mineral oil (not spirits) to clean and protect?

G

glockdoc

New member
I posted this question on the general discussion forum but didn't get too much feedback. Has anyone tried to clean, lube, or protect their guns with mineral oil? I'm talking about the stuff people take for constipation, and smear on themselves before laying out in the sun. I'm not talking about mineral spirits if mineral spirits are like paint thinner. Mineral OIL is completely non-toxic. It's made entirely of hydrocarbons (alkanes in fact, all single bonds). I can see why it would not make a
good substitute for powder solvent, and maybe would not have the right properties to serve as a lubricant, but for cleaning and protecting most gun surfaces I would think it would work. Does it not displace water properly? Does it not penetrate well? To me the appeal is the non-toxic nature of the
substance. Any organic chemists/gun enthusiasts out there with input? Frank
 
Hi glockdoc,
Have never used mineral oil for guns. Over on Glock Talk I kept seeing Mobil One recommended. I bought a quart of Mobil One,
15W50. Works great. Not too thin nor too thick. From your handle I assume you are a Glock shooter. As we know, Glocks require very little oil. I find Mobil One "sticks" to the barrel and slide rails of my G17 and G19 better than other gun oils. Perhaps someone with data on mineral oil will answer your query. Good luck and stay safe.

usncorpsman
 
It will work short-term, but will dry up and leave a gummy film that will eventually harden. You don't want this on your guns.

Any good quality oil will do well, as will Breakfree, etc. I don't know about the synthetic oils, but a single can could last for years and years....



[This message has been edited by Walt Sherrill (edited May 08, 2000).]
 
NO! Absolutely NOT!

Mineral oil has a couple very nasty qualities.

When it gets old, it becomes exceptionally gummy and difficult to remove from the surface its on.

As it decays, it becomes very slightly hygroscopic which can, over time, cause rusting.

And finally, most mineral oils are supposedly fairly acidic.

Want to know one of the very BEST ways to protect your guns from rust?

Johnson's Paste Wax.

That's right, Johnson's Paste Wax. I've been waxing my guns for years, and have virtually eliminated rusting problems, even in high humidity Washington, DC.

The wax actually forms a shell around the gun that is very tough for anything to penetrate. Unlike oil, it doesn't wipe away or wear off nearly as easily.

You wax your car to protect it, right? Wax your gun!

Just make sure that whatever wax you use has a high concentration of carnuba wax and that it does NOT contain any kind of buffing compound!
 
We used to use mineral oil to clean stainless steel in the packing house. Works okay and does have some lubricating ability.

However, the stuff we were cleaning was re-cleaned every 24 hours (48 hours max). I can't really say what would happen if it was left for any length of time.

Joe


------------------
Go NRA
 
I was just about the post about wax and pistols! I was considering waxing my new Sig 228 But I was sure if it was wise.
 
Cobraman,

I can't recall what kind of finish most Sigs have, but I would NOT use this method on a gun that has a rough "parkerized" finish. The wax gets down in the pores, can't be buffed out, and gives the gun a white to white-yellow look. Not very attractive. On blued guns, though, it's the way to go.
 
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