Galling
- Thread starter RM
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It's when two pieces of metal rub together, instead of burnishing off the high spots like many times happens, one piece of metal adheres to the other and little pieces shear off. 
That's about as good as I can describe it with my non technical language skills.
That's about as good as I can describe it with my non technical language skills. That's a pretty good explanation...
In my experience galling - if it happens at all - occurs on semi-auto pistols where the slide contacts the frame. I imagine that there are other weapons parts also subject to galling but offhand I can't think of any right now.
Where galling is a potential problem I always use grease instead of oil. Works for me.
That's my story and I'm stick'n to it!
In my experience galling - if it happens at all - occurs on semi-auto pistols where the slide contacts the frame. I imagine that there are other weapons parts also subject to galling but offhand I can't think of any right now.
Where galling is a potential problem I always use grease instead of oil. Works for me.
That's my story and I'm stick'n to it!
PAshooter
Member
I'll give this a shot. Certain metals, when rubbed or slid together, tend to scrape and roll up pieces of metal from each other.
I've only heard the term used in association with firearms in connection with some early stainless autoloaders. I believe it's more of a problem with autos than revolvers because of the action of the slide & slide rail.
I think the stainless alloys used these days are much less prone to the problem than they used to be.
No doubt someone can give a more detailed (and technical) explanation, but there's my whack at it
Added - man! two other answers while I was typing mine. Gotta learn to type faster!
I've only heard the term used in association with firearms in connection with some early stainless autoloaders. I believe it's more of a problem with autos than revolvers because of the action of the slide & slide rail.
I think the stainless alloys used these days are much less prone to the problem than they used to be.
No doubt someone can give a more detailed (and technical) explanation, but there's my whack at it
Added - man! two other answers while I was typing mine. Gotta learn to type faster!
Certain metals like stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium will rapidly form a thin hard oxide layer on their surface. It is this layer that prevents further corrosion. If these oxide layers abrade off by friction, the "bare" metal surfaces can adhere and pull metal from the surface. Also, if a new oxide layer then forms while the bare metal is in contact, it can become seized.
I believe it was S&W that solved the problem of galling in the machining of stainless.
I believe it was S&W that solved the problem of galling in the machining of stainless.
Here's the real answer from a metallurgist . The definition of galling is cold welding . When two pieces of metal rub against each other with some force the metals may actually weld to each other . It is commonly a problem of soft metals and with stainless steels. It can me minimized by using metals of different hardness and using lubricant s designed for the purpose such as RIG +P.
Leatherneck
Member
It's galling when my republican Senator votes to renew the AWB.
Iy's galling when LEOs don't know the law and exhibit a "Holier-than-thou" attitude.
It's galling when ... Huh? Oh. Never mind.
TC
TFL Survivor
Tom Bri
Member
leatherneck, ya beat me to it. It is galling to listen to Kennedy spew on TV.
Galling is a common problem in metal trades. The cold welding explaination above sums it up pretty well. At work I have had issues in the past with stainless screws galling in stainless PEM harware ( press in tapped holes similar to the bushings for the grip screws). Which pretty much left the screws welded in place, I changed screw types to a different stainless type and that helped some. Galling is worst when similar metals are in contact, ie carbon steel agianst stainless doesn't gall as bad as stainless against stainless.
Changing between types of stainless will help but its not perfect either. I didn't have the option of changing to carbon steel hardware so I now use a synthetic oil to coat all my screws, it has helped a lot, not perfect still but I have gone from 1-2 galled screws per hundred to around one in 3000-4000 screws. Any oil or grease is better than nothing, none lubricated metal is the worst condition.
Changing between types of stainless will help but its not perfect either. I didn't have the option of changing to carbon steel hardware so I now use a synthetic oil to coat all my screws, it has helped a lot, not perfect still but I have gone from 1-2 galled screws per hundred to around one in 3000-4000 screws. Any oil or grease is better than nothing, none lubricated metal is the worst condition.
A. Partisan
Member
My Mother-in-law!
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
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