Best Sperm Whale Oil replacement?

[Virginia Gentleman]

I read that under CITIES II it is illegal to even own real sperm whale oil as some guy in NJ found an old can in the basement of a 1930s school.  He sold it in 4 oz bottles on eBay and the Fish and Wildlife people clamped down on him and fined him $2000.00.  Sperm whale oil is non toxic and was a traditional gun oil into the mid 20th century. I have been told that Jojoba oil is almost identical chemically and Dixie Gun Works sells Synthetic Sperm Whale Oil that is probabl shark liver oil.  Which in your experience is a better substitute? I know there are better modern alternatives, but I am looking at the authenticity aspects, not better performance.  The oldtimers used it on both the metal and the wood to keep it conditioned.

[Bull Schmitt]

I believe I have read in some articles on black powder lubes that automatic transmission fluid was originally developed to replace sperm oil back in the 40s. If you need more info I can try and find it.

[Arcey]

Try this article:

http://www.building-tux.com/dsmjd/tech/eds_red.htm

Ed's Red is right next to Ballistol in my book but it may not be what you're looking for.

..

[Hemlock Mike]

I really like Dillon's Snake Oil.   Good stuff.

Mike

[Virginia Gentleman]

From what i understand and have observed in comparison, Dillon's Snake Oil is basically Jojoba Oil. Thanks for the input, but  I know about ATF, that it was originally Sperm Whale Oil based in the 1930s and 1940s and all about Ed's Red and modern ATF which BTW should never be used on wood.  What I am curious about is which of the "organic" substitutes works best?

[Hemlock Mike]

Organic --  A term used to cover carbon based molicules and it's related chemistry.

Organic food ??  Show me inorganic food -- Silicon based ??  Maybe phosphorus based lifeforms.

Organic -- Originally a scientific term means nothing anymore.  Petrol products are organic along with most stuff on this planet.

Mike

[Forty Rod]

Mink oil?

I'm asking, not suggesting.

I don't know, either.

[Hemlock Mike]

I had some mink oil once in a spray can.  That's why there's a big ozone hole.  It was real good on leather products.  Don't know where it comes from but I bet a mink don't give it up real easy !  I imagine it's organic but I don't know how it lubes or protects moving metal parts.

Mike

[Yankee John]

I know that a sperm whale oil solution was used as an additive in clutch-type Posi/Sure-grip axle differentials many years ago.  There is a "Posi" additive available at auto parts stores (expensive),  but I have no idea if it would work for your intended purpose.

John

[Silver_Rings]

Probably the oil that is as slippery as if not more so than whale oil is politician oil.  Nothin is as slippery as a politician.  Plus there is no shortage of em to make oil out of.

SR

[Hemlock Mike]

S rings --

You shore have that right.  Maybe if we grind up a bunch of politicians and squeeze the crap for the oil ---- No way -- it stinks worse than ---- 

Mike

[44caliberkid]

You said it, RCJ.   I was out of Ballistol for about a month and almost couldn't function.  I can't believe all the stuff I use it for.  Kept trying to get some at gun shows or shops, but nobody carries it.  I finally ordered the Sportsmans Pack from the distributor and am once again stinkin' up the house with it.  My wife thinks I'm trying to kill her with the fumes.

[Virginia Gentleman]

I know the term organic is overused and misused, so I am going to rephrase and ask what non-petroleum based oils come closest to Sperm Whale Oil that is good to use on both the wood and the metal?  Hey, if it comes in an aerosol, so be it, I like global warming, baby seal hunting, clear cuttin, opne opit strip mining and oil drilling in Alaska.  And if some baby seals go "belly up" so I can have cheap gas, so be it! Balistol has not been as good a lubricant for me, plus it smells funny and is petroleum based with mineral oil being the main ingredient.

[deucedaddyj]

I like the politician oil idea myself! The question is, how do you collect it? 

[Delmonico]

I favor the castor oil John, trivial fact, Indy and Grand Prix cars used to use castor oil fer the engine, before the synthetics.  But if you don't drain them before it cools it jells on ya.

[Virginia Gentleman]

I've done some other research and found that Jojoba oil is probably the best replacement for SWO, but Castor Oil and Rapeseed Oil will also work, but neither of them is as odorless as Jojoba oil.  A friend of mine that collects machine guns has a tin of WWII SWO he uses from time to time, but he compared it with Jojoba oil and said it seemed to work even better.  Hey, everyone wins, the treehuger, the gun owner and the Sperm Whale.

[Delmonico]

Canola oil is just the name that the marketers decided to use when the health food folks decide that it was good for you.  Rapeseed oil would not likely sell on the grocery shelf.

Used to build Ag research equpt. back in the 1980's when they were expermenting with "Rapeseed"
one day the roller on the combine header was changed from a rapeseed roller to a canola roller.

[Virginia Gentleman]

The other big advantage I see for Jojoba oil is since it is a liquid wax like Sperm Whale Oil it is also good for the wood and won't over penetrate like pertoleum based oils to weaken the wood fibers.  I think for older guns and most cowboy guns that have wood on them, Jojoba oil makes sense, especially if the gun is handled a lot. 

[Black River Smith]

Where do you guys buy this jojoba oil?

Del you are correct that Canola cooking oil is from the rapeseed.  This came originally and mainly from Canada the name is a derivative of that.

Black River Smith

[Delmonico]

BRS, ya might know I don't consider Canola oil, cooking oil.   Wasn't sure where the Canola came from, I'm away from my referance material right now, thought it might be taxanomical.

(For those who don't know, the more expensive but better olive oil is just as good or possibly better for folks who have to watch cholesteral.)