WD 40 is a great short term lubricant for things like rusty bolts on equipment, also a decent solvent. As a sort of expirament after reading about the thousands or permutations of various oils I decided to make my own. Some left over Castrol Syntec oil, looked a little thick and was thinking about it lack of cleaning assistance properties so I thinned it a little with Sea Foam. Tried it on a couple of things, so far it is awesome for smootheness. Don't know if I will keep using it not. Honestly I think the best rule on firearm is to use some, if it is halfway decent and you pay just a little attention to it, you should be fine for 90% of needs.
Automatic Transmission Fluid as gun oil
- Thread starter Machineguntony
- Start date
I just have to ask - what is wrong with the Hopes oil and slide lube they sell in Walmart? Or the stuff that comes in Walmart gun cleaning kits? Every time I buy a $10 cleaning kit it comes with gun oil. I have yet to go through an entire bottle of gun oil before I simply loose it.
I have never felt compelled to develop something better than the stuff they toss in those cheap cleaning kits. So, I ask "Why?"
For rust protection, I went to paste wax long ago. For rust protection after being in the rain with my guns, I do use WD-40 - great stuff!
I have never felt compelled to develop something better than the stuff they toss in those cheap cleaning kits. So, I ask "Why?"
For rust protection, I went to paste wax long ago. For rust protection after being in the rain with my guns, I do use WD-40 - great stuff!
Mike Irwin
Staff
Realistically there's nothing wrong with it.
Especially since I use grease on most of my firearms.
The premise is, though, that an oil MUST have "gun" somewhere on it, or it's the most horrific misuse of a product ever conceived in heaven or hell, and that someone stupid enough to use an oil that doesn't have "gun" on it will suffer plagues of boils, frogs, insects, and Rosie O'donnells.
Especially since I use grease on most of my firearms.
The premise is, though, that an oil MUST have "gun" somewhere on it, or it's the most horrific misuse of a product ever conceived in heaven or hell, and that someone stupid enough to use an oil that doesn't have "gun" on it will suffer plagues of boils, frogs, insects, and Rosie O'donnells.
Mike Irwin
Staff
Wikipedia says that there's green colored ATF, but I've never seen it.
Gunplummer
New member
I have used ATF for years. It will cut the worst carbon deposits if you soak parts in it. I was around when CLP hit the scene. What garbage. You WILL see automatic weapons grind to a halt as it evaporates. I doubt the military even uses LSA anymore. ATF works for me. 3 in 1 oil too. If I had a rusted bolt or brake bleeder on the truck, I squirted ATF on it every day for about a week. I have had really good luck with it. You can always write "Gun oil" on the can.
Machineguntony
New member
Is it possible to buy ATF before it is dyed red? There must be a point in the process where the manufacturer adds the dye, so do they set any of it aside for other uses?
ATF/GUN OIL
Just my $.02 and...like ATF, you may say it stinks..... I've used SLICK 50 as a lube since it first came on the market and never had it fail. It didn't freeze the bolts in any of my rifles or fail to function in any of my sidearms (either six-gun or semi-auto) in -10*cold or run in 118* desert heat. Use it SPARINGLY and it works. I still have over half a quart left from a purchase 20+ yrs. ago, and that's for 35+ guns total over 48 YRS BUT.....the bottom line is...TO EACH HIS OWN.
WILL
Just my $.02 and...like ATF, you may say it stinks..... I've used SLICK 50 as a lube since it first came on the market and never had it fail. It didn't freeze the bolts in any of my rifles or fail to function in any of my sidearms (either six-gun or semi-auto) in -10*cold or run in 118* desert heat. Use it SPARINGLY and it works. I still have over half a quart left from a purchase 20+ yrs. ago, and that's for 35+ guns total over 48 YRS BUT.....the bottom line is...TO EACH HIS OWN.
WILL
Mike Irwin
Staff
I ALWAYS have a partial bottle of Dexron ATF hanging around my house...
I drive Subarus, and as anyone who owns a Subaru knows, they use Dexron ATF for the power steering system.
But I don't use it as a lubricant, I use it as a cleaner, especially to cut the carbon fouling in my semi-auto rifles.
I drive Subarus, and as anyone who owns a Subaru knows, they use Dexron ATF for the power steering system.
But I don't use it as a lubricant, I use it as a cleaner, especially to cut the carbon fouling in my semi-auto rifles.
Huffmanite
New member
My gun lub is a mixture of Mobil 1 and Marvel mystery oil. Works OK for me. Also, I can clean a bore well using a number of different brands of bore cleaners. Then dry patch it well till little bore residue is on a patch and then run a patch or two down bore with my Mobil1/marvel on it. This patch always picks up carbon still in the bore.
Lube is lube...
Guns do not need any magical concoction or super-duper tactical-mil-proven slick-magic-slideflon-slipperizer
Guns are the simplest rudimentary machines out there, just lube it with what's available
The drippings left in your motor oil bottles will do the trick
Guns do not need any magical concoction or super-duper tactical-mil-proven slick-magic-slideflon-slipperizer
Guns are the simplest rudimentary machines out there, just lube it with what's available
The drippings left in your motor oil bottles will do the trick
Mike Irwin
Staff
" the grease from your frying pan will work as well as anything else."
Too much salt. Causes rusting.
Organic oils generally aren't the best choice for lubricating something like this because they break down rapidly and turn to gum and varnish.
Too much salt. Causes rusting.
Organic oils generally aren't the best choice for lubricating something like this because they break down rapidly and turn to gum and varnish.