Thinning Ballistol?

O

olyinaz

New member
Does anyone know what oil or thinner would be good for thinning Ballistol (something other than water)?

I love the stuff but I don't always need it to be so thick so I'd like to make up a bottle of the stuff thinned about 50% with a spirit. Problem is I've noted that Ballistol does not always mix well with everything. I can do the trial-by-error thing but it's always nice to look for known success first.

Thanks,
Oly
 
Thanks for asking as I too would like to know.

Do a search in here and you will find many references. I believe I recall one that listed distilled water. So I thought what the heck and mixed a little with tap water and what a mess that turned out to be. I have been using it full strength and I know that it can be dilluted so one large can will last forever.
I'll be keeping an eye on this one ... ;)



Be Safe !!!
 
Huh. I've always just used tap water.

I made up a bunch of 'batches' of various ratios for use with the Dutch Schoultz Black Powder Rifle Accuracy System, everything from 5:1 up to 9:1 about a year ago. Soaked some ticking strips in each and let them dry for use as lubed patches. I still have most of the original mixtures and they appear to be intact.

Anyway, tap water is all I've ever used and it appears to work just fine, at least for use as a patch lube.
 
Guys please, I said something besides water. I'm looking for a spirit or thinner that's known to mix well with Ballistol.

Oly
 
I am a dedicated Ballistol user and, as you know, it was designed to be mixed with water. Mixing it with some toxic substance does not make sense to me as there are many other toxic products/mixes out there that would probably work better. The beauty of Ballistol, the original "CLP," is that it is non-toxic, can be mixed with water, and does not hurt, but actually helps metal, plastic, wood, leather, house plants, etc. I would look in another direction if you intend to "toxicify" Ballistol.
 
I am a dedicated Ballistol user and, as you know, it was designed to be mixed with water. Mixing it with some toxic substance does not make sense to me as there are many other toxic products/mixes out there that would probably work better. The beauty of Ballistol, the original "CLP," is that it is non-toxic, can be mixed with water, and does not hurt, but actually helps metal, plastic, wood, leather, house plants, etc. I would look in another direction if you intend to "toxicify" Ballistol.
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Ditto. Water.

WildifsomethingisnotcorrectjustacceptitandmoveonAlaska ™©2002-2010
 
I am a dedicated Ballistol user and, as you know, it was designed to be mixed with water. Mixing it with some toxic substance does not make sense to me as there are many other toxic products/mixes out there that would probably work better. The beauty of Ballistol, the original "CLP," is that it is non-toxic, can be mixed with water, and does not hurt, but actually helps metal, plastic, wood, leather, house plants, etc. I would look in another direction if you intend to "toxicify" Ballistol.
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My sentiments exactly.
 
I will have to try some distilled water as my tap water does not work. ... :mad:
We have hard water and perhaps, that is my problem. Will also try soft water and see where that takes me. I also do not see the practical aspects of using a solvent. .... ;)



Be Safe !!!
 
I'm no expert but for general gun cleaning and protection of wood, metal, plastic and leather I would not dilute it. But for blackpowder cleaning and other specific uses listed on the container I would use water as directed. I just love that Ballistol.
 
I am a dedicated Ballistol user and, as you know, it was designed to be mixed with water. Mixing it with some toxic substance does not make sense to me as there are many other toxic products/mixes out there that would probably work better. The beauty of Ballistol, the original "CLP," is that it is non-toxic, can be mixed with water, and does not hurt, but actually helps metal, plastic, wood, leather, house plants, etc. I would look in another direction if you intend to "toxicify" Ballistol.
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Hogwash. The "non-toxic" nature of Ballistol is massively over hyped pretty much the same way most of its miracle claims are. Don't believe me? Drink a pint of it and I promise to attend your funeral and lay some flowers.

Major components of Ballistol include buytl and propyl alcohols which do not fall into anyones notion of "non-toxic". Ballistol is COMPLETELY toxic the same way that methanol or isopropyl alcohol is. It will kill you dead if you get enough of it in your system and long term absorption of it's toxic chemical constituents over time will surely cause CNS damage the same as methanol. One could argue that it's less toxic than acetone or MEK or gasoline etc., but that's like saying that it's also less toxic than cyanide or arsenic - big deal, poison is still poisonous.

The only claims regarding the stuff that matter is that it emulsifies well with water (useful for BP shooters) and it neutralizes corrosive salts (useful for BP and corrosive ammo shooters). Those are EXCELLENT properties and form the basis of why it is and should be popular stuff. Everything else it claims is marketing hype and grandiose hype at that.

As much as I like the stuff the truth is it's also expensive and rather THICK and that is why I would like to find something to cut it with. I do not need it to be so thick when what I wish to use it for is a light spritz on guns for flushing or wiping down, and I dang sure don't want any WATER in it for many of the general purposes I use it for. I had high hopes for ethanol (now THERE is a chemical that is "non-toxic") but that did not pan out and since I don't wish to work through every spirit out there so I was hoping that someone here already knew of one that would work. Simple question! Or so I thought...

Oly
 
Some Ballistol info

"BALLISTOL has been around in Europe for over three generations. Originally invented for military use it became a household word in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Millions of users have experimented with BALLISTOL and found new surprising applications for it, some of which reach into the field of veterinary and even human medicine. In the United States the law prohibits a seller to advertise or recommend a product for use as a drug in human or veterinary medicine, unless the Food and Drug Administration have approved it for these uses. BALLISTOL has not been submitted for approval by the FDA as a drug. In Germany a modified formula of BALLISTOL, NEO-BALLISTOL, is admitted for use in veterinary and human medicine. NEO-BALLISTOL is not sold in the USA, Canada or Mexico.

WARNING: BALLISTOL MUST BE USED AS INDICATED IN THE CONSUMER INSTRUCTIONS ON THIS PAGE AND ON THE REVERSE PANEL OF ITS CONTAINER. DO NOT USE BALLISTOL AS A DRUG. BALLISTOL IS NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION."

Ingredients

(according to a specification from December 2002)

* pharmaceutical white oil: CAS RN 8042-47-5
* Oleic acid: CAS RN 112-80-1
* C-5 alcohols: CAS RN 78-83-1; CAS RN 137-32-6; CAS RN 100-51-6
* different essential oils to perfume Ballistol

From the Ballistol MSDS

BALLISTOL
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET (cont.)
TECHNICAL DATA SHEETS FOR BALLISTOL
Contents
Ballistol contains medicinal grade mineral oil, alkaline salts of oleic acid, several alcohols, Benzyl Acetate and an oil from
vegetal seeds. The mineral oil is unchlorinated and conforms to the specifications of US Pharmacopeia XX.
 
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The only claims regarding the stuff that matter is that it emulsifies well with water (useful for BP shooters) and it neutralizes corrosive salts (useful for BP and corrosive ammo shooters). Those are EXCELLENT properties and form the basis of why it is and should be popular stuff. Everything else it claims is marketing hype and grandiose hype at that.
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Your grasp of chemistry seems a bit dodgey. Corrosive salts aren't "neutralized" by Ballistol or any other product. What must be done with the salts is that they must be dissolved and physically removed from the gun. That's exactly what the water in aqueous cleaners, like the WWII GI bore solvent and the various "moose milk" Ballistol dilutions, does. Plain water will remove the salts just fine on its own.

Regarding death from ingesting too much Ballistol: you will also die if you ingest too much water, too much table salt, too much nutmeg, or too much of just about anything. Toxicity is a matter of degree and Ballistol, absent you doing something completely stupid like trying to drink a bottle of it, is non-toxic for all practical purposes.
 
C-5 alcohols: CAS RN 78-83-1; CAS RN 137-32-6; CAS RN 100-51-6
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The only thing "dodgy" going on around here is anyone who would argue that the above chemicals are "non-toxic"...which had ZERO to do with the OP.

As painful as it's been at least one thing is clear: None of you has even the foggiest answer to the question asked.

Oly
 
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As painful as it's been at least one thing is clear: None of you has even the foggiest answer to the question asked.
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On the contrary, you just dont like the answers:rolleyes:

WildormaybethequestionisabsurdAlaska ™©2002-2010
 
The only thing "dodgy" going on around here is anyone who would argue that the above chemicals are "non-toxic"...which had ZERO to do with the OP.
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Okay, Dr. Science, how toxic are they? What is the median lethal dose? How exactly do they damage the body? Must they be ingested or can they be absorbed through contact with the skin? Are they dangerous in acute doses, chronic exposure, or both?
You've made some powerfully disturbing assertions, chucko, time to back them up.
 
On the contrary, you just dont like the answers
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What "answers"? Off topic and pointless replies is more like it.

Q: "Does anyone know what oil or thinner would be good for thinning Ballistol (something other than water)?"

R: "Do a search in here and you will find many references. I believe I recall one that listed distilled water."

Or

R: "Huh? I've always just used tap water."

Yeah, "Huh?" is exactly right.

Okay, Dr. Science, how toxic are they? What is the median lethal dose? How exactly do they damage the body? Must they be ingested or can they be absorbed through contact with the skin? Are they dangerous in acute doses, chronic exposure, or both? You've made some powerfully disturbing assertions, chucko, time to back them up.
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I'm no Dr. Science but I do know how to use the google and I suggest YOU do the same thing and be thorough about it. NONE of which has a dang thing to do with the original quesiton:

Does anyone know what oil or thinner would be good for thinning Ballistol (something other than water)?
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Oly
 
Does anyone know what oil or thinner would be good for thinning Ballistol (something other than water)?
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There is none. It is designed to be "thinned" (if thats even necessary) with water.

WildsonowitsoverAlaska ™©2002-2010
 
Oly,

I think you have your answer. No one here knows what else could be used to dilute Ballistol other than water. This is probably because Ballistol is meant to be diluted with water. On the Ballistol bottle it shows dilution ratios. Water is the only thing mentioned. I supposed one way to look at this is to try and figure out what can be used to dilute mineral oil since that is the closest thing that Ballistol seems to be like. The answer is probably going to be mineral spirits. Have you tried that before?
 
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