Using Dry lubes > Maintenance & Cleaning

Posted: 9/14/2007 1:19:14 PM EDT

Does anyone use or recommend using a dry lube on firearms? I have been using a product called sailkote (McLube) for years on boats and around the house. excellent stuff, dries to a white film and is a mother to get off anything you don't want it on after it dries. Works on Nylon, plastic, metal no side effects. I figure it would be good since it doesn't attract any dirt and last a long time.

Posted: 9/14/2007 2:19:37 PM EDT

[#1]

For the fact that 'dry' lubricants don't provide the barrier that 'wet' lubricants do, I would tend to avoid them.

I have used 'dry' lubricants before and found that the rate of wear is markedly higher than when using 'wet' lubricants such as Mobil 1 20W50 or BreakFree CLP both of which are PAO based synthetics.

I would also question what, if any, oxidation/corrosion resistance would be offered by such a 'dry' lubricant whereas both Mobil 1 and CLP have antioxidation/corrosion inhibitors present in their compositions.

Just some observations. Hope that this helps you out in your decision making as to what you want to use.

Don't have experience with "sailkote" so I can't offer an opinion as to its efficacy. I tend to err on the side of caution though and use mostly firearms-specific products, Mobil 1 notwithstanding, of course.TK

Posted: 9/14/2007 2:47:15 PM EDT

[#2]

Never heard of sailkote either. I like Eezox for a "dry" lube. Corrosion resistance has shown to be excellent.

Posted: 9/16/2007 5:51:37 AM EDT

[#3]

Some have reported better results with a dry lube in "Arctic Temperatures" where CLP might start to freeze up, but the wear will increase dramatially.

The AR platform has, and again recently the reports from the "Sandbox" that even in windy, gritty conditions....their weapons are running better wet than dry. Especially the BCG, the Bolt, and Gas Rings which should get a liberal coat of "Wet Lube". Evrything else get s a "Light Coat".

Keep reading backwards on this "Cleaning Forum" for a lot more of the same informed advice.

Tack

Posted: 9/23/2007 4:40:59 AM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
For the fact that 'dry' lubricants don't provide the barrier that 'wet' lubricants do, I would tend to avoid them.

I have used 'dry' lubricants before and found that the rate of wear is markedly higher than when using 'wet' lubricants such as Mobil 1 20W50 or BreakFree CLP both of which are PAO based synthetics.

I would also question what, if any, oxidation/corrosion resistance would be offered by such a 'dry' lubricant whereas both Mobil 1 and CLP have antioxidation/corrosion inhibitors present in their compositions.

Just some observations. Hope that this helps you out in your decision making as to what you want to use.

Don't have experience with "sailkote" so I can't offer an opinion as to its efficacy. I tend to err on the side of caution though and use mostly firearms-specific products, Mobil 1 notwithstanding, of course.

TK

Sorry I didn't get back sooner, offline for a week, I understand the non-corrosive protection, I got a BM carbon 15 and was thinking of using it on the lower (lots of plastic) and stick with Mobel 1 on all metal parts. I used this stuff on a car power antenna and got some on the paint can't seem to get it off tenacious stuff!!

http://www.mclube.com/sailkote/index.php

Posted: 9/24/2007 7:06:55 AM EDT

[#5]

It would probably be adequate for use as a 'dry' lube, but the residual film's "tenacity" might prove to be an annoying trait when it comes to removing it from your prized firearm in the course of maintenance. There appear to be some other lubricants offered on the site that are a combimation of MoS2/PTFE in oil suspensions/dispersions that might be better suited to firearms clean-up as they will lack the tendency to form a fairly durable film that remains in spite of cleaning.

What???

Posted: 9/24/2007 9:32:23 PM EDT

[#6]

Sorry that you are confused.

After looking at the website that he referred to, I saw why 'balloonknot' indicated that it (sail-kote) was 'tenacious stuff' in the last sentence of his second post. Upon drying it appears to leave a thin, durable residue that seems to be semi-permanent and is most likely rather difficult to clean off of a firearm. The site also lists oils that have PTFE and MoS2 in suspension that might be a little less difficult to remove/clean up during routine maintenance of his firearm.

Better?

TK

Posted: 9/25/2007 6:53:32 AM EDT

[#7]

Yes. Though I highly doubt that this stuff would hold up well to solvents. Eezox sounds very similar to this product and strong solvents will strip it right off the metal.

Posted: 9/25/2007 7:45:06 AM EDT

[#8]

OK, what was the hell was I thinking? he hat
Thanks for the wake-up call, Tempest45.

TK

Posted: 9/25/2007 11:14:24 AM EDT

[#9]

Don't you just hate those days where even the most basic stuff escapes you?

Oh, yeah. I've been there before.

Everyone has a brain fart once in a while, even me.

Just trying to keep it real around here.

Posted: 9/25/2007 12:02:07 PM EDT

[#10]

i have used both miltec and otis dry lubes, both worked.

Posted: 9/27/2007 2:45:46 AM EDT

[#11]

OK I will try it out (being the guinea pig on this one) and get a report back to you.
Might be a while since work sucks right now and living in the PRoNJ makes it tough to get to the range, unless I got a 1/2 day free.

Posted: 10/10/2007 9:20:53 AM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:
Some have reported better results with a dry lube in "Arctic Temperatures" where CLP might start to freeze up, but the wear will increase dramatially.

Breakfree starts to get thick in artic conditions. The military has light weight CLP for artic use.

The AR platform has, and again recently the reports from the "Sandbox" that even in windy, gritty conditions....their weapons are running better wet than dry. Especially the BCG, the Bolt, and Gas Rings which should get a liberal coat of "Wet Lube". Evrything else get s a "Light Coat".

This issue was just covered in the Army Times and a maintenence memmo was issued to unit armorers instructing them to run the M-16 'wet'. Dry lube works well for lightly used weapons, but under heavy use you need to keep the powder fouling in suspension to keep the rifle operating. A 'wet' weapon does exectly this.

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