Warning: my neighbor's comment about his old rifle made me check my own work

He was showing me his sporterized 1903 Springfield and mentioned the bolt felt 'gritty' after he cleaned it, which got me thinking about my own process. I realized I'd been using the same can of aerosol solvent for over a year on everything, and it might be leaving a film. Has anyone else had a specific cleaner cause issues on certain steel types?

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3 Comments

cameron7246mo ago

Aerosol cans can lose their propellant over time, leaving behind a thicker, oilier mess than the original formula. That film absolutely gums up bolts. Check the can's temperature rating too. If you stored it in a hot garage all summer, the chemical mix might have broken down. It's not just about the steel type, it's about the solvent going bad in the can itself.

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ruby_grant6mo ago

Wait, the propellant can just leave behind a thicker oil? That's wild!

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barbara3995mo ago

But @ruby_grant, how often does that actually happen though lol

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