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Posted: 3/7/2014 6:41:12 AM EDT
Is there any reason that I shouldn't use this grease for the upper receiver threads? It's Mystik hi-temp multi-purpose lithium complex red #2, not #1 like the pic shows. I can find nothing in the product information or MSDS that says anything about graphite so I assumed it would be okay for installing a barrel. I have a ton of it and it would keep me from having to buy more.
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| It does say "multi-purpose." For that purpose grease is grease to me. I used a very light layer of cheap axle grease and have had no issues. I do use Mobil 1 bearing grease throughout my rifle though. I'm running a piston so no need to keep it wet as nothing burns off. Works like a charm. |
| I ordered Aeroshell 33MS from the Umbrella Corporation, as it was recommended. But I've seen people use all different types of grease. Most have reported to have no problems even with a little graphite. I imagine under certain conditions there might be a reaction. I thought I had read on hear somewhere that certain products don't always list graphite and when they called the company indeed it did. If you want to roll the dice, then go for it or double check with the company. Although, I didn't take the chance. |
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Quoted: grease is grease on an upper . it's only there for anti seize No offense intended but there is little more to it than this. It helps achieve the correct torque spec also. mil-g-21164d is the specification for barrel nut grease. It contains less than 5% molydenum disulfide in order to protect the metal and lube the nut to get the torque correct. If you use a grease with greater moly or no moly it could throw the torque measurement off. Everybody gets caught up in no graphite. And that is the best choice. But the truth is if your type 3 anodizing is in tact you more than likely will never have a problem with galvanic reaction. Molydenum disulfide has been proven worse on aluminum to steel interfaces when they glide. But a barrel nut is under compression, and moly has been proven to be superior under this condition. Which is why there are a few approved milspec greases, aeroshell 33ms is a common one sold in small 1 oz quantities. Royco 64 is another one that is harder to come by. There are a couple more lesser known greases that meet milspec. So is your anodizing in tact? Are you anal retentive, and want to do it the milspec way because that is what it says? Could you care less and just want to get your rifle together? The right grease is easily obtainable in 1 oz quantities, aeroshell 33ms. But grease is grease, it's only there for antiseize is sorta kinda in a round about way correct, but not exactly. and always remember it is not suitable for personal lubrication. |
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I went ahead and ordered the Aeroshell 33ms grease. It was cheap enough. I learned many years ago about reactions between dissimilar metals in the fire department where we used older brass hose couplings with new aluminum alloy couplings. Sometimes they totally locked up. Not saying that is the same as a steel barrel nut and aluminum receiver either, but then it could be. Also, how many who "never had a problem" using any grease at hand actually have removed a barrel years later? I'm sure there are some who say it, but have never removed an installed barrel.
The point in this thread that made the most sense to me was about the mil-spec and how it could affect the torquing values. Interesting. I'm sure moly grease would have worked fine for me, but the Aeroshell was cheap from Umbrella corp. |
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Spend $5 and get the Aeroshell 33MS from Umbrella Corp. While the red grease may be fine, you know Aeroshell 33MS is not only "fine," but that it meets all the specs for GI barrel installation.
Some will say "grease is grease," but it isn't. As an example, try using "shredder lubricating oil" on a gun. Oil is oil, right? Not at all - most shredder oil is not mineral based and will plasticize on you in high temperatures. Greases like "high temp moly grease" aren't a single product, they're complex combinations of grease base, additives, protectants, and so on. The MIL-G spec for the grease called for in the TM requires a specific kind of white lithium grease base, and a specific molybdenum disulfide content, with some really harsh performance standards to meet to be accepted. To say that the grease in the TM is "not just axle grease" is an understatement: one of the applications I've seen it used in is assembling brake systems in fighter aircraft. Not your typical F150 axle use there... 
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Quoted:
I'm just going to order some Aeroshell and be done with it. It's not like it's going to be a huge container that will be wasted, so I might as well get the right stuff. Order two, the shipping is the same. Give one to a friend if you won't use it all in future builds. |
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If grease was grease there would not be so many formulations.
On top of that Aeroshell products are specific to the aircraft industry where presumably there are concerns about compatibility with aluminum. The mil-spec grease is and has been proven effective in who knows how many weapons under various environmental conditions for 4+ decades. Given the variety of lubes reported to be in use by members it is obvious the worst case scenarios are only going to occur in limited conditions that most civilian weapons will probably never see. Personally I would stick with mil-spec grease even if it was difficult to get. YMMV |
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For my first build a couple years ago, I picked up some Advance Auto parts #2 Lithium grease.. I have built about a dozen uppers with it.. Still using same tub. I have removed and replaced barrels/parts a bunch of times. Never had an issue with it. Thousands of rounds through a couple of uppers. No issues with torque, install, removal, etc.
I am not going to remove all my barrels and replace with any fancy grease. If it isn't broken.... |
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Quoted:
So this will work... But its not the best right?http://<a href=http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s480/hunter8793/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0610_zpsfac40eb5.jpg</a>" /> I've used similar product with no issues. A container like that would last a lifetime of builds. |
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