[prickett]

I've been trying various brands of the new oils that claim to fill the metal's pores with PTFE (?). Oils such as Slip 2000, Militec, Weapon Shield, and others.

All seem to want you to use theirs forever (duh!) in a continuous series of treatments, to build up the PTFE.

Does switching from one oil (e.g. Militec) to another (e.g. Weapon Shield) continue to build up PTFE, same as use of the same brand would?

Also, does using a harsh cleaner like Ed's Red and/or Brake Cleaner remove deposited PTFE?

Finally, what are some of the other brands that claim to deposit PTFE that I've not listed above?

TIA, Inquiring minds want to know!

[log man]

While mixing oil may yield a new discovery it is unlikely. And you will never really know how one of the products really works. After using a cleaner such as you have mentioned the metal will hold some of it and dilute what ever lube you chose to use. The answer to this is after cleaning wash the parts off with 91%+ isopropyl alcohol which you can get at the drug store. Now you can apply the lube knowing that is what you are lubing with instead of a mixture which can often be counter productive to the lube. Mil-Comm is a lube that uses very fine PTFE spherical in shape and small enough that a number will fit into the pores of the steel. http://www.mil-comm.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

LOG

[Wvladimire]

Mixing lubes can produce some unexpected and sometimes bad results. Example, one time after cleaning I used Mili-tec 1 to oil all parts and put back together. Then after a range trip, I just wiped everthing down with a good synthetic gun oil, and lubed. A few days later when I checked the weapon and was going to clean. I found a transparent thick goo on the firearm. Apparently the synthetic gun oil, had pulled all the teflon out of the pores of the weapon which bonded together to make a thick gooey paste. Needless to say, I had much more work to clean the waepon then if I had just stuck with the same brand lube.

[Jim Watson]

I believe that Militec-1 was a motor oil and gear lube additive to start with. I know they sell it for such use even though they now pay more attention to advertise using it straight on guns. So it OUGHT to blend ok except in odd combinations like Wvladimire ran into, which may fall under their warning against adding it to brake fluid and "similar fluids."

I try to avoid guns made out of metal so porous that the little holes clog up with Teflon anyhow.

[rhinoh]

I don't think Militec-1 has any PTFE in it.

[Drail]

Unless you are a chemist mixing stuff like this can be VERY bad. I was chemically burned pretty bad as a youth while cleaning a carburetor with some stuff my dad had concocted by mixing solvents together. He didn't know any better. I do now.