TFB reports that Froglube is Coconut Oil.
Fireclean is Canola Oil.
zMax is Mineral Oil.
Other lubes are petroleum oils.
Other lubes are synthetic oils.
Or oil blends.
Here’s my take: Use whatever product that you feel works best for you. If you like Frog Lube, use the Froglube. Just because someone ballparks what the base oil is doesn’t negate the fact that the oil had been doing what it says it does and has worked well for you. Nothing’s changed.
Yes, zMax is based on a mineral oil. No, you are not going to get the same results using baby oil from the grocery store. Why not? Because the company took that mineral oil and ran it through some more refining processes and changed it.
Same with Frog Lube. That’s not just plain coconut oil. They added some components to it to take away the delicious flavor for one thing. Trust me. They also did something to make it smell like Kermit’s Ass. And to keep it from congealing at lower than room temperature. Coconut oil might be the base, but it no longer acts like it. Trust me – My wife and I use Coconut oil for all kinds of things. It’s great stuff.
The Fireclean though, I will not use any more. Not even on my knives. Not because it’s Canola… But because it gets sticky. One of the shotguns I changed the stocks on, I had lubed generously with Fireclean… a year ago. I’ve not worked with that gun since then. You know what I found?
An action that did not want to move.
It was gummed up like it was full of pine pitch. It took me about 3 Pink Floyd songs to clean it up and lube it with Breakfree CLP.
BREAKFREE! I hate Breakfree!
So I’m not using Fireclean anymore because of the results, not the materials. But yes, the materials did contribute to extended results here.
Still… Use whatever you like. Just use it. Because even if your choice of oil sucks – it’s a hell of a lot better than no oil. And that’s a fact.
Do you still recommend Slipstream?
Yes. I still use it.
Seen a guy years ago at a skeet range spraying the living daylights out of the action of his 1100 shotgun with WD-40. He swore by it… Whilst it runneth down his arm and shirt, and smoking like a steam engine. I thought “To each his own”.
Personally, I’m still digging Styx, Slipstream and Slipstream grease. I’m really surprised it hasn’t caught on more. Saw a YouTuber who swears by motor oil. Hard to argue with his logic. It’s cheap, thoroughly tested and designed for high heat metal on metal lubrication. I’m also surprised it’s not more popular. I think if I shot as much as I should I’d probably try it.
Most of the paraffin or fat based lubes including Frog Lube will over time congeal into something that looks and feels like soft pencil eraser. I noted it recently when I tried to load a Kahr P9 and it felt “gummy” and hard to rack. Took it apart and found that the CLP had congealed into a plastic like mass. Not a good thing.
Sticking with Slipstream and Ed’s Red. Never been so happy since I made the move. I can’t even remember how to spell CeeEllPee, though I miss the smell of #9.
Even with all these new-tech lubes out there, I still use Breakfree CLP. I have guns that I haven’t shot in 10 years, and they still have a nice light protective coating of CLP. I see no reason to change.
I just don’t like CLP because I used it in the Military and I always thought of it as the Lowest Common Denominator, the product of Minimal Standards, Lowest Bidder. It is actually fine, which is why I have some.
But like most other CLP’s out there – it’s really not that great at any of the 3 intended goals.
Most mineral based lubes are just 20 wieght with additives, anyway.
Google up Ed’s Red sometime.
Breakfree CLP has its uses and works well for light cleaning.
I may be the contrarian here, but I’ve gravitated to synthetic motor oil, and particularly the synthetic that is run in very harsh, dirty, high carbon environments of turbocharged diesel engines and turbo direct injection high performance automotive engines.
When you think about the demands placed on such oils and how well the perform in all temperature extremes, it makes sense, at least for me. My choice is Shell Rotella T-6 5w40. The added benefit is that a quart is $6. Compare that to a quart size of your favorite boutique weapon lube.