Homemade Cleaning and Lubrication Formulas

[DustyGmt]

Just thought this might be an interesting thread in the use of homemade CLP vs the store bought labeled brands.

I know there are alot of people here who are in the industry along with competitors and armorers and the like and I've heard a few of you using your own home brew CLP and thought maybe some of you would be interested in sharing your own formulas, ratios, etc... and anybody with knowledge of the various store brands and their contents would also be welcome to share....

I heard somebody say that Hoppes was 90% kerosene, is that true? I know alot of arfcommers use Mobil 1 but I've heard of others who take it a step further by adding ATF and hoppes. What's your home brew consist of and how did you choose the compounds and ratios that you did? Any concern of using solvents and lubricants together?

Also, Grease, do any of you make or use a particular grease?

 

[Texas10mm]

It must be the start of a new week.

This topic has been discussed numerous times.

The search function will provide reading for days.

https://www.grantcunningham.com/2006/05/lubrication-101/

http://www.frfrogspad.com/homemade.htm#Oil

 

[DustyGmt]

It must be the start of a new week.

This topic has been discussed numerous times.

The search function will provide reading for days.

https://www.grantcunningham.com/2006/05/lubrication-101/

http://www.frfrogspad.com/homemade.htm#Oil

I didnt realize this had been discussed ad nauseum. I've been here quite a while and dont recall seeing a dedicated Homemade CLP thread.....

 

[bdickens]

Ed's Red is the old standby.

Equal parts Dextron, deodorized Kerosene, Acetone and Aliphatic Mineral Spirits

 

[WheelGunMan]

There is always going to be someone that wants reinvent the wheel. Personally, I use gun cleaners and lubes for my guns and automotive products for my vehicles. Been working for me for a lot of years.

 

[BBarn]

There are cleaners (solvents), and there are lubes (oils and greases). I not a big fan of products or home brews that combine the two.

And I have no interest in anything containing ATF. I hate the red dye and the smell. Many oils are just as good for use on guns and don't exhibit the negative characteristics of ATF. There might of been a reason for using ATF fifty plus years ago when it contained sperm whale oil.

I think some combinations of solvents like kerosene, mineral spirits, acetone, and perhaps a few others are good for cleaning. And many oils and greases offer good lubrication.

But I've found some of the newer cleaners from companies like Bore Tech are far superior to older cleaners that are petroleum based.

 

[bdickens]

The Cunningham article linked is a very good layman's explanation of the Tribology involved.

There might of been a reason for using ATF fifty plus years ago when it contained sperm whale oil.

Modern ATFs were formulated specifically to replace the need for sperm whale oil.

 

[Kleanbore]

I heard somebody say that Hoppes was 90% kerosene, is that true?

Does that indicate that one should use kerosene?

Certainly not!

Beer is 90+ water.

Water is good, but it is not beer.

The first cleaning solutions for high-intensity smokeless cartridges with jacketed bullets were concocted over many trials by Army shooters under the direction of Townsend Whelen. Hoppe's No 9 came out of that, somewhere down the road.

I have no desire to try to reinvent tings that work.

 

[BBarn]

The Cunningham article linked is a very good layman's explanation of the Tribology involved.

An issue I didn't see addressed in the article regarding AW and EP additives in lubricating oils relates to temperature. Many AW additives (such as Zinc compounds), and EP additives (such as Sulfur compounds) are not effective until a certain temperature is reached (typically above 160F). So while they are effective in engines and transmissions, their desirable properties may not be realized in firearm use.

 

[bdickens]

An issue I didn't see addressed in the article regarding AW and EP additives in lubricating oils relates to temperature. Many AW additives (such as Zinc compounds), and EP additives (such as Sulfur compounds) are not effective until a certain temperature is reached (typically above 160F). So while they are effective in engines and transmissions, their desirable properties may not be realized in firearm use.

They are not needed in firearms. You will probably never achieve the number of cycles of operation in a gun's entire lifetime that you will in one day of driving.

 

[BBarn]

I brought up AW and EP additives because I sometimes see their presence in motor oils and ATF being touted as reasons motor oils and/or ATF make good firearm lubes. As suggested, those particular characteristics are probably of little or no use in firearm lubrication.

 

[BBarn]

Incidently, for those who like to use ATF as a firearm lube due to it being "thinner" than many motor oils, you might consider the new 0W-16 motor oils as an alternative. They are very close in viscosity (thickness) to ATF.

 

[DustyGmt]

There is always going to be someone that wants reinvent the wheel. Personally, I use gun cleaners and lubes for my guns and automotive products for my vehicles. Been working for me for a lot of years.

I dont know if I'd characterize it as reinventing the wheel, just alot of DIY mentality on this forum, I figured some of you old school guys might have a match in terms of ingredients. (Not a recipe for Cocunut oil and Mineral Oil)

I personally use store bought CLP 99% of the time minus a dab of motor oil on a BcG every now and then. CLP oil is kind of expensive, I went to check out with a 4oz bottle of Slip EWL the other day because it said $9.99 on the rack I got it from, when I got to checkout it rang up as $19.99(4 oz!) so it got me thinking about alternatives.

 

[Mauser lover]

CLP oil is kind of expensive, I went to check out with a 4oz bottle of Slip EWL the other day because it said $9.99 on the rack I got it from, when I got to checkout it rang up as $19.99(4 oz!) so it got me thinking about alternatives.

And that right there is the desirable quality of these products that we seek! No, perhaps ATF will always be better at being ATF than being gun oil, but it sure is cheap!

I clean with solvents, and oil with... oil, I guess. However, I do tend to use whatever solvent I feel like on any given day. It's been RCBS' Ultrasonic Weapons Cleaner lately, but I've been known to use brake parts cleaner, kerosene, acetone, even rubbing alcohol (in addition to Hoppe's and other "proper" gun products) as solvents for various things as I find need and viability. Just be careful, as various products will remove various finishes! You've got to know your stuff!

For lubrication/preservation...
Does wax count as a lubricant? I use Renaissance Wax, 5w-30 (because that's what the cars take!), hardware store grade white lithium grease, whatever other grease I've got in the grease gun at the moment, Boeshield, hydraulic fluid, and yes, even ATF if it's handy.

I keep telling myself that I'm going to get some Ballistol, but I never get around to it...

Everything seems to work out okay, and it sure seems like it should be cheaper, but I still figure out how to spend plenty of money on gun stuff!

 

[GHinNH]

Hoppes #9...The KFC secret recipe of the firearms world.

 

[J-Bar]

Ed's Red is the old standby.

Equal parts Dextron, deodorized Kerosene, Acetone and Aliphatic Mineral Spirits

...and in a pinch automatic transmission fluid all by itself ain’t all that bad.

 

[Speedo66]

Sometimes homemade is the best, beating all the commercial alternatives. I saw an engineering test where a 50-50 mix of ATF and acetone beat WD-40, Kroil, etc. as the best penetrating oil. The differences were dramatic.

Many people swear by Ed's Red.

 

[Obturation]

I've used motor oil, atf, countless $20 little bottles of magic goo and a lot of other things. None of them did any better or worse, not sure how you could tell if ones better. It's all subjective. As long as it doesn't gum up /dry up or get sluggish in low temps or run off real bad, it's all the same to me. Except froglube, that's the best stuff ever , yeah that's sarcasm.

 

[Dibbs]

I limit my use of ATF to sewer pipe grade bores. If it's that far gone, an overnight application won't hurt.

Grease, IME, draws more dust and dirt than it's worth.

Brown Vinegar draws out a lot of dirt, and also works fairly well on rust. Dawn and water is a good bore scrubber.

 

[Jack B.]

No grease. Way back about 40 years ago everyone used WD 40 and now we think that is wrong. So who knows. I use gun cleaner and gun oils on guns and that's it. I don't use automotive products on guns, just cars. No mixing going on here . I've had a little bottle of Outer's gun oil( 2 oz.) for 20 years and am still using it. So the old argument that gun oils are to expensive doesn't hold water with me. If you use them the way you are supposed to, you don't need a lot.

 

[DustyGmt]

I've had a little bottle of Outer's gun oil( 2 oz.) for 20 years and am still using it. So the old argument that gun oils are to expensive doesn't hold water with me. If you use them the way you are supposed to, you don't need a lot.

If you own a dozen or more guns and shoot with any degree of regularity, especially semi autos like AR's a 2oz bottle certainly wont get you very far..... maybe a month depending on shooting

 

[ColtPythonElite]

For cleaning, about all I use us Ed's Red minus the acetone. I mix it up by the gallon. I soak really dirty guns in it over night.

 

[Jack B.]

If you own a dozen or more guns and shoot with any degree of regularity, especially semi autos like AR's a 2oz bottle certainly wont get you very far..... maybe a month depending on shooting

No AR's in my inventory. Just good old revolvers and bolt guns. Not one bit of rust anywhere on any of my guns and they are all clean. I shoot about 1500 rounds a year. I use Hoppe's No.9
solvent and very lightly oil them. I clean them every time I take them anywhere.[/QUOTE]

 

[.38 Special]

I think we'd have a much harder time finding oils and solvents that don't work. I've probably heard horror stories for just about all of them, but can't recall ever having had any sort of really poor result.

 

[Obturation]

My grandpa says all you'll ever need is 3 in 1.