Blue finish & Paste Wax....

I think you have to know the product you're using. I have no idea what the Ph in shoe polish is, does it have linoleic acid in it or something? Is linoleic acid bad for gun finishes? I don't know.

Ren wax does seem very safe. But besides being safe, there is the issue of what kind of conditions is the product designed to operate under? Probably for going in a closet, Ren wax is fine. But some car waxes are designed to hold up under the elements.

Another product that I am interested in is NXT Tech Wax. It's the most hydrophobic wax in Meguiar's line. It's specially designed to hold up under rain, and provide long-term water beading. That sounds like it would put a protective coat on a gun finish.

But right now I have enough Gold Class Carnauba Plus to last a lifetime, so I'm not going to drop $35.00 on a can of NXT anytime soon.
 
We know Johnson's and Bowling Alley brand waxes work on guns in bad weather. They have for many decades. Why reinvent the wheel?



I use Kiwi neutral polish on leather holsters from time to time, because the maker said to.

It appears to contain Stoddard Solvent or Heavy Naptha and 1,2,4 trimethylbenzene.

www2.itap.purdue.edu/msds/docs/2452.pdf

from the list at www2.itap.purdue.edu/msds/index.cfm?letter=K
 
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Bill I have to ask what is the advantage of using shoe polish on firearms. New to me and I am totally ignorant about the polish. Thanks Don p
 
Bowling alley wax is probably fine. Pretty tough stuff. Like the quality car waxes it's heavy in carnauba wax. It also has Stoddard solvent and gum terpentine in it.

It runs for $10 to $18 for a 16oz can.
 
Here is a question then whats the wax do after you have fired the gun to the point the barrel gets hot? Does it melt off at some point? residual effects of any kind most have posted the pros about it what about the cons? Is there any side effects of this stuff
 
I have owned and used guns for 65 years now and never waxed one. Why would you wax? I'm not being snide, I want to know.
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I am new to waxing guns too, but my understanding is that the right wax actually protects blued finishes, patina and steel from potential rust threats better than any oil. And, it doesn't get things greasy or smudge from handling.
 
TNT, it's my understanding from automotive detailing that most waxes will "burn off" wheels from the heat of the brakes. So I suppose a hot gun would produce similar results. But it's nothing a fresh coat of wax between range trips can't fix.
 
For my Glock, the wax comes off with use. If I dry fire it enough and handle it enough, the wax comes off. It also comes off with cleaning - just using any gun oil or ATF gets the wax off and then I have to re-wax it.
 
Don't use neutral shoe polish on steel

I "discovered" neutral shoe polish for use on firearms while in basic training in 1989. We were instructed to coat the bolt group of our M16's with a thin coat of oil after cleaning before turning in our rifles for the day. I got really tired of failing the turn-in inspection due to airborne particles of dust and dirt that managed to adhere to the coat of oil while waiting in line for my rifle to be inspected. Then I had what I thought was an epiphany--Kiwi neutral shoe polish! Buffed to a shine, it looked like a thin coat of oil, but it didn't attract dust. I thought I'd pulled one over on the drill sergeants. I always passed inspection, and function of the rifle was perfect due to--what I supposed at the time--was the wax melting under the heat of firing and substituting as a lubricant. I was really pleased with my ingenuity until I started noticing specks of rust appearing all over the bolt after a few weeks. Disappointed but puzzled, I discontinued the practice. Years later, I discovered the reason. Shoe polish often has tannic acid in it. Remember, shoe polish is supposed to protect leather.

I don't know about the other manufacturers, but Kiwi does put tannic acid in their polish, because that acts as a leather preservative. But tannic acid rusts steel--that's why we don't store blued firearms in their holsters. I would never put shoe polish on a blued finish today. But I have used Johson's paste wax with great success for many years now, and I highly recommend it.

As for waxing Glocks, why would anyone want to do that anyway? The carbo-nitriding (tennifer) process produces not only a very hard surface but one that is extremely rust resistant as well. I can't imagine ever needing to enhance the rust resistance of a Glock with some sort of coating.
 
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Hello,

While searching the web for Renaissance wax I came across information on Flitz gun wax. I know Flitz makes quality products, I think I'll look into it. Looks like it meets the qualifications. Cheers!

FlitzGunWax.jpg
 
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I don't know - that Fitz says "eco-green"....that usually means they left out some key "toxic" ingredient that works wonders!:D
 
"eco-green"....that usually means they left out some key "toxic" ingredient that works wonders!
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Like the petroleum solvent used to soften the wax and make it easier to apply and cover better.
 
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