Author Topic: Wonder Lube....again (Read 1232 times)

BobYoung · « **on:** May 10, 2003, 05:09:38 PM »

Reading all the old posts about the shortcomings of Wonder Lube/Bore Butter (allus thought they were the same) shook me up a bit. I bought into the 'bore seasoning' theory from the outset. Got a lot of nice muzzle loaders that I've cleaned religously using very hot soapy water, a boiling water rinse, followed by dry patches 'til try and then an anointing with Wonder Lube on a couple of clean patches while barrel still too hot to touch. Other than some flash rust after the rinse, I thought everything was fine. Bores look good and feel smooth with a tight patch. Apparently it hasn't worked for everyone and this approach is open to question. But is Wonder Lube the problem or something else?

I remember a bit of information that no one else has mentioned. About 4 (or 5??) years ago Gun Tests magazine did a test on firearm rust preventatives. Wonder Lube was one of the candidates. As I recall steel plates coated with rust preventative were subjected to high temperature, high humidity and salt spray over an extended period. Only two of the preventatives successfully protected the steel plates under all conditions. Wonder Lube was one of those two as I recall.

Unfortunately I can't quote chapter and verse...tossed all my back issues of Gun Tests when I moved from Indiana and no longer subscribe. Just wondered if anyone else recalls seeing this or perhaps has it on hand. I'm going to poke around their site a bit and see if it's in the archives. Of course if the formulation has changed recently, the point of the test is moot.

Hate to dump something that's working, but am always open to a better way.
Bob

BobYoung · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2003, 05:21:36 PM »

The test was in the July 2000 Issue of Gun Tests (Volume 12, No. 7). Unfortunately they want money to view it online, so will wait to see if anyone else can confirm the test procedure and the conclusions from a back-issue.

savageT · « **Reply #2 on:** May 11, 2003, 09:44:48 AM »

Bob Young,
I recall finding a govt. test that was aimed at finding the best rust preventive and if I recall correctly,at or near the top of the list for salt-water emersion, and salt spray, was Vasoline Petroleum Jelly. All the rest somewhere down the line. Incidently, my Ballistol was right up there near the top, one of the best preseratives, but nothing quite as good as ole' vaseline.

Side note: I recently got a new replacement 50 cal. BP side-hammer from Traditions and found the bore to be very tight. I asked Traditions what would help and they suggested swabbing the barrel before loading sabots w/Wonderlube pre-soaked patches. I told them I was using Borebutter patches and also on the sabot skirts, so what's the difference.......same ole' CRAP!

Did you see the thread about using CRISCO around the bullet/sabot opening and around the base and skirt?

Jim

johnt · « **Reply #3 on:** May 11, 2003, 05:55:10 PM »

Hey Savage T,
I think Bob saw that post about the crisco (he wrote it),
I found that very interesting,see I know Grump, and was over to his place just a few week back and fired that very gun he spoke of T/C BD.
We didn't realy mess with lubes on the sabots he had, we just tinkerd with loose powder charges, we tried some full lead maxi's in it and they where all over at 50yrds,my guess is too shallow a grooves for the heavy lead and they were skipping the rifling.
Switched to 2 different manufactures 300gr HP in sabots and about 70grs loose t7 2f, and got it within 3" or so at 50,(bench) there's still room for improvement. I know he's got his hands full now and ain't been at the puter much. But I'll bet we try that lubin the plastic idea.

mamaflinter · « **Reply #4 on:** May 12, 2003, 01:00:30 AM »

Bore Butter and Wonder Lube are the same lube just packaged under different names and in different labels depending on who it is being made for.

The thing about the seasoning is bull. This lube is made of petroleum distillants. Some people have had no problems with it, but others have. I don't know if they have changed the formula but a couple of years ago, we (hubby & I) got hold of some that after cleaning and generously lubing our rifles, we still got rust. Also after time, some have noticed a great fall off in accuracy. We experienced this too. At first we thought it was hubby's eyesight as he was having problems with vision at the time. But it wasn't until a chemist told him to take some carburetor cleaner and scrub the barrel of the affected muzzleloader and scrub/soak to see what came out. It took hubby 3 days but he finally got it all out. When wonder lube/borebutter is subjected to the temps of powder burning, it will have a tar like consistency and will build up over time. By time, I'm talking several months to years. But it will greatly affect accuracy.

savageT · « **Reply #5 on:** May 12, 2003, 03:25:24 AM »

Thanks! :oops:

I gotta watch who I'm quoting in the future! Mamaflinter, I've had deep concerns for that Borebutter crapola and I told Traditions so much B.S. with the Wonderlube as well! I'm looking to find a source of sabots for my muzzle loader that are a little smaller diameter than the T/C Maxi's which mike up to .505-.506". The bore on my rifle is around .502". I'm going to try the maxi conicals also, but they don't usually have the best accuracy even with limited powder loads 70-80 grains pyrodex. My twist is 1:48.

Has anyone tried using the vasoline as a preservative? Cleaning it out should be easy using a little spray brake cleaner on a patch. My new m/l has a breech plug and find the cleaning to be a breeze. I just wish I could find a muzzle guard for the ramrod.....any suggestions? TIA.

Jim

BobYoung · « **Reply #6 on:** May 14, 2003, 03:35:59 PM »

Thanks Mamaflinter; your words carry weight. I've wondered why the initial eye-popping accuracy of my .58 System 1 barrel dropped off so suddenly. Maybe this is the reason. Guess I'll get some carburetor cleaner and see if I can get it back.
Bob

mamaflinter · « **Reply #7 on:** May 15, 2003, 01:09:52 AM »

Bob I do hope that this is the problem. Let us know if accuracy is restored once you scrub. Just remember that it could take DAYS to get it out and you will have to give the carburetor cleaner time to do its job. Soak the bore in it and let it set for awhile then scrub. Repeat until you get the majority out. It's virtually impossible to get it all out.

kevin · « **Reply #8 on:** May 15, 2003, 07:58:52 AM »

Hi Bob, there is a new product out that my help, not saying it will but ,its called " blue wonder gun cleaner", Dixie Gun Works sells it for ,i think 9.95 , yes it is expensive ,for 4oz. tube , although i do not have any problems with cleaning or maintaining blacl powder firearmss , i do and own many modern stuff that i shoot the cheap mil surplus ammo out of , and now matter how welll i maintained or oled and scrubed they allways seemed to grow a little rust flaky, well then this stuff arrived for a blueing job that this company also sells and works well on small parts , but this stuff blue wonder gun cleaner is sweat my old mauser cleaned up and it left the bore bright and shinny and my Ar-15 bore took a real liking to it also the accuracy also came back ,this stuff according to the label, removes copper,lead,and powder residue, removes rust, without harming gun blue,leaves a chemically clean bore in minutes, if you decide on getting it read the directions, i had to do the mauser 8 times before all traces of junk came out and you will see a differece.
good luck buddy,
kevin

denvas · « **Reply #9 on:** May 16, 2003, 02:46:57 AM »

Kevin,

Thanks for the recommendation. I am glad to hear that our Blue Wonder Gun Cleaner is working so well for you. Please go over to the New Products forum and sign up for our gun oil giveaway. We will be sending out samples of our newest product for shooters to test very soon. I would appreciate your feed back on how it works for you. Thanks.

BobYoung · « **Reply #10 on:** May 16, 2003, 03:00:45 AM »

Thanks for the tip Kevin. Haven't sent DGW a donation for awhile; mebbe I'll have 'em send their latest catalog along with a tube of that "blue wonder" cleaner. I've gotten into leading problems from time to time with my (smokeless) revolvers...cheap gunshow bullets. Sounds like it would help with that as well.

Waitaminute! Will I be swapping one "Wonder" for another wonder? Wonder of Wonders; I wonder what's gonna happen next?
Bob

Muldoon · « **Reply #11 on:** May 16, 2003, 05:57:53 AM »

I was recently given a sample of Blue Wonder and gave it a tryout. It did a good job and I got some dark patches out of what I considered to be a clean bore. One drawback was the strong smell of this product. It was a bit too much for me.

After the thorough cleaning with Blue Wonder I decided to run a patch with Flitz Metal Polish down the barrel. I was astonished when the patch came back up totally black. After a couple more Flitz patches followed by a few clean patches my bore shone like a mirror.

The Flitz company also recommends this product for protecting the blue on gun barrels. I have used it for this purpose with no ill effects.

I hope this might be helpfull.