neopentyl polyol ester
- Thread starter Paden
- Start date
The only esters I have used are in Maxima K2 two stroke oil, a full synthetic and Ester 100 AC oil.
Both worked well but both have a few problems. They are über slick. Too much gives a way overly slick lube. Accuracy just isn't there.
I do like them in small amounts. They handle heat very well and do have a slight solvent action. I think the Ester 100 AC oil works well but it needs to be in amounts measured in fractions of a percent.
A lube made from nothing more than Ivory soap and Ester 100 oil does great in a handgun. It was a colossal bust in rifles as it tended to leave a miserable residue. Not a pressure issue as 44 mag loads in a handgun were fine but similar pressure loads in rifles sucked. Lots of fouling part way down the bore. Accuracy sucked and it was a bitch to remove. In handguns it was clean shooting and gave great accuracy and no leading.
Adding some beeswax and microwax to the Ivory soap and Ester 100 oil lubes shows some promise. Again, it is awesome in handguns. In rifles it does pretty well and leaves no weird residue.
Now the place where I really like Ester 100 AC oil is as a sprue plate lube. It works great. I can get a pint on sale at a parts store for 15 bucks or so and that gives me enough lube for several lifetimes. A small amount on a Qtip will lube a mould for a long session.
I think Ian has played with some jet engine specific oils. I would hope he chimes in here as he is a real lubricant junkie.
What I have learned in the few years I have played with this stuff is that lubricarion isn't really the problem. It is getting consistent bore condition from shot to shot. We have found that too slick is a bad thing. We need to have some friction to get the results we want. Getting consistent friction is the whole key.
Both worked well but both have a few problems. They are über slick. Too much gives a way overly slick lube. Accuracy just isn't there.
I do like them in small amounts. They handle heat very well and do have a slight solvent action. I think the Ester 100 AC oil works well but it needs to be in amounts measured in fractions of a percent.
A lube made from nothing more than Ivory soap and Ester 100 oil does great in a handgun. It was a colossal bust in rifles as it tended to leave a miserable residue. Not a pressure issue as 44 mag loads in a handgun were fine but similar pressure loads in rifles sucked. Lots of fouling part way down the bore. Accuracy sucked and it was a bitch to remove. In handguns it was clean shooting and gave great accuracy and no leading.
Adding some beeswax and microwax to the Ivory soap and Ester 100 oil lubes shows some promise. Again, it is awesome in handguns. In rifles it does pretty well and leaves no weird residue.
Now the place where I really like Ester 100 AC oil is as a sprue plate lube. It works great. I can get a pint on sale at a parts store for 15 bucks or so and that gives me enough lube for several lifetimes. A small amount on a Qtip will lube a mould for a long session.
I think Ian has played with some jet engine specific oils. I would hope he chimes in here as he is a real lubricant junkie.
What I have learned in the few years I have played with this stuff is that lubricarion isn't really the problem. It is getting consistent bore condition from shot to shot. We have found that too slick is a bad thing. We need to have some friction to get the results we want. Getting consistent friction is the whole key.
Ian
Notorious member
My experience with various esters is about what Brad's is. Polyolesters and diesters bring something to the table but aren't the end-all, be all. We explored every aspect of lube, including the solventy, self-cleaning esters, lubes that didn't melt at all, and lubes containing no wax, and about a zillion other individual ingredients and blends and found repeatedly that lubricity is an easy quality to get and wasn't the challenge to making a good lube. Even plain Vaseline provides plenty of lubrication for speeds into the 2k fps arena. Brad's last sentence above sums it up.