Other Mil-Comm TW25B for spring piston lube?

[G23]

Hello. I am getting ready to clean and lube my first springer. After checking out many discussions and YouTube videos, I’ve decided to go with either Moly lube or Krytox 205.

The best choice for Moly seems to be the Dow Corning M77. It is specified to contain between 60% to 70% Moly. I believe the Honda or AC Delco M77 grease is the same stuff. I cannot find any moly content specs for any of the airgun specific moly pastes.

I’m leaning towards Krytox, however. Which is why I am wondering if anyone has tried Mil Comm T25B. I already have some TW25B and it seems to be a similar type grease. It is specified non flammable and has a temperature range better than Krytox. Has anyone used or heard of using TW25B on a springer in place of moly or krytox. Or any reason why it should not be used?

Thank you.

 

[Mycapt65]

There's not alot of load on the cylinder walls. Lubrication type is not nearly as important as amount and how it's applied. I flip flop between traditional petroleum greases and krytox. Krytox will produce ~10 fps less than a perfect sealing petroleum lubed gun. Even if un detectable there's always some dieseling that adds that 10fps over the krytox.

Remember two things.
1 absolutely no grease ahead of the seal or the seal lip.
2 use a 1/4 of what you think you need..

And for the love of God don't slobber grease all over the spring to deaden twang.

 

[marflow 777]

most thread talk about this as a protective grease and in this thread one poster says it will dry out which could be a bad thing for piston seal lube
the Krytox 205 or ULTIMOX 226 have a solid history of be a fine choice, i have been using 226 for many years and i little will do the trick
on the spring there was a one eyed FWB300 fan that would use Red and Tacky with great success and he has moved on the shooting .22 on You Tube i miss Joe on the forums

i would have to see if that grease acted on seals also
good question

https://www.sigtalk.com/threads/lucas-extreme-duty-grease-vs-tw25b.293513/

 

[Mycapt65]

Red n tacky is similar to almagard 3752. Which is what people say Tune in a tube is. I've used it along with the similar petroleum based greases that come in the Vortek kits.. I use the moly impregnated Vortek piston seals. A couple of my personal guns have tens of thousands of rounds through them with zero lubrication issues. Eventually Seals wear out and springs go soft but it's not because of lubrication. Piston guns aren't high load, high rpm items. You just need a little bit of good lube that bonds to surfaces.
Krytox is a safe bet but just about any high quality grease will do when built right. Its more how you do it then what you use. Personally I don't use moly paste except chisel detents and break barrel pivots. Moly does bond to parts but it dries out to quickly and tends to diesel more than other greases. The dieseling will add power and that power is from dieseling not because of improved lubrication

 

[jccams]

Red n tacky is similar to almagard 3752. Which is what people say Tune in a tube is. I've used it along with the similar petroleum based greases that come in the Vortek kits.. I use the moly impregnated Vortek piston seals. A couple of my personal guns have tens of thousands of rounds through them with zero lubrication issues. Eventually Seals wear out and springs go soft but it's not because of lubrication. Piston guns aren't high load, high rpm items. You just need a little bit of good lube that bonds to surfaces.
Krytox is a safe bet but just about any high quality grease will do when built right. Its more how you do it then what you use. Personally I don't use moly paste except chisel detents and break barrel pivots. Moly does bond to parts but it dries out to quickly and tends to diesel more than other greases. The dieseling will add power and that power is from dieseling not because of improved lubrication

Ron, I'm curious, you state moly dries out too quickly. If a piston is lubricated properly, how long would you estimate the moly to preform the way it should? Does it matter if it just sits, or will it last longer if used periodically? I have many, as you know, that sit long spells between uses.

 

[Mycapt65]

Ron, I'm curious, you state moly dries out too quickly. If a piston is lubricated properly, how long would you estimate the moly to preform the way it should? Does it matter if it just sits, or will it last longer if used periodically? I have many, as you know, that sit long spells between uses.

Lots of good questions. Occasional use may help the moly. Moly is suspended in a petroleum based paste. The moly kinda stays but the paste thicken as it dries out. Exactly how long it takes I can't say. I guess it depends on how much was used and the environment around the gun. I really wouldn't worry about guns you did in moly. It'll last long enough. You'll get to check its condition when you eventually need to replace piston seal and or spring. Then you can evaluate it yourself.

Moly isn't necessarily a bad choice. It's just not personally my first choice. Or second for that matter.

 

[Silver Ace]

Ron, I'm curious, you state moly dries out too quickly. If a piston is lubricated properly, how long would you estimate the moly to preform the way it should? Does it matter if it just sits, or will it last longer if used periodically? I have many, as you know, that sit long spells between uses.

I wouldn’t worry too much about “the moly drying out”. Moly is the gold standard for high pressure metal to metal lubrication. Moly should ideally be “burnished” into the compression tube. Where it is dry, and stays that way indefinitely. Moly, if applied correctly, will not diesel. If someone is less than careful and gets some grease ahead of the piston seal, it may smoke for a few shots.


here is a quick tutorial on moly grease:


Moly grease, or molybdenum disulfide grease, works by leveraging the unique properties of molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), a solid lubricant, combined with a grease base. Here's how it functions:

1. **Low Friction**: MoS₂ has a layered, hexagonal crystal structure, allowing its layers to slide easily over each other, reducing friction between surfaces. This is especially effective in high-pressure or high-load conditions where conventional liquid lubricants might be squeezed out.

2. **Extreme Pressure Resistance**: Under heavy loads, moly grease forms a protective film on metal surfaces. The MoS₂ particles adhere to the surface, preventing direct metal-to-metal contact, which reduces wear, galling, and seizing.

3. **High Temperature Stability**: MoS₂ is stable at high temperatures (up to ~350°C/660°F in air, higher in inert environments), making moly grease suitable for applications where other greases might break down. The base grease carries the MoS₂ and provides lubrication at lower temperatures, while MoS₂ takes over under extreme conditions.

4. **Anti-Wear and Corrosion Protection**: The grease base often includes additives that protect against corrosion and oxidation, while MoS₂ minimizes wear by maintaining a lubricating layer even under shock loads or boundary lubrication conditions (when surfaces are in close contact).

5. **Versatility**: Moly grease adheres well to surfaces and resists water washout, making it ideal for harsh environments like automotive, industrial, or heavy machinery applications.

In summary, moly grease works by combining the low-friction, high-pressure, and high-temperature properties of MoS₂ with the sealing and protective qualities of grease, creating a robust lubricant for demanding conditions.