Chris
Well-Known Member
I know there are members here who have deeply investigated bullet lube components, so I wonder if anyone may have knowledge of the use of bear oil.
I did some poking around the internet and don't come up with much. The stuff is well known as a leather conditioner, base for salves, hair grease, etc. The bullet lube references generally seem to use it in lard-based (or Crisco) lubes, or as a substitute for lard. Emmert's lube, I think was mentioned. They also seem to like it as a patch grease for muzzleloaders. The black powder shooters like a lot of grease in their lubes to keep the fouling soft, so bear oil could work well here mixed with a little beeswax.
I rendered a gallon of oil. The stuff is liquid at room temperature with a viscosity of mineral oil. Turns harder in the cold but not as hard as lard or bacon grease. I accidentally got it warm and it smokes a bit at 375 degrees.
I know there are tests for physical properties, viscosity, lubricity, and others. I wonder what this stuff compares to? Anybody know? I hesitate to just say it's another animal fat, since all animal fats do not have the same properties, and neither do vegetable oils... peanut oil is very different from olive oil.
Am I correct in saying that this oil is useful for softening wax based lubes? How do you suppose it compares to vaseline as an agent? Any place where this might be particularly useful, maybe cold weather lubes?
I did some poking around the internet and don't come up with much. The stuff is well known as a leather conditioner, base for salves, hair grease, etc. The bullet lube references generally seem to use it in lard-based (or Crisco) lubes, or as a substitute for lard. Emmert's lube, I think was mentioned. They also seem to like it as a patch grease for muzzleloaders. The black powder shooters like a lot of grease in their lubes to keep the fouling soft, so bear oil could work well here mixed with a little beeswax.
I rendered a gallon of oil. The stuff is liquid at room temperature with a viscosity of mineral oil. Turns harder in the cold but not as hard as lard or bacon grease. I accidentally got it warm and it smokes a bit at 375 degrees.
I know there are tests for physical properties, viscosity, lubricity, and others. I wonder what this stuff compares to? Anybody know? I hesitate to just say it's another animal fat, since all animal fats do not have the same properties, and neither do vegetable oils... peanut oil is very different from olive oil.
Am I correct in saying that this oil is useful for softening wax based lubes? How do you suppose it compares to vaseline as an agent? Any place where this might be particularly useful, maybe cold weather lubes?