Ballistol experts - please help!

[aBrowningfan]

Is Ballistol truly wood-friendly? I was using Ballistol on my Browning Cynergy O/U, and got a little carried away and some Ballistol got in the receiver and drained into the trigger mechanism and then flowed onto the stock. The Ballistol web site ( http://www.ballistol.com/faqs/ third item down the list) states that Ballistol is wood-friendly (it does give the area where it flowed onto the stock a really nice sheen), but I would like to confirm that this is in fact true.

Thanks in advance to those who respond.

[bigbearbear]

Yes, when Ballistol was invented, firearms were mainly metal and wood. It would've caused havoc if it were to harm wood.

[cwilliams]

Yes. It's pretty much everything friendly in my experience. That's one of the main attractions of using Ballistol. Lightly wipe the whole gun down with it before you put it in storage to keep rust in check. Won't hurt a thing!

[4DSJW]

As the others have said, Ballistol is OK on wood... when wiped on. It sounds like you are squirting a fair amount onto the gun if it, "drained into the trigger mechanism and then flowed onto the stock."

Too much of any liquid (oil, cleaner, Ballistol, etc.) soaking into the wood will soften and weaken it over time and very likely darken the color. So be careful to wipe things down instead of spray them down.

[ElDub1950]

As the others have said, Ballistol is OK on wood... when wiped on. It sounds like you are squirting a fair amount onto the gun if it, "drained into the trigger mechanism and then flowed onto the stock."

Too much of any liquid (oil, cleaner, Ballistol, etc.) soaking into the wood will soften and weaken it over time and very likely darken the color. So be careful to wipe things down instead of spray them down.

^^ exactly .. you don't want to saturate wood with any product, no matter how wood friendly it is.

[SanPedroShooter]

I believe it was invented by those cleverest of clever people. Germans.

I think the original formula was some kind of hog fat.

Its made for use metal, wood, leather gear, toast. Anything a solider might have in the field back in the 30's and 40's.

Use your imagination.

[SanPedroShooter]

Smells like rancid wintergreen.

[ElDub1950]

Smells like rancid wintergreen.

LOL weird huh? Some people love the smell and some can't tolerate it. I like it and my son can barely be in the room when I use it

[cwilliams]

Smells like rancid wintergreen.

Thankfully, the worse of the smell dissipates not long after it's applied. It's my main lubricant and I don't smell it on any of my guns or other mechanical things I've used it on.

But yes, it has a very distinct odor that tingles the senses. Great product though!

[SanPedroShooter]

LOL weird huh? Some people love the smell and some can't tolerate it. I like it and my son can barely be in the room when I use it

I think its funky smelling, but I work with chemicals all day. It makes my wife leave the room.

But she doesn't like Hoppes #9 either. Now that is weird.

[aBrowningfan]

As the others have said, Ballistol is OK on wood... when wiped on. It sounds like you are squirting a fair amount onto the gun if it, "drained into the trigger mechanism and then flowed onto the stock."

Too much of any liquid (oil, cleaner, Ballistol, etc.) soaking into the wood will soften and weaken it over time and very likely darken the color. So be careful to wipe things down instead of spray them down.

^^ exactly .. you don't want to saturate wood with any product, no matter how wood friendly it is.

[aBrowningfan]

Thankfully, the worse of the smell dissipates not long after it's applied. It's my main lubricant and I don't smell it on any of my guns or other mechanical things I've used it on.

But yes, it has a very distinct odor that tingles the senses. Great product though!

I wonder if that is the constituent that is causing problems for VOC emissions? Ballistol has a statement up on their web site saying they are reformulating for compliance with CARB requirements.

Open the windows and get a slight breeze going when using Ballistol, and I don't smell it at all.

[Southpaw45]

I use it for every firearm that aint semi auto. I like the smell but the wife says it smells like stinky feet. Like it says, its ok to use on wood. Guns back the when this stuff was invented had mostly oil finished stocks anyways. I personally think you need to keep it away from any end grain that aint sealed with laquer of varnish. It will wick into the end grain and it "might" darken the wood were it meets the frame. Be conservative with it in that area...

[SanPedroShooter]

NON-AEROSOL BALLISTOL NOW AVAILABLE FOR CALIFORNIA SALES! We have voluntarily removed our product from the California market after a review from the California Air and Resource Board. California has imposed new regulations on VOC content, and we are working to comply

First off, **** CARB and twice on Sunday. Oh wait its Sunday? Well then **** them again.

You can still get the non-aerosol. A little spray nozzle will screw right on to the can. Or you can order the non compliant version from Amazon and pay no tax. I highly recommend that way.

The ballistol FAQ page a number of tips about use and surface compatibility.

http://www.ballistol.com/faqs/

[sd_shooter]

I got a couple large cans of the non-spray version, I just pour it into a smaller oiler that has a small tip (found the oiler at a gun show.) Most of the time I use it on patches and then run through the bore, or wipe down the surface of a firearm with said patch.