cleaning and patch lube ingredients

[LynnC]

Hey, I remember trying that one.

It smelt good...........................Lynn

[Dphariss]

I was out in my shooting box putting in stuff for some shooting tomorrow. Found 2 used  16 bore patches in the top tray I had picked up over a month ago, probably 2.
Pillow ticking.
Still slick, will leave oil on your fingers is rubbed slightly.
Its likely Sperm Whale oil.
Both could be washed and used again.
I suspect they were oiling the bore both ways, in and out.
Dan
P.S.
Could have been whale oil/beeswax grease.

[Randy Hedden]

Ok, then how come plain water won't wash the black residue off my hands at the end of a day of shooting?  I have to use soap to get my hands clean.  Why would the bore of my rifle be any different? 
-Ron

Ron,

I might possibly be because your skin has pores for the fouling to get into and a barrel bore doesn't. 

Randy Hedden

[William Worth]

Next, I'm going to try some different solutions and boil them off in a bottle cap to get some idea of what residues are left behind and how these residues respond to cleaning. Of course, each test batch will necessitate a fresh bottle cap to do the test in.     Now droppers-by will get the impression that I'm free-baseing beer.    

I'm hoping to find that the best solvent for the residues, is the original solution, followed by a water rinse.

[bstarkey]

Has anyone tried pure mineral oil?  I know its used to soak stag knife handles and some folks coat high carbon steel knives with it.  I've been very interested in this thread has I'll be getting my first flintlock in a month or so and looking for a good lube that doesn't create fouling problems.
Bob

[reklaus]

Thanks to all of you that have replied to this post. I am interested in your experience with the different patch lubes and cleaning solutions. Please keep them coming.
R.E. Klaus

[winemaker]

I use straight bear grease for a lube and simple green as my cleaner. I have 6 gallons of rendered bear grease and I'll be using that until its gone. The simple green I get from dollar general and seems to work well with the bear grease. I have found that mink oil is much harder to clean out after a days shooting.

[reklaus]

The reports of MOS leaving a  hard to cleaning residue in the bore has me looking at other options. Talking with some of the local long time muzzleloaders about patch lubes, many are using equal parts MOS and Neatsfoot oil or Peanut oil. A couple are using just Peanut oil.
While washing a pizza pan after dinner last night, I was pondering the use of animal or vegetable oils for patch lube, I noticed the brown "varnish" that had formed on the pan and remembered the same residue on a carbon steel wok I used to have. One of my other hobbies uses fuel made from an alcohol / oil mix, which sometimes contains Castor oil. I have noticed a "varnish" like buildup on  the internal parts and on the outside of the engines when Castor oil is used in the fuel. Do you suppose this is what is happening with the Murphy's Oil Soap as it appears to be either a vegtable or animal based oil?
Thanks again
R.E. Klaus