[Gator_Weiss]

Cooking sprays may be used on black powder guns, after cleaning.

Some things to be aware of though. The vegetable oils sometimes have elevated levels of acids in them. Olive oil has lower acidity than vegetable oil. Canola oil spray has the lowest acid levels of all. Crisco is a vegetable oil that hardens and so we sometimes use it because it hardens and stays where you put it. But it does contain a certain amount of acidity that is higher than some of the other oils.

Canola oil is low acid. It is pressed and steamed out of rapeseed. The term CANOLA is actually an acronym: C.A.N.O.L.A. It stands for CANADIAN OIL LOW ACID.

Canola oil comes in sprays and in bottles or jugs of oils. It is found alongside of the olive oil in the grocery store.

Canola oil was (and still is) and always has been extensively used as a steam cylynder oil on steam engines at the same viscosity levels that we find it in the grocery store. It is also used as an extreme pressure lubricant in working with metal parts and forming dies in industrial applications.

Many shooters are against using petroleum products on black powder guns. I dont blame them. You can use it to coat the outside of the barrell. You can use it to protect the bore for long-term storage. But you dont have to use petroleum at all in the black powder world if you dont want to. I only use petroleum on occasion to dampen a rag to coat the outside of the piece.

If you like using vegetable oils such as crisco (I have used it extensively as well as other non-petro oils) then you should remember also to clean your weapons occasionally whether you have fired them or not. And this is because acid levels in crisco and other vegetable oils can vary from season to season, batch to batch, and from time to time. You have to clean and inspect black powder guns.

Canola is the very best oil to use on metal as a non-petroleum based lubricant. It is very close to the metal industry and it has served on steam cylinders during the black powder era. It is the most authentic and correct oil to use and can be mixed with tallows to allow for properties to make it hold in place.

You dont need double boiler and such to mix canola with tallow. Just heat canola oil on your stove at a low to moderate temperature, in an old pot or can, and toss in your tallow. Let it melt and then let it cool. Beeswax and parafin can be added. Canola acts slightly different than other vegetable oils when trying to thicken it up with tallows and waxes. But it will work. It is best as a patch lubricant in it's natural form without anything else mized in. You can dip or spray the patches. You can spray your parts. Canola works best on warmed up parts....not hot.....but warm. It works well to cure and protect an iron skillet.