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Thread: Bike lube and de-greaser?

  1. #1
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    Bike lube and de-greaser?

    Hey Guys,

    I have what can be classified as an OT or strange question. I currently have a Ruger 10/22, AI&P shotgun and a Daniel Defense DDXV in my stable. I also got into shooting quite recently and had used Hoppes gun cleaning kits for my guns. They are a pain in the @$$. I want to get some Breakfree products. I was cleaning my .22 last night at my toolbox and noticed some citrus degreaser by a company called Pedros on my bench and wondered if it would work for my gun? It would be perfect if it did because I currently work at a bike parts wholesaler and can get loads of lube and degreaser for super cheap. We have many different kinds of degreaser and lubes, I thought that some of the lubes we have here might be ok to use in my guns. We have some dry lubes designed not to pick up dirt and dust, they are teflon based lubricants.

    I ask this because I know of a couple buddies in the armed services and members of this site and ARFCOM that have used motor oil to an extent to keep their rifles running smooth.

    Thanks,
    Floyd

  2. #2
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    I don't see anything wrong with using the citrus degreaser.

    I was contemplating using my bike degreaser for cleaning too, its made by Finish Line, extracted from soy beans, and is safe for all surfaces. It also also labeled as "Multi Degreaser."

    The lubes will probably be fine too but would not be ideal, I don't think bike lubes were designed to take high temperatures.
    Last edited by whiterabbit05; 11-02-09 at 19:12.

  3. #3
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    I think you are on to something. I am a lube freak, and try everything that comes onto the market, but I keep coming back to bike lubes. For 30+years I have used bike lubes on my firearms. In my opinion, they are superior to Hoppe's or other gun-specific products for lubrication. I'm not sure about cleaning, and I have not tried Pedro's degreaser, but now that you mention it, I will.

    Why bike lubes? During its lifetime, a civilian rifle or pistol might get used in a dirty, gritty, snowy, salty, wet environment a few times, but a bicycle absolutely will, for long periods of time, under heavy load conditions, and with nearly all of its most sensitive lubricated parts exposed, so the demands on bike lubes are very high. Moreover, all those contaminated parts have to be moved by human legs, connected to a human brain, and a human wallet, that can measure the effectiveness of the lubricants used. And bikes aren't at all easy to clean and lube. Bike people are very serious about their lubricants. Gun people are serious too, but in the case of guns, it is harder to tell the difference, and hype often wins out.


    Try Pedro's Syn Grease on your bolt lugs, and cam pin surfaces. Very stable stuff. Phil Wood's Tenacious Oil is ideal for lubing the bolt/bolt carrier/upper receiver bolt bearing surfaces. It stays put instead of running off.

    Some guys love Breakfree, but it never impressed me. I would avoid using teflon-based products anywhere in a gun that hot gases touch, such as the barrel, bolt, or inside the bolt carrier. The heat can cause the Teflon to give off very toxic gases. Dupont's Teflon has had lots of problems over the years.

    Since you can get bike stuff cheap, try everything and tell us how it performs.

    Cheers.

  4. #4
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    Second to what KYPD says. I don't know if bike chain lube will handle the heat for heavy use, but I would imagine for all-weather carrying, it should work very well. Breakfree is too light and evaporates too quickly. We have been using Slip2000 grease for our motor officers, since their sidearms are exposed all day to the elements, particularly the wind.

    One of my rangemasters is also a bicycle patrol instructor -- so based on how well this lubricant/grease performs on the bicycle, he thinks it should be at least acceptable for the complement of bullets he carries on his person. Based on our limited experience, it seems like something fairly viable.

    I have more confidence for its use as a pistol lubricant than a hard use rifle -- but since most rifles sit in racks, and officers only have 140 maximum for the rifle, it could truly fill this niche.

    We will try it out with the AR and give an update in a few weeks.
    Last edited by PRGGodfather; 11-03-09 at 11:50.
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  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by whiterabbit05 View Post
    I don't see anything wrong with using the citrus degreaser.
    I do. When I clean guns I'm not trying to get the oil and grease off, I'm trying to get the carbon off (and copper fouling, in the barrel). I use "solvents" that break down copper and other fouling for a reason... I'm not sure that a citrus degreaser is going to dissolve copper fouling, etc.

    Otherwise, I use Mobil 1 to lube most of my guns...

    Bimmer

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by KYPD View Post
    I think you are on to something. I am a lube freak, and try everything that comes onto the market, but I keep coming back to bike lubes. For 30+years I have used bike lubes on my firearms. In my opinion, they are superior to Hoppe's or other gun-specific products for lubrication. I'm not sure about cleaning, and I have not tried Pedro's degreaser, but now that you mention it, I will.

    Why bike lubes? During its lifetime, a civilian rifle or pistol might get used in a dirty, gritty, snowy, salty, wet environment a few times, but a bicycle absolutely will, for long periods of time, under heavy load conditions, and with nearly all of its most sensitive lubricated parts exposed, so the demands on bike lubes are very high. Moreover, all those contaminated parts have to be moved by human legs, connected to a human brain, and a human wallet, that can measure the effectiveness of the lubricants used. And bikes aren't at all easy to clean and lube. Bike people are very serious about their lubricants. Gun people are serious too, but in the case of guns, it is harder to tell the difference, and hype often wins out.


    Try Pedro's Syn Grease on your bolt lugs, and cam pin surfaces. Very stable stuff. Phil Wood's Tenacious Oil is ideal for lubing the bolt/bolt carrier/upper receiver bolt bearing surfaces. It stays put instead of running off.

    Some guys love Breakfree, but it never impressed me. I would avoid using teflon-based products anywhere in a gun that hot gases touch, such as the barrel, bolt, or inside the bolt carrier. The heat can cause the Teflon to give off very toxic gases. Dupont's Teflon has had lots of problems over the years.

    Since you can get bike stuff cheap, try everything and tell us how it performs.

    Cheers.
    Wow, I thought I would have been ridiculed for posting this. I actually work at BTI and can get gallons of degreaser for super cheap. I have access to the most popular lubes in the industry, I will try different lubes and degreasers on my guns, it will probably be mainly on my 10/22 and 12 Ga. Because I can send the most amount of rounds through those because of the cost of ammo for them. I will also try my AR. KYPD, I will try some Tenacious oil on my bolt as well, its great stuff because it fills the viscosity void from a light lube to heavy grease.

    Thanks,
    Floyd
    Last edited by Winter Tyrant; 11-03-09 at 10:37. Reason: Fugged up

  7. #7
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    hey guys,
    dont use the citrus degreaser on your weapons.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by bill_d View Post
    hey guys,
    dont use the citrus degreaser on your weapons.
    Care to elaborate?

    Floyd
    Last edited by Winter Tyrant; 11-02-09 at 23:07.

  9. #9
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    BTI, very cool. I have used bicycle products on my knives and guns for awhile now, and gun scrubber on my bikes. I work seasonally at a bike shop/class III dealer, and the products in the shop frequently serve two purposes. I am leery of the high zoot citrus degreasers, they can eat up alot of synthetics pretty quick.

  10. #10
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    You have a lot of money invested in your guns. Get the proper cleaning and lube that is designed for firearms. Don't try and save a few bucks just because you have a lot of something else. Penny wise and pound foolish.

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