Reader Forum

Ballistol I am a satisfied subscriber, former mechanic, and journeyman tool maker. Brian Smith’s "Corrosion Basics for Gunsmiths" (February 2023) was very informative and comes across as authoritative. I feel I learned a lot from it but have a question about his comments regarding Ballistol. Ballistol contains a solvent and lanolin. How does that act like an electrolyte? I have used lanolinbased products on my 1-2-3 blocks, bench irons, and grinding vises for years with no corrosion showing.

My blocks and vises spent time in wire EDM machines with no ill effects. We even coated the machine cutting areas with lanolin-containing sprays after deep cleaning. I’m also told that the Navy uses Fluid Film lanolin spray on areas of their ships for corrosion prevention by the product rep. I would expect if the product was an electrolyte, the Navy engineers would forgo its use in salt water environments. Mr.

Smith clearly knows a thing or two about corrosion control, so I’m hoping for an explanation and maybe an expansion of the topic. Dave

Author Brian Smith responds. Thank you for your interest in and kind words regarding my article. To clarify, my article comments about Ballistol—the neat product by itself—is not electrically conductive and thus is not an electrolyte. The Safety Data Sheets which I referenced in researching Ballistol state that it contains pharmaceuticalgrade white mineral oil and butyl alcohol. Butyl alcohol is an effective emulsifier which facilitates dispersal of water in oil, or vice-versa.

If a user of Ballistol mixed enough water with the product, then the emulsified mixture could become electrically conductive to the point that corrosion could occur. As the article stated, in my opinion the ability of Ballistol to become emulsified with water isn’t an advantage when it comes to corrosion protection. Oils have been used as moisture and oxygen blocking agents to promote corrosion protection for centuries.

While neat, Ballistol has a proven track record among firearms owners as a corrosion inhibitor, an oil-based product with the ability to become mixed or readily emulsified with water seems to defeat the purpose or post a letter to Falls Church, VA 22041. subscription For questions or mailing problems contact American Gunsmith