The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Gear and Accessories

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old February 20, 2017, 09:14 AM   #1
Gator Weiss
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 13, 2007
Posts: 117
Alternative Products, Lubricants and Protectorants

We have had this discussion on here from time to time. There are many diverse ideas for lubricants and protectorants. A few years ago I attended a school at a facility and the long-arms instructor there had a sizeable arsenal and facility and a considerable amount of practical experience. He was soaking his AKs and ARs and Handguns in "SIMPLE GREEN" and getting extremely satisfactory results in cleaning. He was lubricating with common engine oil. His equipment was excellant and very serviceable and clean with a minimal amount of scrubbing. He had other products in stock, but mostly used the engine oil and simple green.

I currently clean and lube and protect my smokeless powder guns with Hoppes products and Lucas oil and common 3-in-1 oil. I have noticed the common and basic 3-in-1 oil to be very good. 3-in-1 oil seems to stay in place and it seems to lift dirt out of the tiny areas for easy clean-up. Its cheap and plentiful everywhere. The Hoppes gun oil is very satisfactory too. I also have some mixed products I use on occasion; however; with a reasonably clean gun, Hoppes products does fine for general cleaup.

My black powder guns I use only hot dish-soap water, a long and thorough hot water rinse, and a very thorough drying. I then use only Canola oil to protect. I dont use petroleum products on black powder guns. Canola is Canadian Oil Low Acid; basically steamed rape-seed oil like that used on steam engine cylinder anti-seize oil. Grocery store variety is good.

I have in-stock a container of STP synthetic oil treatment (unopened) and I wonder what opinions are on this forum in using such a product on firearms?
What is the synthetic made of? Would there be any advantage in cleaning and lubricating with this product or other products like it?
Gator Weiss is offline  
Old February 20, 2017, 02:00 PM   #2
jmhyer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 19, 2012
Location: MS - USA
Posts: 899
I can't speak to the STP product. But I find that, in most circumstances, it doesn't really matter what you use to clean or lube. I clean my guns after each use and don't generally have to worry about stubborn deposits.

For clean guns that are going to be stored for a while in a climate controlled environment, I just make sure that there is a very thin coat of oil on all metallic surfaces. I typically apply the thin coat and then blot it in order to make sure there's no accumulation.
jmhyer is offline  
Old February 20, 2017, 04:11 PM   #3
T. O'Heir
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 13, 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 12,453
Canola oil is salad oil. Isn't great for protecting anything except lettuce.(doesn't protect that either) Being developed into biodiesel fuel in Europe, but that doesn't make it protect anything. Used as an agricultural bug repellent too.
3-in-1 oil is light oil. Mostly used as a penetrating oil, but it'll protect your BP stuff way better than salad oil. And it's mostly the water that cleans out the BP salts. The soap just makes 'em smell better.
SIMPLE GREEN is detergent. Removes grease.
Engine oil works as well as anything as a solvent. The CF gave us nothing but 10-30 motor oil to clean everything from MG's to .22's.
'STP' stands for Synthetic Oil Treatment. Originally called Scientifically Treated Petroleum though. MSDS is here. http://www.stp.com/products/oil-addi...-oil-treatment
Wouldn't be any better than anything else except you can likely get it in a bigger can.
__________________
Spelling and grammar count!
T. O'Heir is offline  
Old February 21, 2017, 05:01 PM   #4
Bill DeShivs
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 7, 2006
Posts: 10,967
I use canola oil for heat treating in my shop.
I would never use it as a lubricant or protectant.
__________________
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
www.billdeshivs.com
Bill DeShivs is offline  
Old February 21, 2017, 06:03 PM   #5
RickB
Senior Member
 
Join Date: March 1, 2000
Location: Boise, ID
Posts: 8,511
Marvel Mystery Oil is a pretty good solvent, and has a minty smell that doesn't draw the ire of the rest of the household.
It also has some lubricating and protecting qualities, so it's better than some of the solvents that strip everything from the surface.
The last time I had my Garand apart, I stripped all the bearing grease off and replaced it with Mobil 1 grease. The gun ran well; I know some people who have used nothing but Mobil 1 oil on their guns for years.
I generally hate the smell of motor oil.
Guys I know who have shown up at the range without any oil will sometimes pull the lid from the power steering reservoir in their car and use that, and I think ATF is one of the ingredients in "Ed's Red" solvent.
I've tried a lot of different stuff, but decided that in the small quantities used, the expense of gun-specific products doesn't drive me to find alternatives.
I'm now using Strike Hold as solvent and preservative, and Wilson Ultimalube oil and grease.
__________________
Runs off at the mouth about anything 1911 related on this site and half the time is flat out wrong.
RickB is offline  
Old February 23, 2017, 06:44 AM   #6
Spats McGee
Staff
 
Join Date: July 28, 2010
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 8,819
A few years ago, one of our members did his own experiments with a whole bunch of products and posted the results here.
__________________
I'm a lawyer, but I'm not your lawyer. If you need some honest-to-goodness legal advice, go buy some.
Spats McGee is offline  
Old February 23, 2017, 11:34 AM   #7
Jim Watson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 25, 2001
Location: Alabama
Posts: 18,491
About anything will work, as long as you keep some on the working surfaces.

I have long heard "don't put petroleum products on black powder guns."
I also hear how good Ballistol is, and use it myself in spite of the unpleasant oder, but it is plainly labeled "mineral oil."
Jim Watson is offline  
Old February 23, 2017, 11:42 AM   #8
FITASC
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 6, 2014
Posts: 6,432
Simple Green is a water-based cleaner; I do not think it is the best choice for cleaning guns
__________________
"I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa
FITASC is offline  
Old February 23, 2017, 12:39 PM   #9
Slopemeno
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 19, 2007
Posts: 2,663
I used Simple Green for years to disassemble, clean and inspect customers guns. It works fine in a diluted mixture. Use compressed air to blow out the excess, hose it down with Breaker CLP, and wipe off the excess.
Slopemeno is offline  
Old February 23, 2017, 12:45 PM   #10
Doyle
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 20, 2007
Location: Rainbow City, Alabama
Posts: 7,167
For a protectant, carnuba wax is good. Works for both metal and wood.
Doyle is offline  
Old February 23, 2017, 02:17 PM   #11
Slamfire
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 27, 2007
Posts: 5,261
Quote:
He was lubricating with common engine oil.
Motor oils are amazing lubricants. Because they are cheap compared to gun oils, people assume they are inferior. They are not. Unlike gun oils, motor oils have to meet an industry standard. I am of the opinion that most of the over the counter gun oils are straight mineral oil, no additives.

The guys on the web page "Bob is the Oil Guy" claim that Marvel Mystery Oil is a mix of mineral spirits and mineral oil. Nothing special, but very expensive for what you get.

I use all sorts of oils, a good one with rust inhibiting properties is CRC 3-36

3-36® Multi-Purpose Lubricant & Corrosion Inhibitor, 11 Wt Oz
http://www.crcindustries.com/product...result/?q=3-36
__________________
If I'm not shooting, I'm reloading.
Slamfire is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:30 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.07755 seconds with 9 queries