Teflon lube, pt II
I'm re-opening this, just because I think I have something to add:
Original question:
quote:
I have been using "Dupont Teflon Multi-Use Lubricant" on my guns for quite some time with good results.
At the range a fellow shooter saw it in my range box and commented that I shouldn't use Teflon on guns. When I asked why he said he couldn't remember. Is this BS or is there any truth to this?
Its 99% BS.
Many commercially available gun lubes use teflon as an ingredient.
For example, CLP does (or at least used to in older formulations), and that particular lube was (is?) standard issue for the US military for decades and has been tested about as much as any gun lubricant CAN be tested!
Next, just to clarify, "PTFE" *is* "teflon".
Poly-tetrafluoroethylene is just the proper chemical name for the polymer that Dupont assigned the brand name of "Teflon". (Same as "nylon" is the original brand name for a type of polyamide polymer).
I think the reason why you might hear cautions not to use Teflon as a gun lube is that as a fluorine-containing molecule, BURNING teflon (or super-heating it) potentially produces toxic gases and/or particles.
In practice, the amount of teflon present in normal gun lubes is pretty minimal, and unless you were deliberately concentrating the gunsmoke after firing your first shot and inhaling it, I can't imagine you'd have a problem. If you WERE doing that, you'd have other compounds in there to worry about as well (not to mention psychiatric issues)!
In short, I wouldn't worry about this from normal gun lubes.
If you were using a high concentration teflon product (like Dupont teflon multi-use lubricant), then in THEORY, you might be making more nasty stuff on firing your gun. So, with that sort of product, I'd say its fine for ordinary gun use, so long as you don't use it to lube the gun BORE.
I'm not really sure why you even would want to use it in your bore, but if you just couldn't stop yourself, then simply swabbing the bore with a dry patch prior to shooting ought to get rid of most of it, and the first few shots would probably take care of the rest. Just don't inhale the smoke from the first few shots! [;)]
Original question:
quote:
I have been using "Dupont Teflon Multi-Use Lubricant" on my guns for quite some time with good results.
At the range a fellow shooter saw it in my range box and commented that I shouldn't use Teflon on guns. When I asked why he said he couldn't remember. Is this BS or is there any truth to this?
Its 99% BS.
Many commercially available gun lubes use teflon as an ingredient.
For example, CLP does (or at least used to in older formulations), and that particular lube was (is?) standard issue for the US military for decades and has been tested about as much as any gun lubricant CAN be tested!
Next, just to clarify, "PTFE" *is* "teflon".
Poly-tetrafluoroethylene is just the proper chemical name for the polymer that Dupont assigned the brand name of "Teflon". (Same as "nylon" is the original brand name for a type of polyamide polymer).
I think the reason why you might hear cautions not to use Teflon as a gun lube is that as a fluorine-containing molecule, BURNING teflon (or super-heating it) potentially produces toxic gases and/or particles.
In practice, the amount of teflon present in normal gun lubes is pretty minimal, and unless you were deliberately concentrating the gunsmoke after firing your first shot and inhaling it, I can't imagine you'd have a problem. If you WERE doing that, you'd have other compounds in there to worry about as well (not to mention psychiatric issues)!
In short, I wouldn't worry about this from normal gun lubes.
If you were using a high concentration teflon product (like Dupont teflon multi-use lubricant), then in THEORY, you might be making more nasty stuff on firing your gun. So, with that sort of product, I'd say its fine for ordinary gun use, so long as you don't use it to lube the gun BORE.
I'm not really sure why you even would want to use it in your bore, but if you just couldn't stop yourself, then simply swabbing the bore with a dry patch prior to shooting ought to get rid of most of it, and the first few shots would probably take care of the rest. Just don't inhale the smoke from the first few shots! [;)]
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So as long as you blow the smoke off your six guns, instead of sucking it off you are good?[}:)][:p] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by He Dog
So as long as you blow the smoke off your six guns, instead of sucking it off you are good?[}:)][:p]
Well, if you're REALLY good, you only need one shot. . .and one gun! [:D]
Besides, if you're that old school that you're carrying paired six guns and blowing the smoke off the barrel, you're probably lubing your guns with delicious bacon grease, not some sort of fancy-schmancy teflon!
A bit more seriously, here's a reasonably good summary of some of the hazards associated with Teflon:
http://www.wisegeek.com/is-teflon-dangerous.htm0 -
I did use to use bacon grease or Wildroot hair oil, but these days I use dry lube. 0 -
quote:shoff14
Advanced Member
7649 Posts
Posted - 04/05/2010 : 1:36:52 PM
quote:
Originally posted by tsr1965
One of the best out there uses Teflon, and it is called Tri-Flow. A lot of lubes use Teflon these day's.
However, JustC is correct. The Teflon, under open flame, and high temperatures, will decompose and part of the by-products will be HF gas(Hydorgen Floride). The HF is bad stuff in itself, but when the Floride decomposes, it is closely related to the stuff that Hitler used to exterminate a lot of people. This is would be in so minute quantities, that is should not be of bother to any one.
Best
Teflon doesn't start to break down till about (plus or minus depending on conditions) 500 degree F. For most guns this wouldn't be an issue.
I am sure that the temperature and pressure of the plasma in the barrel is hotter than 500 degrees F.
Best0
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