[19-3Ben]

So we have discussions here all the time about which lubes/oils to use. Some like CLP, some use remoil, and other prefer motor oil.

Well, here's one that people don't usually think of and I figured I'd ask here. bicycle chain lubricant.
My mistress hobby to the gun thing, is the bicycle hobby. i love 'em. Put on ~125 miles per week.I build 'em, restore 'em etc...
I have Pedro's and Finish Line's dry teflon lubricants that I use on bike chains to prevent corrosion and wear. It works fantastically well. Dirt doesn't stick to it because it leaves a dry slippery film, and it seems to inhibit corrosion very well.
Why not use it on guns? It's more expensive than using motor oil, but still only about half the price of Remoil.

I haven't tried it yet. Thoughts?

[MrBorland]

Here's a good article on gun lubes. Since teflon-based bike lubes were designed to handle corrosion and loads, it seems like they might do ok in a gun, though the loads generated in a gun are likely a lot higher than a bike chain. Dunno if a bike lube would be able to handle those loads.

FWIW, I ride a lot too and have plenty of chain lube lying around, but I use ATF on my guns.

http://www.grantcunningham.com/lubricants101.html

[usp_fan]

The dry lubes are interesting, as are the wet lubes available to us cyclists. The one key difference between guns and bikes is Heat. Bikes just don't generate that much of it. Whatever lube you use on your gun had better be able to stand up to and stay in place under heat.

Having said that, I've used triflow, white lightening, pedro's, and a little phil wood tenacious oil from time to time. The irony is, I think I've come full circle as now I'm using a gun lube (FP-10) on my bike chain. Go figure.

[Cosmoline]

I think part of the problem is very few firearms actually need lubrication. And when they do there's usually a specific type you are supposed to use, in very small amounts at very precise places. Most non-crew served firearms should function perfectly with no lubricating fluids at all. The only purpose of putting liquids on them is either to clean or to leave a very light layer of oil or CLP to prevent corrosion. Dousing the firearm with chain lube is just going to attract grit and crud. Unless you have a chain gun ;-)

One of the top ten mistakes people make with firearms is to "lube them up." I've seen it done with Mausers and wheelguns, as if these were auto engine parts liable to sieze up if not enough slime was put on them. Firearms don't work that way. All your lube will do is make the pressures increase and make it harder for the parts to function properly. Heck I've even heard of hunters "lubing up" their cartridges to make them go faster!

, I think I've come full circle as now I'm using a gun lube (FP-10) on my bike chain.

ha! Me too. I use CLP on certain exposed steel parts and my steel frame bike. Works great.

[MrBorland]

What the others said, notwithstanding, one issue I just thought of is "staying power". I can't tell you how often I ride with another rider who has a squeaky chain. In addition to serious loss of style points*, it tends to remind me that bike lube needs to be cleaned off and re-applied at regular intervals. Either it migrates too much, is pushed out of the links by even these moderate forces, and/or is physically knocked off the chain by miles of micro road grit, I don't know, but I tend to think "staying power" in a firearm would be an even bigger issue.


*and, yes, IMO, riding a $7k custom Serotta, for example, while being the only one unaware that your own filthy squeaking chain could wake the dead certainly warrants the penalty

[CypherNinja]

One issue I can think of is velocity. Even if you're pedaling very fast, the components of the chain are going to be rubbing against each other pretty slowly.

Various parts of semi-auto, in comparison, can move pretty quick. ;) What may work fine at slow speeds may rub off or break down at high speeds, especially in the presence of heat.

[Claymore1500]

By far the best lube I have found "Bar none" Is a very thin film of "Disc brake caliper slide grease"

It is impervious to heat (Disc brakes get a lot hotter than most anyones gun under normal conditions)

It handles high pressures well and stays put< also does not attract dirt, (in a thin film application).

It can be had from any auto parts store, And is not very expensive.

[.38 Special]

I've found both the gun lubes and the bike lubes are often general purpose lubes relabeled for the "boutique" crowd and sold at several hundred percent markup.

[Boomerang]

I've used tri-flow bike chain lube on my guns. It's parafin and teflon in an evaporating carrier. I suppose it works.

For me, what smells like a gun oil gets used as a gun oil.

[blkbrd666]

19-3Ben,

Finish Line Synthetic CENTURY Lubricant works great on guns and doesn't "creep" out as bad as normal gun oils...works great on slide rails and stays there. It even leaves a slick film there when wiped away. Since it's designed to not sling off a rotating sprocket/chain, it stays VERY well. Even the synthetic "Chain Wax" for motorcycle chains works good. They're all expensive lubricants though and it seems like most people, even though they spend $1000.00 on a hand gun, don't want to spend more than the price of a quart of motor oil on it for maintenance.

[.cheese.]

I just had a thread on Tri-Flow recently.

[19-3Ben]

Hahaha. Who'd have thought we'd have this many cyclists.
I can't tell you how often I ride with another rider who has a squeaky chain. In addition to serious loss of style points*

I believe that would qualify the rider as a "Fred." I actually saw a guy on my local MUP (multi-use path) on a Cervelo Tri-bike with Dura-ace components. and of course, i heard him coming about 75 yards away becuase his chain wasn't properly lubed.

The one key difference between guns and bikes is Heat. Bikes just don't generate that much of it.

You obviously haven't ridden with me before. My glorious quads will stun and amaze you as I fly past at an incredible rate. The friction from wind resistance has melted many a lycra riding outfit. MWAHAHAHAHA. (yeah ok fine, so I broke 15mph once going down hill with a tailwind.)

Interesting points guys. Thank you for discussing it.

[sm]

Yeah well you folks ain't seen what a little gal on a purple bike can all by herself without training wheels!

I betcha you folks don't have a playing card on the front fork that hits the spokes and is the "gnarly cool thang".

*top that!*

Can you peddle backwards and your bike stop?
Hers can.

*neener*


Adopted Uncle Steve (that would be me of course) put the young ladies bike together and she helped.

There is no way to type how a little lady looks trying to figure out why a Left pedal will not work on the right side.
It gets real confusing with the bike upside down.

On the other hand, one cannot miss getting Mystic grease "in that spot".
Trick here, it to use a big popsicle stick.
We could not miss from 50 yards....

The chain came new, just slathered in some awful "stinky stuff".
So while she and mom ran up the road to get burgers...

I put the chain in gasoline, sloshed and brushed and cleaned it real good.
Then I hid the evidence by filling the Briggs & Stratton lawnmower.
This old mower will run on any gas...

Her choice as to what lube.
Breakfree in a can "stinks".
Breakfree in a bottle is fine.

Triflow in a can stinks too.
Triflow little bottle is cute, she is saving it.

Her can of Rem oil is for helping grandpa.

I just thought gals had a hard time picking out clothes *lol*

"I don't want to get stuff on my Road Runner socks either". she added

" I know, why don't we eat them onion rings, and not wipe our hands , instead handle the chain and lube it that way" - I suggested.

"Yeah, that would be gnarly, and my dawg would stay close" -she said

"Oh no you two don't" - her mom said...mom's are just not fun at times.

So mom, had this new bottle of Breakfree, and this purple container with a "gnarly" dispenser.

[Gnarly is the current word if you have not picked up on this yet...I used it, she liked it, the kid uses it often]

So, for a girls purple bike, one uses a gnarly purple dispenser with Breakfree CLP.

*smile*

Well we ain't gonna use the little bottle of BF CLP she has for her Pink Cricket with the Road Runner sticker on the side for darn sure!

*lol*

[TimboKhan]

I think part of the problem is very few firearms actually need lubrication.

Amen to this. I use a graphite lube on my autos, but I use so little of it that the little tube I bought is still half full after almost 3 years of use, and it's the bigger half!

[dagger dog]

Does anybody know if the LUBRIPLATE CO. is still in business?

I have a tube that is over 20 years old,have used it on any application where high friction (slides and such) high temp. is found. I use a small artists paint brush to dab a small amount onto the area I want lubed,and wipe it with a finger tip or Q-TIP, to remove the excess. This puts the lube very thin so it doesn't collect dust or grime. I can't remember for certain, but I'm pretty sure it was used for service rifle competition on the Garands and M1A's.

My other favorite is 3 IN ONE oil.Used as a lube for pivot and pins, sears,rust protection.

Any or all lubricants can be over done, this causes more problems than it solves, so on any lubing easy does it is the way!

[spwenger]

...that when our trooops went into Iraq they were clamoring for Militec-1, not bicycle-chain lubricants.

Yes, some modern firearms, such as Glock pistols, require little lubrication but others require more. Just yesterday one friend asked me to take his three-inch Kimber to another friend, a gunsmith, to evaluate for why it stovepipes after two rounds. My gunsmith friend's second observation (after both of us lamented that we had not had the opportunity to see the first friend fire the gun) was that the pistol was virtually devoid of lubrication.

As I have said in other contexts, "It's your gunfight." As for me, I will stick with the better lubricants that are specifically designed for serious firearms, such as Militec-1, which provies reliable lubrication without spraying the shooter with excess liquid.

[Pat-inCO]

I have a question. Are you looking to find the illusive "best" lubricant or just to save having to purchase another type of oil?

I have several Kimbers and they recommend FP-10. OK, so I go ahead and spend the money, since they included a small 'tube" of FP-10 and it works VERY well. I buy the largest container of it I can to save money on a per oz. basis.

Other than that, isn't you gun worth FAR more than the cost of what ever lubrication you can buy? :eek: Let's face it, you do not use gun oil in any where near the quantity you do motor oil for your car (over a gallon per year). Why not just get good quality oil, and not worry? :banghead:

[19-3Ben]

Pat- that's a very good question. In fact as I write this, I'm sitting next to a can of breakfree CLP, and a small bottle of Remoil, which I use.

Of course, I also use Amsoil 10w-30 on my guns.
I actually find a thin film of motoroil evaporates less, migrates less, penetrates more, and overall stays where it ought to stay better than the gun oils that I've tried.
Just my results.
For me, it is about finding what lubes work best for me. Sometimes that means using a gun oil. Sometimes it means finding lubricants from other hobbies and industries.

Why not just get good quality oil, and not worry?
Any of the lubes I've mentioned are top quality oils and I don't worry. I just like to experiment and I thought of an interesting alternative.
So don't you " :banghead: " at me mister!!!!
:p

[.38 Special]

I actually saw a guy on my local MUP (multi-use path) on a Cervelo Tri-bike with Dura-ace components. and of course, i heard him coming about 75 yards away becuase his chain wasn't properly lubed.
Nah. He was probably just using Pedro's or Finish Line. :neener:

[Mad Magyar]

I've just recently been using the "Teflon Drivetrain Lubricant" grease for the slides, seem to be okay...I also have a tube of the Finish Line that I've haven't started...Anything is better than some of the gun greases, like Wilson's Tetra Ultilube that hardens like cement....:(
I don't mind experimenting a little....