Rust prevention test: FrogLube on 8Cr13MoV blades

Cyrano

Cyrano

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I've found many test results comparing FrogLube to other protectants, where the tests were conducted using carbon steel -- but I've not seen tests using stainless steels. Of course, the need for rust protection is much less for stainless -- but we know that almost any stainless (except H1!) can rust, if adequately mistreated.

As I don't know the chemistry/physics of how FrogLube works on carbon steel, I didn't want to assume FrogLube would work just as well on stainless as on carbon steel -- so I ran a simple experiment, using two copies of an inexpensive Enlan folding knife. The blades were labelled as being made of 8Cr13MoV stainless.

One knife was used as a control. It was cleaned using FrogLube solvent, to remove surface oil/grease. It received no FrogLube CLP treatment.

The other knife was used as the test subject for FrogLube CLP.
  • It was cleaned using FrogLube solvent, to remove surface oil/grease.
  • It was heated on a food-service warming tray until it reached approx. 250 F.
  • I applied a liberal coating of FrogLube CLP, and returned the knife to the warming tray for an additional 15 minutes at approx. 250 F.
  • The knife was then removed from the heat, and excess FrogLube CLP was wiped off.
Both knives were then placed in my garden, on the ground, exposed to the elements, for 30 days. 14 of those days had rain. Temperatures ranged from 75 F to 95 F.

Today, I recovered the knives from my garden. I washed them in warm soapy water, to remove surface dirt, then inspected them using my unaided eyes, and using a stereo microscope.

To my surprise, neither knife showed any signs of rust!

The control blade:

Control01.jpg Control02.jpg Control03.jpg

The blade treated with FrogLube:

FL01.jpg FL02.jpg

I conclude from this experiment that we're living in a great time, when even inexpensive stainless steel has such good resistance to corrosion. :)
 
I love seeing these tests.
First, let me say to each his own. If you use lube x or y and it works, keep using it until you run into issues.

I think I spy a small circle of rust on the first frog lube picture, in the top left corner

I have seen chemical tests on frog lube and it is quite literally nothing more than coconut oil.

Aside from that... I'm jealous of anyone who has anything superior to 440C

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Came here because I was curious why you thought a steel with such high corrosion resistance would need to be oiled. I guess your test pretty clearly shows that it is unnecessary.
 
My experience with 8cr13mov wasn't that great though. My Enlans and SanRenMus started to develop stains and spots even though many of them were sitting unused in my drawers.
 
nhyrum said:
... I have seen chemical tests on frog lube and it is quite literally nothing more than coconut oil.
Click to expand...

Could you please provide a link to these tests?

That a single naturally-occurring substance can provide better protection against corrosion than dozens of human-engineered, purpose-specific chemical compounds will be a very cool thing.

I'm also interested in learning how a single substance can exist as both solid (FrogLube paste) and liquid (FrogLube liquid) at room temperature.
 
eKretz said:
That's interesting. I just picked up a container at the gun shop the other day to try out, and it says "FrogLube CLP" right on the label.
Click to expand...

Yes, there's a lot of snake oils being marketed as CLP these days.
 
Pity the poor frog...

I have TUF Cloth and a lot of fancy oils here, but seldom use them. My knives lead a sedentary lifestyle.
 
Cyrano said:
Could you please provide a link to these tests?

That a single naturally-occurring substance can provide better protection against corrosion than dozens of human-engineered, purpose-specific chemical compounds will be a very cool thing.

I'm also interested in learning how a single substance can exist as both solid (FrogLube paste) and liquid (FrogLube liquid) at room temperature.
Click to expand...
Sure thing boss.

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?ur...&share_tid=302999&share_fid=5886&share_type=t
Frog Lube is Coconut Oil - You heard it here first

Coconut oil has two forms. One, a paste, another a liquid.

Cheers

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nhyrum said:
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?ur...&share_tid=302999&share_fid=5886&share_type=t
Frog Lube is Coconut Oil - You heard it here first
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link.

I don't find this post supports the claim that FrogLube "...is quite literally nothing more than coconut oil."

(1) This post is hearsay from a third party. To my mind, this calls into question its validity as scientific evidence at all.

(2) If we posit that this hearsay is an accurate summary of actual lab work, and consider what the lab worker is reported to have written, then I question the lab worker's credentials. The lab worker writes

" ... Also, there is an additional peak at around 2.0. It is present in both samples, but much more pronounced in the FrogLube. It is a fairly substantial addition ... My point still stands. Your gun oil is edible." ​

Why would anyone trained in science conclude a substance is edible, despite having a "fairly substantial addition" of an unidentified substance? To my mind, this calls into question the lab worker's credibility.

(3) If we posit both that the post is an accurate summary of actual lab work, and that the lab work was done properly, then the results contradict the assertion that FrogLube is "...quite literally nothing more than coconut oil.". The lab worker writes

"... There are one or two other small extra peaks in the FrogLube NMR that I forgot to mention. Feel free to point them out in your post ..." ​

The presence of extra peaks is evidence that FrogLube contains substances not present in coconut oil.

Please don't get me wrong. I already believe that the chemical composition of FrogLube must be extremely similar to food-grade oil. I believe this based on the MSDS for FrogLube, which states "... all food grade approved ingredients."

To my mind, the question remains: would any off-the-shelf, grocery-store oil provide similarly effective rust protection as FrogLube? This is a question which should be easily answered by experimentation.
 
Now, I can't find the thread to a rust prevention test, but frog lube was tested along side coconut oil, and performed identically. Breakfree clp performed best among the oils. Then there were some more specific rust preventatives, that were more hazardous that won.

Third party, yes. But scientific. He covers some of the differences. Namely the color and smell.

I still take this as concrete evidence that frog lube is merely coconut oil with a scent and color, and maybe a few additives. (same thing with Lucas gun grease and Lucas Marine grease, literally same thing)

I agree that, not knowing the origin of the additives, one cannot say a substance is edible.

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