Corrosion Test

[Rubb]

I guess this is considered gear so here goes…
I did a corrosion test out of boredom and thought I’d share the results.
This is probably as scientific as a peanut butter sandwich so TIFIW :)
I used standard finishing nails as the victims.
Each nail was treated with a clean patch then placed flat on a marked paper towel.
Interesting application patch results.

I sprayed a mixture of 1 part table salt and 10 parts water on the nails from a fine mist sprayer.

The nails were observed and re-sprayed at the 4, 6, 10, 12 and 24 hour marks.

12 products were tested as well as a un treated control piece.

4397

4398

1. DuPont Teflon white lithium grease
2. Break free CLP
3. Tetra oil
4. Hoppes oil
5. Tri-Flow*
6. Klean bore formula 3 gun conditioner
7. Rem oil
8. Johnson paste wax
9. SAE 30
10. WD-40
11. Wheel bearing grease
12. Tetra grease

*Tri -flow in the needle point bottle info:
http://www.triflowlubricants.com/Tri...Lubricant.html

I’ve divided observation into 5 categories of corrosion.
None
Very Light
Light
Moderate
Heavy

At the 4 hour mark I could see no visible signs of corrosion.
A the 6 hour mark things had changed.

None- 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11
Very light- 12
Light- 3, 4, control
Moderate- 1
Heavy- 7, 8

10 hours in revealed very little change so onto the 12 hour observations.

None-2, 5, 6, 9, 11
Very light- 10, 12
Light- 4
Moderate- 3, control
Heavy- 1, 7, 8

And the 24 hour results….

None
(5)Tri-Flow
(6)Klean bore formula 3 gun conditioner

Very light
(2)Break free CLP
(9)SAE 30
(11)Wheel bearing grease
(12)Tetra grease

Light
(10)WD-40

Moderate
(3)Tetra oil
(4)Hoppes oil

Heavy
(1)DuPont Teflon white lithium grease
(7)Rem oil
(8)Johnson paste wax
Control

4399

4400

4401

[Markis82]

Good work! Here is a rust test I found on another forum. Very informative.

Since the names are very hard to read, here is the list. Starting on the top row, left to right. Then the bottom row, left to right.

Tetra-oil, control series 2, FP10, RIG

Miltec & Heat, control, Eezox, CLP-Old, CLP-New, Miltec

[Rubb]

6 day results
Very light
(5)Tri-Flow
(6)Klean bore formula 3 gun conditioner
Light
(9)SAE 30
(10) WD-40
Moderate
(11)Wheel bearing grease
(12)Tetra grease
Heavy
(1)DuPont Teflon white lithium grease
(2)Break free CLP
(3)Tetra oil
(4)Hoppes oil
(7)Rem oil
(8)Johnson paste wax
Control
4393

4394

Results after wiping down with a paper towel.
Very light
(5)Tri-Flow
(6)Klean bore formula 3 gun conditioner
(9)SAE 30
(10) WD-40
Light
(3)Tetra oil
(12)Tetra grease
Moderate
(11)Wheel bearing grease
Heavy
(1)DuPont Teflon white lithium grease
(2)Break free CLP
(4)Hoppes oil
(7)Rem oil
(8)Johnson paste wax
Control

4395

4396

[Bill K]

Very interesting. Thanks for doing the test and sharing with us.

[Thunder71]

Cool test, but... Which one lubricates best? I typically don't keep my guns in salt water...

[Rubb]

Cool test, but... Which one lubricates best? I typically don't keep my guns in salt water...

IMO.. corrosion protection is a bonus… any gun lube will do the trick as long as you keep the gun clean.
I’ve use #’s 1-7 and 12 on several guns without issue….

[drcohen]

Doing a test is great. It's just that the products you tested for a performance category like "corrosion" should include products that at least make claims to be high performance, not traditional, solvent-based products that can't hold up. Try Slip2000, Mil-Comm TW25B, Ballistol among others. Maybe for a round 2?

Also, for an accurate test, using cheap unfinished nails doesn't serve firearm users anywhere near as well as the plates, and the products should be applied in the manner in which the manufacturers recommend. Spraying and wiping, for example, will have different effects. In other words, solid products should be considered differently then aerosol spray products.

[Rubb]

Doing a test is great. It's just that the products you tested for a performance category like "corrosion" should include products that at least make claims to be high performance, not traditional, solvent-based products that can't hold up. Try Slip2000, Mil-Comm TW25B, Ballistol among others. Maybe for a round 2?

Also, for an accurate test, using cheap unfinished nails doesn't serve firearm users anywhere near as well as the plates, and the products should be applied in the manner in which the manufacturers recommend. Spraying and wiping, for example, will have different effects. In other words, solid products should be considered differently then aerosol spray products.

Thanks for the feedback but, you do understand that out of boredom I grabbed what I had on hand, right?
I didn’t really consider running out to my LGS to purchase several products then to Home Depot for a plate of steel.
I realize I tested the wrong products on the wrong test material and applied it wrong as well but, I wasn’t planning on submitting my results to Shooting Times either.
I will say though, you seem to have a great knowledge of the proper testing procedures and materials.

I will anxiously be waiting for your results.
All the best.