Cleaning RCBS powder thrower

[FredB]

meths IS surgical spirt---with a nasty taste & colur added.
Fred

[HALODIN]

I didn't know that, thanks.

[andy h]

Do not use surgical spirit to degrease as it contains camphor oil and will leave that as a residue when dried.

[HALODIN]

I think I'll use acetone and wash it off with soap and water fairly quickly. It's always been fine in the past.

[dromia]

I suspect that acetone wouldn't harm the functionality of the hopper with a wipe, however it could "cloud" the plastic and effect its value if you were ever going to sell it on.

Out of preference I use hot soapy water with a kitchen degreasing product, clit something or other, not scouring cleaner. Works every time for me.

[Alpha1]

Yes if you leave it on for to long with that type of plastic it will likely cloud that's why I would advise against doing that it will be fine on the metal parts. I made the mistake of cleaning a lee powder funnel with Acetone it went in the bin afterwards.

[Chapuis]

It won't just cloud the plastic but will also make it very brittle.

[HALODIN]

I'll put that theory to the test for you. I don't think it will go cloudy having given it more thought. Will let you know!

[bigfathairybiker]

I find soap and water a very good degreaser.
You can use as much as you want and leave it on plastics and metals for ages without any detrimental effects. Ive used it for cleaning engines, hands, floors and guns. Sometimes you can even get away with just the water. :)

Acetone is very bad for any type of plastic.
It has this ability to appear to have cleaned the surface and dried up.... But several hours later you will find that it has turn the plastic soft and glue like.

Basically, never use acetone near plastic. Even acetone vapours will attack plastic and you wont know it until several hours later.

Mark

[HALODIN]

Thanks for the info. Interestingly airplane modelers use acetone on everything as a degreaser and I've never had a problem with it on lots of different plastics. As a science experiment I'm going to give it ago when I get time. Just for clarity I'm talking about acetone, not nail varnish remover in case there's any confusion here.