car windows have been blown out when gas cans cooked over the summer
OK we have probably had our summer now, but just saying wipes "might" be easier or better suited perhaps
(yeah OK you are not likely to carry a bottle of alcohol around I know, but wipes might be more suitable in bag)
Just highlighting some safety crap as we have had a couple of warm days
But yeah 99.9% alcohol is good stuff for cleaning many things, the bottles are pure 99.9%
wipes are 70% - use what you like or have to hand I guess
Last edited by a moderator:
emilianoksa
Members
- Jan 25, 2018
- 1,858
- 98
I prefer to buy it by the litre.
It's great as a general purpose cleaner and ideal for removing the paint from old models, etc
Currently have about 5 litres in the house.
It's great as a general purpose cleaner and ideal for removing the paint from old models, etc
Currently have about 5 litres in the house.
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