Fireclean, aka Crisco?

GA Firing Line

PewPewPewCo

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Mar 23, 2015
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http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015/09/13/yes-its-true-fireclean-is-crisco/

Further, FireClean founder Edward Sugg was listed on a patent available to the public listing alternative uses for vegetable oils, such as canola oil, including as firearms lubricants. It was with this that I was all but convinced: FIREClean was canola oil, commonly sold under the brand name “Crisco”. Yesterday the inimitable Andrew Tuohy, a contributor to this blog, posted an article proving to me beyond any doubt that FIREClean is vegetable oil. The results of the infrared spectroscopy he conducted are reproduced below:
 

Hayata

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Kalash Klub
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Wow!

Never used it before.

Wonder what frog lube is made of?
 

boss_hawg

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I am almost positive that the m pro 7 cleaner is just rebranded windex.
 

DarthVader

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Wow!

Never used it before.

Wonder what frog lube is made of?
Frog lube is also a vegetable oil base. But whatever it's made from can spoil.

I've long suspected that FC was also a vegetable oil of some sort. There is only one way for these products to be non-toxic and that is for them to be a non-petroleum based oil. That pretty much only leaves vegetable based oils as a source. Fireclean works, so I don't mind this "revelation". Mainly because I'm not entirely surprised. Now, the question is, will straight up canola oil perform the same? Or is there a difference that makes FC suitable for use in firearms?
 

TattooedGunner

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Frog lube is also a vegetable oil base. But whatever it's made from can spoil.

I've long suspected that FC was also a vegetable oil of some sort. There is only one way for these products to be non-toxic and that is for them to be a non-petroleum based oil. That pretty much only leaves vegetable based oils as a source. Fireclean works, so I don't mind this "revelation". Mainly because I'm not entirely surprised. Now, the question is, will straight up canola oil perform the same? Or is there a difference that makes FC suitable for use in firearms?

I've never used fire clean. I was not impressed with frog lube at all.
 

Blackrifler42

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I've never used Fireclean but recently picked up a VP9 on a trade and when I got it home and broke it down there was a white grease like substance on the internals of the slide that I thought looked like Crisco.
 

Hayata

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Are you supposed to use a heat gun with Fireclean like Frog Lube?

Sounds like seasoning your iron fry pan.
 

Willy Leadwell

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I've never used Fireclean but recently picked up a VP9 on a trade and when I got it home and broke it down there was a white grease like substance on the internals of the slide that I thought looked like Crisco.
When they said Crisco I immediately thought of the big tub of lard. I was thinking "why in the hell would you even try that?"
 

Willy Leadwell

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This doesn't surprise me at all. There's no miracle products out there when it comes to oil. I've got some CLP, some Ballistol and some Rem oil. I don't know how in the hell you could go wrong with proper maintenance using either of those. If an oil can protect your engine for thousands of miles, I don't know why it wouldn't suffice in a firearm either.
 

DarthVader

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I've never used fire clean. I was not impressed with frog lube at all.
Frog lube completely crapped the bed on three different AR's and a couple of pistols of mine. Turned into a sticky, half-glue. And I followed their directions very carefully. Total junk. FC has never gummed up on me.
I've never used Fireclean but recently picked up a VP9 on a trade and when I got it home and broke it down there was a white grease like substance on the internals of the slide that I thought looked like Crisco.
That's not Fireclean. Sounds more like grease. FC is a clear liquid and does not solidify.
Are you supposed to use a heat gun with Fireclean like Frog Lube?

Sounds like seasoning your iron fry pan.
Don't have to do any of that with FC. But you do apparently have to be missing part of your frontal lobe to pay $15/oz for canola oil. Feeling pretty scammed right now.

After my frog lube experience, I swore off all wonder lubes. Then a buddy sent me half a bottle of FC to try out. It works really well. So I bought two more bottles. I still have that half used bottle, plus the other two. A little goes a long way, even if you're like me and apply liberally.
 
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dial1911

Waiting for the flash
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I'm thinking either white lithium grease or tw25-b. I really like tw25-b on pistol slide rails.


TW25-B... that is a new one on me. I used to use Hoppe's gun grease on slide rails. But after I pulled out a pistol I hadn't shot in probably 3 years, it had turned into something akin to dried pine sap. I mean good grief it was awful. Almost enough to hold the slide in place against the recoil spring pressure. I haven't touched that grease since. After the solvents evaporate, there's nothing "good" left.