As I
have written before in the past, I am not a fan of cleaning. It is definitely
not a secret. I like having a clean and organized space but I could do without the
process by which that is achieved. I know for certain that I am not the only
one that feels this way but, like many things, there are always exceptions.
I
have found that there are many people like myself that dislike cleaning in
general but actually enjoy the act of cleaning when it comes to firearms. You
would be amazed, well at least those of you unfamiliar with this set of tools,
at how many cleaning products the average gun owner has at their workbench or
in their cleaning kit. There seems to be a solution for ever kind of grime, a
brush for every surface, and a new product coming out every few months that is
supposed to make the process easier.
While
I have limited the supplies that I have and use on a regular basis every once
in a while I will try something new. While those solvents and cleaning tools
are fine for a little while I find myself reverting back to the old way of
doing things. It is a time consuming process no matter how you approach it but
it is one of those things that lets you just tune things out for a few minutes.
No other form of cleaning has the same effect.
Maybe
it is the detailed work that is involved in making sure every corner is
cleaned. Maybe it is the importance of making sure that everything functions
properly. Maybe it is the appreciation for the engineering, design, and overall
beauty of the workmanship as the carbon is removed. I actually think it is a
little bit of each of those things.
And
I know that I am not the only one. I have had this discussion many times over
with people I know are not the tidiest human beings but their firearms are
impeccable. It is one of the oddities that is within many of us. I guess it is
similar to the person that frequently washes and polishes their car but that
could care less if the dishes are piled up in the sink. I am sure that there
are other examples but that is the one that comes to mind and that seems to
most closely parallel.
Of
course, I have also seen those people who just don’t clean anything or actually
have the opposite situation… they keep everything in their world neat and
organized but they never clean their firearm. I have seen many accidents and witnessed
beautiful pieces of engineering ruined by this neglect. In the end, there are
some cleaning projects that can be put off and there are others that can’t be
postponed.
Maybe
the enjoyment that many of us have in the process of cleaning will slowly grow
and include many other aspects of our daily lives. You never know, it could
happen. Until then, I will just focus on the small things and continue looking
forward to the end results of others to motivate myself in getting it all done
even if it is sporadic at times.
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