Comments on: Tech Tip: Wash Bottles Speed Barrel Cleaning

By: Gary

Gary — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 15:57:46 +0000

I like the Clear ketchup bottles I can get at my local grocery store. Solvent does not eat them. and they usually have a snap on cap.

By: bo

bo — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 04:43:26 +0000

I simply only fill the bottle half full and when not using it I pull the dispensing tube up until it no longer is in the liquid. When ready to use it again I push the tube back down into the liquid.

By: Andy

Andy — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 02:23:01 +0000

I drill a 1/64″ hole in the lid to vent and put my finger on the hole as I squeeze the bottle.

By: R Hunter

R Hunter — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 04:16:04 +0000

Hmm.. this is a great idea to get that right amount of the gun cleaning solvent into the bore. I’m getting one of these…

By: Geoffrey

Geoffrey — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 01:18:45 +0000

BTW, the ones I linked to are more resistant to solvents.

By: Geoffrey

Geoffrey — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 01:11:33 +0000

I use these everyday in my work. The more volatile the contents, the more spillage. The siphoning is a result of heat and atmospheric pressure change. When a low pressure front approaches, they begin to spill. Likewise, a source of heat causes the problem. The solution is to unscrew the top just enough to allow the pressure to equalize when not in use. Obviously, these bottles are not good for transporting. There are self venting wash bottles that eliminate the problem. These are self venting: http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=23359&catid=875

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:25:35 +0000

I don’t dispute that some such thing happens, but these bottles draining themselves cannot be “siphoning”, which will not pump liquids to an end point higher than the origination. Siphons have to lose altitude. Benny above is probably correct that temperature change is at least part of the problem. Perhaps unscrewing the cap would stop the problem.

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:21:06 +0000

The concept is great, putting the solutions where you want it, I bought three of these a couple of years ago, but I had terrible problems with them auto-siphoning, dumping their contents wherever. Keeping a container under the spout was a pain, so, after losing a fair amount of Butch’s, the bottles got tossed. Buy the ones that Sinclair sells, better product and they don’t dump you solution.

By: Matthew Durdin

Matthew Durdin — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 02:05:35 +0000

Here’s a cure for the original problem and the storage issue. I use CA bulb syringes. CA is the abbreviation for Cyanoacrylate, which is an industrial grade super glue for building model airplanes. They are small and efficient and hold more than enough to soak 5 or 6 patches and long enough to precisely insert into a chamber. These syringes can be found at most hobby shops. They are clear plastic so that you can easily see how much and what type of solvent you are using and you just squirt the excess back into the original bottle. Over time they do become soft and start breaking down, but I’ve used my current ones for well over a year. I put Sweets 7.62 in one and Shooter’s choice in the other.

By: Editor

Editor — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 23:09:26 +0000

Never had a problem with plastic breakdown, but Nat is right… it is possible. To avoid any issue just unscrew the lid of the wash bottle and pour the solvent back in the solvent glass/metal container when you’re done. Likewise that eliminates any auto-siphoning issue (which I’ve never seen happen). Use common sense.