Slide lubes Using a chainsaw lube?

[Stubert]

I just finished reading an article about slide glide. One of the claims is that it has a tackifier built into it to keep it in place. Bar and chain oil for a chainsaw also has the same type of tackifier, Bar and chain oil costs less than $10.00 a gallon. Hmmmmmm........... Any one ever tried it?

 

[Peakbagger46]

Seems like it would be kind of thin.

 

[C0untZer0]

I'm sure it will work

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I am sure it will work until it gets too dirty and gums up the works. I have never found the need for a heavy lube or a lot of lube.

 

[kozak6]

If you have some in your garage, why not? Otherwise, those two products don't seem to resemble each other. Chainsaw oil is mostly 30 weight oil with a little tackifier, and Slide Glide is stringy snotty grease.

Grant Cunningham says that a light grease is better for pistol slides than thick oils, but that you can mix together some STP and ATF if you are into that kind of thing.

Or you could just buy some actual Slide Glide. You could buy the tiny tube that will still last for years. In the grand scheme of things, it only costs half a box of ammo.

 

[FL-NC]

I think people way overthink this. Try it if you want. I use lithium grease from auto zone. Its cheap, available, and a little goes a long way. Also it won't dry up or fly out like a liquid cause its stickier.

 

[earplug]

I experimented once with motorcycle chain lube. In low temperatures the lube thickened up and slowed the slide why down.
If your needing to save some money on firearm lube do a bit or research on Mobile 1 engine oil and transmission oil for firearms.

 

[JohnBiltz]

How did all those old timers keep their guns running before all these new lubes came out? Its not complicated almost any oil will work just fine. I think people way over think this and spend way too much money on lubes. For the most part its just advertising sucking people in.

 

[bassjam]

I don't know that I'd try chainsaw lube. That stuff is designed to be disposable, it slowly gets dispensed on the chain and then it gets slung off almost immediately. It's probably not designed to hold up to constant use.

That being said, I'm in the camp that believes that any gun oil is fine. Not many people run their guns enough that they'd ever notice a difference between grease and oil on their slides.

 

[Eugen]

I agree with the Post above that there are a variety of oils, grease, lubes of all types that can work to varying degrees. Its not that complicated for the average Joe that wants to keep his guns clean and lubed. Synth motor oil with some ATF added works great and is cheap. Everybody has their favorite brand and many will argue all day as to which expensive 'secret sauce' is best. I have tried a wide variety and some maybe a little better, but that is mostly just an opinion. OP, if you want to use chain oil, test it and see if it meets your needs.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I think people way overthink this. Try it if you want. I use lithium grease from auto zone. Its cheap, available, and a little goes a long way. Also it won't dry up or fly out like a liquid cause its stickier.

And it's the perfect lube for the M1 Garand.

 

[FL-NC]

And it's the perfect lube for the M1 Garand.

It is- we used this stuff on machineguns in afg. If it will work there (extreme heat, extreme cold, extreme dust, full auto fire) I'd call it pretty much fail safe.

 

[tercel89]

Seems like it would be kind of thin.

Kind of thin ? Have you ever operated a chain saw ? That oil is thick ! And yes it will work fine ! Ive used it on my alloy frames , Beretta M9 and Sig P6 and even my 1911

 

[tercel89]

I think people way overthink this. Try it if you want. I use lithium grease from auto zone. Its cheap, available, and a little goes a long way. Also it won't dry up or fly out like a liquid cause its stickier.

I agree that people over think this . Oil is oil and it lubricates. Over seas a lot of people use used car oil to lubricate their gun and preserve them

 

[hdwhit]

Slide lubes Using a chainsaw lube?

Why? Are you going to try to cut down trees with your pistol?

We spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars on a pistol and then set out to see how cheap, how unusual, how exotic a lubricant we can use on it? Where's the logic in that, particularly when the manual for every commercial firearm I have ever seen says to use a "quality machine oil", "quality firearms oil" or something synonymous?

 

[Peakbagger46]

Kind of thin ? Have you ever operated a chain saw ? That oil is thick ! And yes it will work fine ! Ive used it on my alloy frames , Beretta M9 and Sig P6 and even my 1911

Yes I do run a chainsaw. It is thick as far as oil goes, but no where near as thick as the grease I use on my pistol slides.

 

[tercel89]

Yes I do run a chainsaw. It is thick as far as oil goes, but no where near as thick as the grease I use on my pistol slides.

my pistols run on any oil period. It aint rocket science. The idea is to make good lubrication to keep friction down.

 

[mgmorden]

my pistols run on any oil period. It aint rocket science. The idea is to make good lubrication to keep friction down.

I'm come to the same conclusion. "Specially formulated" is marketing talk. Just about any oil will lubricate the pistol well enough to run. I've used Rem-Oil, Hoppe's, 3-in-1, Lithium Grease, and even motor oil.

The handguns always run fine. Typically just because it is in a convenient bottle and doesn't cost much I tend to gravitate towards 3-in-1.

 

[Stubert]

I am in the outdoor power equipment business. Bar oil is normally 30 wt. That is thick compared to oil, thin compared to grease. Grease and oil both work. Bar oil is tacky, it does NOT sling off. it is also an extreme pressure lube. My point was not saving money, my point is that anytime you market something special, it costs more. Why does synthetic 2 cyc. oil only cost $1.50 for 2.6 oz when the SAME stuff marketed as a sprue plate lube costs 10 x as much.

 

[Wisco]

If you really want to save money, buy a pistol that doesn’t need lube!

 

[showmebob]

I've tried Hornady gun cleaner/ dry lube with good success as well as grease and many different oils. Really don't see any difference between them.

 

[Tiro Finale]

It would probably work, but chainsaw oil tends to gunk up over time. I use a chainsaw for work from time to time, and it is absolutely filthy. I can't even touch the darn thing without getting grease/dirt/whatever all over my hand.

 

[Tirod]

Go ahead and try it. Lube it down, stick it in your IWB holster and tuck in. You will not get the stains out of your clothing ever. It will smell like you are carrying a chain saw in your pocket.

I only use a gun oil made for weapons and which has no odor, as the guns I carry often will go from range to field. Smelling like a transmission rebuild shop has cost me game - I don't even wear the same shoes afield as I do driving there, my hunting clothes are dedicated to that purpose only. There are downsides to using lubricants that were never intended for weapons or carry. Choose wisely.

 

[sgt127]

Lucas Red N Tacky is pretty good grease. Very tenacious. Stays where you put it. Dirt cheap.

It’s good in Texas. I’d test it in really cold conditions before I carried it. Might slow down the gun a little.

 

[Zerodefect]

ATF/STP. Mix well. Add Lucas Red N Tacky until it's the consistency of Ketchup.

That has worked on every sliding surface I know of, and it's easy to clean. Countless 1000+ round classes. Use CLP in your barrel, and to clean with. Never use this mix in the barrel, it does nothing good there, it's just a lube.