Cleaning solution

[Dick Dastardly]

I like the Boeing Aircraft product, Boeshield T9.  The stuff seems to make a kind of waxy film that simply won't allow rust to get a grip.  I use it to wipe stuff down and lubricate for long term storage.  For real long term storage you can't beet a good paste wax.  Learnt that from a museum curator.

Still like the water/Ballistol mix (Moosemilk) for most routine bp cleaning chores.

DD-DLoS

[Capt Clancey Mitarwan]

Everything I've read says that BP and petroleum-derived oils don't mix, making a difficult to clean "tar" together. Perhaps you can repeat your experiment without the Rem Oil to confirm. Like the others, I know Ballistol works.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Everything I've read says that BP and petroleum-derived oils don't mix...

Ballistol is petroleum based. It's made from coal. 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Fox Creek Kid

We seem to be slightly at odds today. I have read that Ballistol is made from paraffin. I think paraffin comes from petroleum, I'm not entirely sure. But I don't quite understand how you can call coal petroleum. I thought petroleum was the black oil that comes up out of the ground. Although coal and petroleum are both fossil fuels, and are both left over from ancient plants and dinosaurs, I think it is a bit of a stretch to call coal petroleum.

I agree that the often touted rule that BP and petroleum products don't mix is an oversimplification, and not always true.

[Fox Creek Kid]

This topic was beat to death years ago until someone posted a chemist's analysis of Ballistol. Every year or so we go through this with Ballistol. I wish Cuts Crooked would make it a "sticky". Paraffin wax - A white, translucent odourless hydrocarbon wax that is chemically inert. Paraffin was first produced commercially in 1867 as a refined petroleum product composed of a mixture of saturated straight chain hydrocarbons. Paraffin comes from coal tar. 

[Delmonico]

Well a quick check showed this, it may also be made from coal tar since several of the same hydorcarbons can be obtained from both.

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9058378/paraffin-wax

But I know anytime you see lists of products obtained from distilling petroleum, parraffin wax is always listed down on the heavy end

[Delmonico]

Just checked a little deeper here at home, paraffin can be obtained from distillates of wood (from making charcoal) coal oil (from making coke) petroleum or shale oil.  There are different forms of paraffin, some solid like what most of us know from candles and making jelly to seal the jar, it can be semi-solid or an oil. 

[Dick Dastardly]

Back when you could still find and download the information on the internet, there was an article on the original Germans that developed Ballistol.  According to that article they bought their own coal mine.  That ought to help narrow down some of the ingredients.

Our Government tested and bought some for our military.  It worked great.  Then, we went to war with the country where it was made and our folks had to find a different product.  I've read where our military really liked the stuff.

Now, I think it's made here in the USA.  I buy it by the gallon and put it in spritz cans and bottles.  I use very little of it straight up.  The water does the work on the bp soot and there's probably no water in Ballistol.  When mixed with water (1:10) it makes a stable colloidal suspension.  When used for cleaning guns the water portion evaporates off and the Ballistol remains.  Works good on both heathen fad smokeyless and Holy Black cleanup.

I wish I had invented it.

DD-DLoS

[Arcey]

Usin' Ed's Red fer the other powder.  Use straight Ballistol ta lube the Glocks.

Been told it's a great laxative too. But I'm gonna hafta watch some one else gulp it down 'fore I try it.

[Delmonico]

Just picked up the handy dandy can from under the desk at work, (Yes we had them take it off invintory we sell in in both the Tack Dept and The Old West Shop) says it's made in Kitty Hawk NC.  Don't say nothing about a laxative on the can, but it is approved for machinery that is used around food.  Also says use 1-2 ozs in water and you can make yer plant's leaves shiny.

[Arcey]

The place is a l'il o'er an hour from here.  Drive past it when I shoot with ECSASS in Mann's Harbor.  N'er stopped there though.

Last batch I bought from Ole Henry at his shop in Kill Devil Hills.  Told me it come straight from the plant 'n they deliver.

Bob's, my shop in Norfolk, doesn't carry it.

[Delmonico]

More looking at the label says it containes Isohexane, this solvent is often used in the extraction of cotton seed oil, so it is not very hazardous.

Also says it contains mineral oil, so it would be a good laxative.

Used to work around hazardous chemicals so for giggles I looked up the MSDS, pretty darn safe stuff from reading the MSDs.  I've seen the once for stuff I used to work with that will scare you almost to death reading them.


BALLISTOL-LUBE - (Sportsman's Lube)

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET

Authorized Distributor: Peter Smith Trading Ltd.

885-889 O'Connor Drive, Toronto, Ontario CANADA M4B 2S7

1-800-836-6536 - 416-752-1828 - Fax  416-752-0760y

Manufacturer: Ballistol USA, Inc:

One Cypress Knee Trail 403 Old State Rd (P 0 Box 100)

Kitty Hawk NC 27949 Sherman's Dale PA 17090

Tel: 919-261-6181 Tel: 717-582-3819

Product: Ballistol-Lube is an alkaline, emulsifying oily lubricant 2!:lQ corrosion inhibitor.

0 Hazardous Ingredients Information Ballistol-Lube does not contain any components classified "hazardous" by OSHA

Ballistol-Lube contains only one ingredient with TLVs:

Ingredient OSHA PEL ACGHI TLV

Isobutyl Alcohol 100 ppm TWA 50 ppm TWA

0 Physical Characteristics 0 Reactivity Data

Boiling Point 128 °c (262.4 OF) Stability Stable

Evaporation Rate Moderate at 20 °c (68 of) Incompatibility None known

Pour Point -17 °c (1.4 of) Hazardous polymerization None known to occur

Solubility in Water Not easily. Emulsifies. Hazardous decomposition None known

Specific Gravity at

20 °c (68 OF) Oil: 0.865 g/cm3

Spray: 0.775 g/cm3

Appearance Yellowish oil .

Odour Like citrus. .

0 Fire and Explosion Information

Flash point 52 °c (126 OF)

Flammable limits (LEUUEL) Not applicable

Extinguishing media Foam, carbon dioxide, water.

Special firefighting procedures Do not use dry powder as extinguishing medium. Wear protective gear and self-contained

breathing apparatus as necessary under conditions.

Special fire I explosion hazards Should be treated as flammable aerosol although product has not been tested as such to

ASTM standards. Butane I propane (A- 70) used as propellant.

0 Health Hazard Data

Routes of Entry:

Inhalation Aerosol spray -possible. Non-aerosol -not probable.

Ingestion Possible. ' ,

Absorption through skin Insignificant if any.

Acute and Chronic Health Hazards:

No LD-50 oral could be determined for Ballistol-Lube with rats and rabbits. Manufacturer classifies product as non-toxic.

BALLISTOL-Lube does not contain Benzene or Kerosene.

CarcinoQenicitv:

No NTP publication. No IARC monograph. Ballistol-Lube is based on medicinal Grade mineral oil (CAS# 8042-47-5), whi~h h~s

been classified "Class 3" by the IARC, This means that there is insufficient evidence for this substance to cause cancer In animals

or humans. BALLISTOL-Lube does not contain any substance currently known to be a carcinogen.

Signs and Symptoms of Exposure None known.

Medical Conditions Generally Aggravated by Exposure None known.

Emergency and First Aid Procedures:

In the event of contact with eyes, flush with large quantities of water. If ingested, consult with physician.

(continued on back page)

Ballistol-Lube MSDS, page 2

0 Control and Protection Information

Respiratory Protection Information Not required. Eye Protection Not normally required.

Ventilation Locally as needed. Protective Gloves Not required.

Mechanical As needed. Other Protective Clothing Not normally required.

Work and Hygienic Practices:

Avoid contact with eyes. Use in ventilated area. Do not use around flame or hot surface. Do not spray into open flames. Do not

puncture aerosol container.

0 Safe Handling and Disposal Information

Steps to Take in Case of SRill;

Wipe up with absorbent rags. Use oil absorbent material. Sweep up and place in container. Wash area with warm water and detergent

to eliminate slipperiness.

Waste Disposal Method:

Follow applicable Federal and local regulations.

Handling and Storage:

Store in cool dry place out of sunlight. Do not store in areas exposed to temperatures above 49 °c (120 OF). Store and use in ventilated

room. Keep away from hot surfaces. Keep out of the reach of children.

0 Transportation Data

Aerosol Non-Aerosol

Description: Aerosols, flammable Petroleum Distillate n.o.s.

10 Number: UN1950 UN1268

Hazard Class: 2.1 3 ..

Packaging Group: NONE III

Domestic Surface: Consumer Commodity, ORM-D Consumer Commodity, ORM~D, for inner containers no more than

one gallon.

Air: Check with Dangerous Goods desk, or call Ballistol USA, Inc.

Disclaimer

The information and statements contained in this document have been obtained from the manufacturer and from recognized reference

sources as provided to or obtained by Ballistol USA, Inc. Ballistol USA believes the information in this document to be

true and reliable, but expressly disclaims any liability for providing such information and toxicolological data.

This document was prepared by Ballistol USA, Inc. in June of 1994. Last revision: February, 1998.

Acronyms:

LEL = Lower Exposure Limit

UEL = Upper Exposure Limit

LD 50 = Median Lethal Dose. It is the dose at which 50% of a given population will experience fatalities due to a

chemical substance.

NTP = National Toxicological Program.' )

IARC = International Agency for Research on Cancer.

PEL = Permissible Exposure Limit (as set by OSHA).

CAS = Chemical Abstract Service

TL V ~ Threshold Limit Value

[Dick Dastardly]

Thanks for that Del.

I had a feelin' that Ballistol was pretty much benign.  I'll keep on usin' it.  Won't stunt my growth any either.

DD-DLoS

[Delmonico]

I can tell you there are a lot of common things around most houses that look far worse on a MSDS.  (Material Safety Data Sheet.)  Looked at a bunch in my time, did you know soapstone crayons for markin' steel can cause sever caking in the lungs if enough dust is inhaled.

Oh to find MSDS's type the product and MSDS into Google and you should find them for any product that may be hazardous.  Also I think the seller has to keep one on file, for anything even slightly hazardous, I've got them at the paint stores, they just run a copy, some of the older automotive paints will kill you just reading the sheet.  I wish I knew years ago what I know now, have the GI problems and the nervous system damage they say they will cause.  Jury is still out on the brain damage, any thoughts on that one Dick?

[Arcey]

There may be wide spread brain damage here.

I'd use Ballistol if it made from pig snot.................

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Again Boys

I seem to remember reading on these pages, or maybe over at the Frontier Spot or the Open Range that Ballistol is pretty much just Paraffin dissolved in Mineral Oil. There may be some other stuff too, but that's what I seem to remember. Concur that it is pretty harmless stuff.

I use it straight to lube all my BP guns after cleaning with Murphy's Mix. I tried a comparison once to use it to clean my 1911. I found out that plain old Hoppes #9 works much better as a Smokeless solvent than Ballistol. The Ballistol required a lot more elbow grease to get the gun as clean as the Hoppes did.

[Delmonico]

I wonder if it is not petroleum based oils that are the problem, but certain petroleum based oils or perhaps it's additives to the oils.

Hoppes #9 is still hart to beat for Nitro powders, even the newer refoumulated stuff seems to work as good but don't seem to have quit the same smell.  Got a 1/2 pint or so of the old stuff, just so I can smell it once in a while.   A whole different subject that ones here, but when shooting jacketd bullets esp at very high speeds you leave a lot of hard to remove fouling.  I'd much rather clean up after lead and either powder than jacketed. 

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Del;  Its that smell, mineral spirits or somepin', that had to go.  It vaporizes brain cells!  (Heh!  I'm no chemist!)

[Delmonico]

I understand it was Amyl nitrite that they took out, can cause one to get high, can be an inhalant, might be why we liked to clean our guns so well.

[Fox Creek Kid]

The "old" Hoppes contained Benzene, a known carcinogen. Hoppes was great stuff in its day but it's pretty much Stone Age technology now. Here's the best:  http://www.montanaxtreme.com/.