Ballistol does work!

jideta

jideta

Joined
Apr 8, 2020
Messages
2,099
Zombie thread got closed before I could add:
It works!
I got some around for my gun and it does make my folders open and close smoother!
I have a Spyderco Viele that would not flick open with Eezox or 3in1. Add some Ballistol and voila! flies open no problem!
Bearing folders now close with minimum cajoling. They close so fast it's almost dangerous!
Thank you Zombie Thread!

mods you may add this to the zombie thread if you wish
 
To be honest, I have several synthetic and natural lubricants on my work bench, including Ballistol...some specifically marketed for firearms...and while it certainly works well on my knives, guns, saws, hinges etc...I have noticed nothing superior with Ballistol regarding the functioning of the knives I've lubricated with it...whether traditional, flippers, modern folders, or fixed blades.

I still like it, I just don't believe it has any special powers beyond being useful for a variety of applications...like most lubricants.

YMMV.

(And we won't add this to the necro'd...and now closed thread. We'll leave the dead to lie in peace.)
 
Blues said:
To be honest, I have several synthetic and natural lubricants on my work bench, including Ballistol...some specifically marketed for firearms...and while it certainly works well on my knives, guns, saws, hinges etc...I have noticed nothing superior with Ballistol regarding the functioning of the knives I've lubricated with it...whether traditional, flippers, modern folders, or fixed blades.

I still like it, I just don't believe it has any special powers beyond being useful for a variety of applications...like most lubricants.

YMMV.
Click to expand...

I have the same experience. I love Ballistol, especially for black powder firearms. It does have the benefit of being food safe but I still usually use other lubricants for my folding knives.

One time many years ago, I had a "miracle lube moment" with a knife. The knife's action was never smooth despite several attempts to improve it with various lubes. I finally tried some Militech from a small free sample I had. The knife immediately smoothed out and was better than I hoped! So I ordered an expensive bottle of that lube. And I never had that experience with it again... it must have been a lucky coincidence that the knife smoothed out after using that particular lube; some grit or dirt must have happened to get flushed out.

I am still always on the look-out for slicker lubes though. I just ordered a bottle of the latest snake oil that contains Boron nitride as well as Fluoropolymers in a synthetic base (Finish Line Ceramic Wet Chain Lube). I read a lab report somewhere that showed that a lubricant containing Boron nitride and PTFE produced the coefficient of friction in testing.
 
It may work for lube but for corrosion protection I wouldn't choose it (I'm testing both salt and freshwater applications)

Fresh
i-nBS33MR-X4.jpg


Salt
i-DM2VZGm-X4.jpg
 
I occasionally wipe tool steel blades with it. But I wouldn’t put it on phosphor bronze washers. I recall seeing that it could react there...can’t seem to find that reference now.
 
razor-edge-knives said:
It may work for lube but for corrosion protection I wouldn't choose it (I'm testing both salt and freshwater applications)
Click to expand...

So your fave is XCP Chain Lube, or Hornady One Shot? Interestingly, I use the Hornady for gun care.

Should also test this one sometime:

corrosionx-xd_1024x1024.png
 
Corrosion-X has been a miracle product for me for some uses but a lot of these tests show it's really not that great for preventing rust on steel. It will totally waterproof electronics though... I've soaked water-sensitive radio receivers and brushless motor speed controllers in it that I've used in remote-control boats and they continue to operate after being totally submerged for minutes at a time. Normally, one tiny hint of water will destroy them in a second.

It's an invaluable product for boat owners, especially those boating in saltwater. But for rust-proofing knives? Maybe not the greatest but I still have faith in it as well as Ezox and Hornady One-Shot for normal-duty rust-proofing. Some of the tests are pretty extreme conditions (not that that's a bad thing).
 
desmobob said:
Corrosion-X has been a miracle product for me for some uses but a lot of these tests show it's really not that great for preventing rust on steel. It will totally waterproof electronics though... I've soaked water-sensitive radio receivers and brushless motor speed controllers in it that I've used in remote-control boats and they continue to operate after being totally submerged for minutes at a time. Normally, one tiny hint of water will destroy them in a second.

It's an invaluable product for boat owners, especially those boating in saltwater. But for rust-proofing knives? Maybe not the greatest but I still have faith in it as well as Ezox and Hornady One-Shot for normal-duty rust-proofing. Some of the tests are pretty extreme conditions (not that that's a bad thing).
Click to expand...

Agree CorrosionX is interesting, I've used the regular stuff (not the XD shown above, which is like a new 'extra strength' formulation and also separate from the 'HD' version, which puts on a thick film and definitely would have aced this test) for years. It does work in the damp Pacific NW, I wipe down tools in the humid unheated garage etc, nothing ever rusts. I wipe them down at most 1x or 2x a year. But the regular stuff is always what people use in these type of tests, and I've never seen it do well in these type of tests. That's kind of an anomaly, because in firsthand experience it appears to work outstandingly the way I've always used it, and I've seen the same from many gun owners online who use it.

Hornady Oneshot is interesting. Been using it lately on semiautos and for spraying into trigger groups that I don't want to disassemble. Kinda spendy stuff, costs nearly $2/oz if you buy 1 can at a time, but it does work. Might be tempting to spritz that into knives for cleaning/lube.
 
maximus83 said:
Hornady Oneshot is interesting. Been using it lately on semiautos and for spraying into trigger groups that I don't want to disassemble. Kinda spendy stuff, costs nearly $2/oz if you buy 1 can at a time, but it does work. Might be tempting to spritz that into knives for cleaning/lube.
Click to expand...

I also use it on guns; especially trigger groups as it's a combo solvent/dry residue lubricant and perfect for the job, IMO. New folding knives get a thorough flushing with it while working the blade in and out to remove manufacturing gunk/grit. Once it's dry it doesn't attract pocket lint and dust as bad as oil or grease tend to do. It's great for flushing the pocket lint out of traditional folders while lubing them at the same time.

It is a little pricey, but it's become a go-to product for guns, knives, fishing reels, etc. on my workbench. Seeing it perform well in rust resistance tests makes me appreciate it even more.
 
maximus83 said:
So your fave is XCP Chain Lube, or Hornady One Shot? Interestingly, I use the Hornady for gun care.

Should also test this one sometime:

corrosionx-xd_1024x1024.png
Click to expand...

I'm still in the process of deciding lol... They have different properties so I would probably choose between oneshot, xco, wd40 lcti, and possibly frog Lube or beeswax chapstick for food safe options.

jideta said:
ANy chance you got some Tetra on there? I don't see it...

Great test! what kind of steel?
Click to expand...

No, I'll have to check into that. Never heard of it in my research.

I used just some mild welding steel from Lowes... But It rusts way slower than 1095 for instance.

powernoodle said:
I get pretty good results by not spraying my knives with salt water. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Yeah it is interesting when comparing the salt vs fresh boards... The products didn't fail in the same order. The reason I used salt spray was to simulate the harshest conditions one would be in.

desmobob said:
I also use it on guns; especially trigger groups as it's a combo solvent/dry residue lubricant and perfect for the job, IMO. New folding knives get a thorough flushing with it while working the blade in and out to remove manufacturing gunk/grit. Once it's dry it doesn't attract pocket lint and dust as bad as oil or grease tend to do. It's great for flushing the pocket lint out of traditional folders while lubing them at the same time.

It is a little pricey, but it's become a go-to product for guns, knives, fishing reels, etc. on my workbench. Seeing it perform well in rust resistance tests makes me appreciate it even more.
Click to expand...

Yep... I love the fact that it dries in just a couple minutes. One of the only dry lubes I've tried that actually works.
 
jideta said:
Zombie thread got closed before I could add:
It works!
I got some around for my gun and it does make my folders open and close smoother!
I have a Spyderco Viele that would not flick open with Eezox or 3in1. Add some Ballistol and voila! flies open no problem!
Bearing folders now close with minimum cajoling. They close so fast it's almost dangerous!
Thank you Zombie Thread!

mods you may add this to the zombie thread if you wish
Click to expand...
Well, most of my knives see food at some point. I switched to food grade mineral oil years ago and have never used anything else after that. It is inexpensive and is the base used in many of the products mentioned including Balistol and others. I know a gunsmith who said this is all he uses and is quite happy. Non-toxic, food safe, inexpensive, many use on wood and leather and I have with positive results. There may be better products for wood and leather, but I have used it on cutting boards even longer than I have used on knives. I use it on my leather sheathes and holsters and it works great. Cant say enough about how well this works on all my knives, bearing, bronze phospher,..,. It may put the oil pimps out of business, but a gallon of food grade mineral oil is under $20 and may last you a lifetime.
 
I use mineral oil for use on food prep knives or knives that are headed out on a camping trip.

By the way, if you're looking for it, I asked for it at my local pharmacy and was quietly directed to the laxative section. :rolleyes:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top