Ed's Red

[jednorris]

I was just reading that many shooters clean their gun with home made "Ed's Red" gun cleaner, how do you make it.

[Hossfly]

1 part Dexron II, IIe or III Automatic Transmission Fluid - GM Spec D20265 or later
1 part K1 Kerosene
1 part Aliphatic Mineral Spirits federal spec TT-T-2981F (CAS# 64741-49-9) or Stodard Solvent/Varsol
(CAS#8052-41-1)
1 part Acetone (CAS#67-64-1)And you can add some lanolin liquid will protect longer.

[Hossfly]

If you do use Acetone keep in metal can or something it will eat through most plastics. Fingernail bottle ok.

[slughammer]

I just made a new batch, and it's way less smelly than my last batch.

1 part Type F ATF (WAY less smell than Dex-Merc)

1 part odorless mineral spirits

1 part 1-K kerosene heater fuel

I don't use the acetone, my shop is small, I don't want to breath it.

Best tips, use the Type F and make a small batch, 6 oz. Of each fluid makes a lot!

[mattw]

Would diesel work in place of the k1?

[Outpost75]

Would diesel work in place of the k1?

The low-sulphur over the road diesel "should" be OK, but I haven't tried it.

[Wolfer]

I don’t use the acetone since I don’t shoot a lot of shotgun. I do add a synthetic two cycle oil to a jug. Don’t know but feel like if it will lubricate a chainsaw it would give some lube to a gun.
Makes it more of an Ed’s purple

[lead-1]

Another Ed's Red user here but I leave out the acetone.

[NWPilgrim]

I use a lot of Ed’s Red for cleaning firearms. I use the formula WITH lanolin (easier on hands if not wearing gloves and supposed to improve rust protection), and WITHOUT the acetone (which is mainly to remove plastic hull debris from shotguns).

Probably been using this gallon for 15 years now. Down to about a pint so time to make a new batch this year.

I’ve heard some guys use a variation for gun lube of ATF + Mobil1.

[fast ronnie]

I use it with the four parts, including acetone. Without the acetone, it makes a good gun lube.
1 part kerosene
1 part acetone
1 part dexron
1 part mineral spirits

[Froogal]

I just made a new batch, and it's way less smelly than my last batch.

1 part Type F ATF (WAY less smell than Dex-Merc)

1 part odorless mineral spirits

1 part 1-K kerosene heater fuel

I don't use the acetone, my shop is small, I don't want to breath it.

Best tips, use the Type F and make a small batch, 6 oz. Of each fluid makes a lot!

Nix on the acetone for me also. That stuff makes me woozy in a very short time.

[pworley1]

Just mixing the K-1 and ATF makes a great gun oil. I use it both ways for every cleaning job. I have not found anything better for over all cleaning.

[marek313]

K1 ATF and Mineral Spirits with no acetone for me too. Great for cleaning and lubricating guns and everything else around the house. Its pretty much replacement for WD40 for me. I think it even penetrates better then WD40 I use it all the time.

[Warhawk]

https://www.majorsgunclub.org/edsred.html

[Speedo66]

A 50-50 mix of ATF and acetone is said to be the best penetrating fluid for loosening rusty bolts.

[waksupi]

Ed's Red is good enough that I converted three different gun companies to using it. Beat the hell out of Remoil.