Great Evaluation of Lubes and Rust Preventatives

[chances R]

Ran across this very informative thread on another forum.  Answers the age old question of 'what is best' in the world of lubes with a seemingly factual, well-done, objective testing of some of the most common products on the market. 

 

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=546316

 

 

[Dolomite_supafly]

I am now on the hunt for WD40 Specialist. I keep regular WD40 around to clean my firearms because it is the best solvent I have found for most things you want to clean off of guns.

[Clod Stomper]

I am now on the hunt for WD40 Specialist. I keep regular WD40 around to clean my firearms because it is the best solvent I have found for most things you want to clean off of guns.

Thank you! I know some people are scared to death to let WD-40 anywhere near their guns, but as a basic solvent it's just fine. And much cheaper than other stuff.

I've even used it to keep my bore from rusting after I shoot corrosive ammo if I don't want to do a real cleaning right away. Haven't had a problem yet.

As for the Specialist, I saw a while array of new WD-40 products on the shelf somewhere the other day. Can't remember where at the moment.

Edit: Just read the linked article. Whoa. That was a heck of a write-up. And it kind of reinforces my philosophy of using specific products for specific purposes. With some overlap of course. I have lubes, cleaners and rust preventatives. I rarely buy one that claims to be all in one. Edited August 9, 2014 by Clod Stomper

[Garufa]

I am now on the hunt for WD40 Specialist. I keep regular WD40 around to clean my firearms because it is the best solvent I have found for most things you want to clean off of guns.

 

WalMart carries the stuff.  The corrosion inhibitor is $11.83.  They also had the rust release but I didn't catch the price on it.

[TrickyNicky]

I use whatever's handy for 9/10s of what need doing for basic cleaning. I'm still working through a fairly large order if balistol from a few years ago. I may change it up when I run out. Doubt it though, it does the job fine and is a clean product. Plus handy as heck around the house, and non-toxic by itself too, which is a minor consideration but what the heck. I have I small bottle of some kind if thick grease that was old when I was a kid, it's lasted probably over my lifetime even though I used to gob it onto everything before I knew better. Whatever it is I'll probably just grab some light to medium grease to replace it if I ever run out.

Now the other 1/10 involves mostly cleaning powder rings off of cylinder faces. I'll buy and try anything for that chore. Still find that some Hoppes on a rag with lots of elbow grease is the best for that, along with a brush for blued guns, and I just use an old treated cloth on stainless steel.

[tnhawk]

..... That was a heck of a write-up. And it kind of reinforces my philosophy of using specific products for specific purposes. With some overlap of course. I have lubes, cleaners and rust preventatives. I rarely buy one that claims to be all in one.

 

I keep several products, using each for a specific purpose.

[TNMTBik3r]

That is a nice review. I had actually looked at that Hornady One Shot the other day, didn't buy any though. I have been using the red can One Shot cleaner and lube on all of my reloading stuff, but may try that black can since it really held off corrosion in his tests.

[wileecoyote]

Pretty good write up, and a structured approach to testing, although not really as scientific as it could be, and none of the tests used or simulated actual firearms use. The lube test for example didn't take into account the friction before, during, or after drying (with each product recommending different applications), and it didn't test how the lube would be effected by retention of crud from firing inside a firearm action. Vaseline or Olive Oil make great lubes and would show very little friction but they obviously would be a terrible lube for a gun. Still good info though. You might like to read this post for a detailed corrosion test report. [URL]http://www.6mmbr.com/corrosiontest.html[/URL]

[graycrait]

I've been bored before but never that bored.  I am glad he did this.  I've been using Frog Lube in my 10/22s as it makes cleaning the chamber and breech face area easy to clean.  I use CLP on my centerfire pistols because I have a gallon of it.   I've used up a can of Oneshot and I liked it for various things like door locks in my house and cars.  I've never used or seen or looked for WD 40 Specialist.  I'll continue with Frog Lube and CLP.   

Edited August 10, 2014 by graycrait

[runco]

I find CLP is little harsh, but I too use a little WD40 for the initial clean, and finish with Ballistol.  Heck if Hickok45 says its good, its good for me! 

 

[URL=http://s963.photobucket.com/user/runco0318/media/HICKok45_zps17414793.jpg.html][/URL]

[bucnball]

For cleaning cylinder faces, I've found nothing to compare with wadding that is used to polish motorcycle chrome (though brand names elude me @ the moment !) . Smells like naphtha a bit, and Tarn-ex polishing clothes seem to work well too.