Anyone use Ballistol?

as far as I can tell, it's just expensive perfumed mineral oil ;P

read the ingredients yourself - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistol
the extra bit of oleates and alcohols are ... likely cosmetic at best, (or preservatives)... and maybe even detract from just using pure mineral oil

would like to hear @knarfeng opinions also since he's a chemist ; )
 
Excellent product. I use it in firearms,fishing reels, leather and finished woodwork including wiping down gun stocks. I like it for a lube AND protection. Not really for long term storage. Like said above non toxic which is big to me as a cancer survivor. Learned about it about 10 years ago from a friend who did high grade engraving on high end shotguns. It is all he would use. Mixed with water makes a great patch lube for black powder front stuffers. Mixed with water and a dash of Murphys soap and cleans black powder residue with ease.
 
I'm hesitant to use it on vintage pocketknives with brass pins and liners.
From their website:

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.

I'm a little confused as to how it can be safe for cleaning brass, if it dissolves copper and zinc? :confused:
 
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r8shell said:
I'm hesitant to use it on vintage pocketknives with brass pins and liners.
From their website:

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.

I'm a little confused as to how it can be safe for cleaning brass, if it dissolves copper and zinc? :confused:
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I actually wouldn’t recommend on GEC or traditional knives as it leaves a slight Teflon feeling film. To me nothing beats natural patina, oil or renaissance wax. I only use it on firearms, finished woods and leather. Cleaning guns is it’s best purpose in my experience.
 
I have used it for years and like it. Not sure if it has changed but it used to be what Hk recommended for their firearms. Non-toxic, haven't see it ever hurt anything, and I like the smell better than some other options.
 
r8shell said:
...
I'm a little confused as to how it can be safe for cleaning brass, if it dissolves copper and zinc? :confused:
Click to expand...

brass is a mix of copper and zinc... but it's fundamentally changed, consider that brass melts at around 1700F, while pure copper won't melt until 1984F
(hence, an alloy - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alloy )

so, it's incorrect to treat brass as simply a 'mix' of copper and zinc - it's a new thing with different properties... that's how it can be 'safe' for cleaning brass but not copper or zinc individually

(now, there are limits to this, but again it's due to properties of brass - and of course you have to worry about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_corrosion )
 
I've used it for years now.
42WI14j.jpg
 
ohen cepel said:
I have used it for years and like it. Not sure if it has changed but it used to be what Hk recommended for their firearms. Non-toxic, haven't see it ever hurt anything, and I like the smell better than some other options.
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That’s cool. I knew it was of German origin but knowing HK at one point officially recommended it says a lot!
 
r8shell said:
I'm hesitant to use it on vintage pocketknives with brass pins and liners.
From their website:

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.

I'm a little confused as to how it can be safe for cleaning brass, if it dissolves copper and zinc? :confused:
Click to expand...
It is a poor bore cleaner for copper fouling. It cleans well as stated for TRACE amounts. It will not harm brass or copper on things such as brass ornamentation on rifles, knives etc.
 
I ve been using it for years. There is some neat history about it on their website too! Smells different too. Not all chemically! Kinda.like black licorice.
 
I've tried just about every easily available product (5 or 6) and Ballistol is BY FAR the best at cleaning rust. It's the number 1 cleaner in the sword community, just incredible how it removes even slight patina.

I use this one that comes in a flask.

Ballistol_Oil_50ml[1920x1920].jpg
 
Thanks. I plan to use it. After reading about it - it seems to be a great product!!
 
I use it on my Guns, it seems to do a good job and is highly regarded by many.
Has an unusual smell, not offensive but different.
 
dirc said:
brass is a mix of copper and zinc... but it's fundamentally changed, consider that brass melts at around 1700F, while pure copper won't melt until 1984F
(hence, an alloy - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alloy )

so, it's incorrect to treat brass as simply a 'mix' of copper and zinc - it's a new thing with different properties... that's how it can be 'safe' for cleaning brass but not copper or zinc individually

(now, there are limits to this, but again it's due to properties of brass - and of course you have to worry about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galvanic_corrosion )
Click to expand...

Blackcloud said:
It is a poor bore cleaner for copper fouling. It cleans well as stated for TRACE amounts. It will not harm brass or copper on things such as brass ornamentation on rifles, knives etc.
Click to expand...
Thanks, guys. I only managed to make a "C" in high school chemistry, so I wasn't sure if I was asking a dumb question. :oops:
 
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