Homemade Red Gun Lube

**Gem1950** · 04-25-12, 22:38

Here's a recipe for homemade gun lube. The good part about making this stuff yourself is that you can alter the viscosity by manipulating the ratios of ingredients to suit your own taste/preference. Use a quart container, like an empty oils jug, as a receptacle/storage container and only make a half quart or so until you get the consistency you like. Obviously if you want it thicker, add more of the thick stuff. If you want it thinner, use less of the thick stuff, or add more thin stuff. The key is using the same measuring device for all ingredients so you can reproduce your results, and don't forget to write down your ratios. Play with it and see what works best for your needs.

The ingredients are:

2 parts - Good quality motor oil (multi weight)
2 parts - Good quality ATF
3 parts - Lucas heavy duty oil stabilizer (sort of like STP and you don't need a gallon but it is good for your car too!)
2 parts - Hoppe's #9
1 part - Marvel Mystery Oil

Throw it together, mix it up and put it in a dispenser and you're ready to go.

**GrumpyM4** · 04-26-12, 02:47

How long have you let some of this sit for? Do the different parts seperate and layer out?

Also, how thick is it?

Looks interesting.

**C4IGrant** · 04-26-12, 08:34

Interesting. Why did you add the #9??

C4

**BDavis** · 04-26-12, 08:59

Originally Posted by C4IGrant

Interesting. Why did you add the #9??

C4

For the fragrance?

**Col_Crocs** · 04-26-12, 09:01

Looks like a variation of Bug Juice which worked pretty well for me. I dont remember the ratios but those are exactly the ingredients minus the marvel mystery oil.
ETA: i dont know about this one but bug juice smells like hoppes #9. It's the only ingredient that has a strong odor.

**Gem1950** · 04-26-12, 09:10

Originally Posted by C4IGrant

Interesting. Why did you add the #9??

C4

To give it some cleaning quality. I think that the #9 could be cut back (1/2) and it would be fine.

**C4IGrant** · 04-26-12, 09:16

Originally Posted by Gem1950

To give it some cleaning quality. I think that the #9 could be cut back (1/2) and it would be fine.

Generally speaking, I don't want my lube to clean. I want it to lube. When I want to clean the gun, I will use a dedicated cleaner.

Just a thought.

C4

**Heavy Metal** · 04-26-12, 09:41

I agree with Grant.

If you want it to thin a bit, just cut it with mineral spirits. That will give it a bit of cleaning ability too. I really don't see the need for both ATF and Motor Oil. The ATF is a better lube for firearms anyways. It has better anti-corrosion additives.

Also, test it when the weather gets cold. Some homebrews don't play well when temps get cold.

**Suwannee Tim** · 04-27-12, 19:53

Originally Posted by C4IGrant

Generally speaking, I don't want my lube to clean. I want it to lube. When I want to clean the gun, I will use a dedicated cleaner.....C4

My beliefs exactly.

Here is my recipe for red gun lube:

One part ATF.
One more part ATF.

This is what almost all the many black powder shooters at my range use and these are old guys who have tried it all. If it can keep their blunderbusses from rusting it is good enough for me.