Thoughts on Ballistol

[Seagrave1963]

I just got off the phone with WMD guns and they replied that the NB plating does not have any copper in it. They also said they too use Balistol without a problem and let me know that if the coating comes off for any reason they will re coat for the life time of the item. Balistol it is.

Thanks - just mixed a batch of 50/50 in a spray bottle

 

[GNLaFrance]

Ballistol is primarily mineral oil with some solvents, and is good for some things but not others. For example, if you have a decorative piece, it'll pull off gold or silver leaf. Also, nickel-plated firearms should not be cleaned with anything that is a copper remover, because there is a layer of copper under the nickel plate. Any imperfections in the nickel will allow the solvent to seep through (especially if left on for a while), eat the copper, and the nickel will flake.

Please provide a link to wherever you read about Ballistol removing gold and silver leaf, and damaging copper. I've used it for years on more metal things than I can recall, and it's never done anything like that.

 

[krew08]

I did a google search and all I can find is a video on youtube with a guy who's semi-yelling at the camera not to slather Ballistol on nickle plated firearms and gold leaf.

My recommendation is to contact Ballistol directly...
http://www.ballistol.com/contact.htm

 

[booker]

I just got off the phone with WMD guns and they replied that the NB plating does not have any copper in it. They also said they too use Balistol without a problem and let me know that if the coating comes off for any reason they will re coat for the life time of the item. Balistol it is.

Right on. The nickel-boron application process is "electroless plating," which is technically a chemical deposition process, which adheres directly to the substrate (in this case, the steel BCG). There are several ways to do it, each company has a slightly different process. But no there shouldn't be any copper involved in any of the cases.

A nickel or chome plating process typically requires a base layer (usually copper) and is driven by current through a medium to deposit the plating material.

 

[booker]

Please provide a link to wherever you read about Ballistol removing gold and silver leaf, and damaging copper. I've used it for years on more metal things than I can recall, and it's never done anything like that.

Ballistol MSDS.

 

[Boom Boom]

Ballistol MSDS.

Here's what the MSDS says:
Ballistol is fully compatible with all metals including aluminum. However, Ballistol dissolves traces of copper, zinc, lead and tombac and can, therefore, be used to clean brass, bronze and silver.

More to the point (NSFW, cursing):


Cutting to the chase, use straight mineral oil for nickel plating, gold leaf, and silver leaf.

 

[eddiek2000]

I got my gallon from these folks in my old stomping grounds of AL:
http://www.wisementrading.com/hunting/ballistol.htm

Me too. Great price an a gallon of Ballistol.

 

[mvee]

This review states that ballistol does not attack nickle plating per theamufacturer:
http://www.gunnoob.com/Home/tabid/55/entryid/16/Product-Review-Ballistol.aspx

This link has more than you ever wanted to know about ballistol;
http://www.ballistol-shop.de/The-Ballistol-Story:_:40.html

 

[Boom Boom]

This review states that ballistol does not attack nickle plating per theamufacturer:
http://www.gunnoob.com/Home/tabid/55/entryid/16/Product-Review-Ballistol.aspx

It's not the nickel plating itself. It's the thin layer of copper plating underneath the nickel. If the nickel plating has any imperfections, Ballistol will get through, dissolve the copper underneath, and eventually cause the nickel plating to flake.

 

[mvee]

It's not the nickel plating itself. It's the thin layer of copper plating underneath the nickel. If the nickel plating has any imperfections, Ballistol will get through, dissolve the copper underneath, and eventually cause the nickel plating to flake.

Yeah that makes sense. That and the video will keep me from using ballistol on my plated guns.

 

[booker]

Interesting, the video takes seven minutes to repeat exactly what I said in three sentences, based off the MSDS and a little knowledge of chemistry.

A copper solvent.... will dissolve copper! Brilliant!!

 

[rico903]

Do I need to mix it with water? Heard some people do

Directions on can say to mix it 10/1 with water for cleaning after shooting corrosive ammo. Full strength for all other applications.

 

[dev]

Directions on can say to mix it 10/1 with water for cleaning after shooting corrosive ammo. Full strength for all other applications.

That's an interesting answer. I wonder if you can use 10/1 concentration for cleaning up power fouling. Will the oils in Ballistol protect when the water evaporates.

 

[GNLaFrance]

I wonder if you can use 10:1 concentration for cleaning up powder fouling? Will the oils in Ballistol protect when the water evaporates?

Yes and yes.

 

[dev]

Yes and yes.

Good to know, thanks.

 

[SuperMag]

Order it from Midway, Brownell's, etc. Get the can with the pour top, and pour it into a little squirt bottle to make it easier to use. A small dishwashing liquid squirt bottle is perfect for this. You can dispense a few drops on a patch or brush, or squirt some on your rag.

Ballistol smells like rancid cheese to me...but it does work really well. It's called Armistol across the pond. Everyone calls it "BAL-lis-tol," but the proper pronunciation is "buh-LIS-tol" (like 'ballistic').

Booker's warning above about it dissolving copper is spot on. It's mildly acidic, and it will cause nickel or other plating to flake if left on the metal. It won't harm bluing or stainless steel.

 

[whatevah]

I still use Breakfree CLP on my handguns because it's mostly odorless. But, on my AR I use Ballistol for the rumored residual lubrication. Hickok45 likens it to an old skillet that has a base layer of grease compared to a new one. I dunno, time will tell... clearly Hickok45 doesn't have a problem with the smell and he seems to carry whenever he's not working.

This reminds me, I need to clean my pistol from my range day last week.

 

[whatevah]

I still use Breakfree CLP on my handguns because it's mostly odorless. But, on my AR I use Ballistol for the rumored residual lubrication. Hickok45 likens it to an old skillet that has a base layer of grease compared to a new one. I dunno, time will tell... clearly Hickok45 doesn't have a problem with the smell and he seems to carry whenever he's not working.

This reminds me, I need to clean my pistol from my range day last week.

 

[gmhowell]

Booker's warning above about it dissolving copper is spot on. It's mildly acidic, and it will cause nickel or other plating to flake if left on the metal. It won't harm bluing or stainless steel.

According to everything I've read, it's mildly alkaline, which is exactly the opposite of acidic.

 

[Sirex]

I use it on my Mosins. I like it so far.