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wheel bearing grease worked best for rustproofing

buschmaster
I wanted to know how wheel bearing grease does with rustproofing.

over at dayattherange.com they tested 46 products by spraying metal plates with salt water every 24 hours. however the samples were outside and occasional rain washed away the salt water so the test wasn't so great but it gave an idea of what worked and what didn't.


that included motor oil, transmission fluid, silicon grease and silicon spray, none of which did as well as some of the other products. 

I wanted to try my own test with wheel bearing grease because it's thick and should stay on better.

Frog Lube was rumored to be nothing but glorified vegetable oil so I tried some actual veggie oils. also I compared BreakFree CLP and USGI LSA.

I put them on tin cans (steel) roughed up with steel wool. every 24 hours over 8 days, sprayed the same mixture of salt water that he used.

the wheel bearing grease was applied with a cloth in a thin layer like how you might normally apply it to a gun finish.

results:

avocado oil was almost worthless, olive oil might work when nothing else is available, and coconut oil will do in a pinch. nothing like Frog Lube. 

CLP was slightly better than LSA. both of them had rust.

the wheel bearing grease provided 100% rustproofing. would have been at the top of the list on the Day At The Range testing.

that leads me to believe that there are no special additives that prevent rust. simply a waterproofing layer that stays on is what does it.

what do you think about this.
6

Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • varian
    i use the blue boat trailer wheel bearing grease almost exclusively anymore for all applications.  according to its advertising it is manufactured for water emersion on boat trailers.  i am totally satisfied with its performance.
    3
  • pulsarnc

    Having dismantled old trucks and farm equipment that had sat in the open for 20 plus years you are correct . Wheel bearing grease is forever ! I have an old silent flame tobacco harvester sitting in the edge of the woods . It has been there since 1973 . Most of The chain sprocket wheels will still turn fairly freely after all these years .

    0
  • jimdeere
    This is my presumption :
    “ that leads me to believe that there are no special additives that prevent rust. simply a waterproofing layer that stays on is what does it.”

    0
  • navc130
    Always good to see an interesting firearms test.  When I left home for the Air Force I applied boot grease (probably Mink Oil??) to my antique rifles hanging on an open wall rack in a damp Michigan basement.  Eight years later the boot grease was still on the metal and no rusr.  I think boot grease with paraffin in it would be better.  Paraffin wax alone is a very good preservative.  Probably marine wheel bearing grease is best, as stated above.  Heavy grease seems best for long-term storage, maybe not so much for short-term (messy to handle) unless exposed to wet conditions.  Thanks for the test info.
    For long term storage, I mean a HEAVY COAT of grease.  I like RIG; use it all the time.  But it does wipe off easily.
    After a day's use of shooting or hunting I just wipe down with a Silicone cloth.
    0
  • Rocky Raab
    That, after all, is why RIG was invented.
    3
  • buschmaster
    I got some of that. like it a lot. I use that instead of oil now. either one would work for exterior rustproofing but I figured wheel bearing grease would be better because it's thicker, heavier, and resistant to rubbing off. probably less volatile.
    0
  • truthful
    A crystalline wax works great for long-term rust prevention. BUT, it is no good on surfaces that require lubrication.
    0
  • buschmaster
    navc130 said:
    Always good to see an interesting firearms test.  When I left home for the Air Force I applied boot grease (probably Mink Oil??) to my antique rifles hanging on an open wall rack in a damp Michigan basement.  Eight years later the boot grease was still on the metal and no rusr.  I think boot grease with paraffin in it would be better.  Paraffin wax alone is a very good preservative.  Probably marine wheel bearing grease is best, as stated above.  Heavy grease seems best for long-term storage, maybe not so much for short-term (messy to handle) unless exposed to wet conditions.  Thanks for the test info.
    I'm putting it on a thin layer and don't notice any difference from oil as far as being messy. as long as you apply it the same way. got it on the AR15 and the Glock too.
    0
  • BobJudy
    Great test! I have been using RIG for what seems like forever and it only makes sense that the key is a moisture barrier that stays in place. I have wheel bearing grease but also a lifetime supply of RIG so I guess I'll stick with it. Between using  RIG and Zerust vapor capsules in the safes I can't remember the last time I found any rust on or in any of my firearms. Bob
    3
  • Junkballer
    Thanks for a timely informative test since now we all may soon have to store a few of our prized firearms for who knows how long.   ;)
    3

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