SIG's Choice of Grease

[Dave Berryhill]

....Lots and lots and lots of white lithium grease everywhere...

Most likely it's Mil-Comm TW25B, Sig's grease of choice. I don't think it contains any lithium.
http://www.mil-comm.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=46&Itemid=
http://mil-comm.com/images/stories/pdfs/2014-TW25B-MSDS.pdf

It does, however, use "PTFE nano-particle technology" and "penetrates the pores of metal surfaces." :eek:

[WilsonCombatRep]

Needs more grease.

[Dave Berryhill]

I'm surprised SIG doesn't just put a Zerk fitting in the grips and fill it full of grease....

You can't have too much of a good thing!

[KevinB]

It should be TW-25B, Sig recommends it (or did when I went thru their Armorer course) and ships it with guns.

[LittleLebowski]

Most likely it's Mil-Comm TW25B, Sig's grease of choice. I don't think it contains any lithium.
http://www.mil-comm.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=46&Itemid=
http://mil-comm.com/images/stories/pdfs/2014-TW25B-MSDS.pdf

It does, however, use "PTFE nano-particle technology" and "penetrates the pores of metal surfaces." :eek:

You had me at "nano" :D

[foxsimple]

There is a youtube video of german sig guns being made. Towards the end they show assembly and you can see the worker using a big tub of tw-25.

[Trukinjp13]

Whatever it is there is white s_ _t all over it. :p

[gtmtnbiker98]

There is a youtube video of german sig guns being made. Towards the end they show assembly and you can see the worker using a big tub of tw-25.
Link?

[foxsimple]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gAhcU_NfYQA

[JV_]

TW-25B is shown at 3:58.

[gtmtnbiker98]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gAhcU_NfYQAThanks.

[TheTrevor]

TW-25B is shown at 3:58.

I'm such a gun nerd that I recognized Andrew as soon as the video started. And I've never met him in person.

[Clay]

TW-25B has a distinct smell and feel. Very different than white lithium based products. No telling what Sig uses in-house during assembly. Probably whatever is available at the time.

[JAD]

TW-25B has a distinct smell and feel. Very different than white lithium based products. No telling what Sig uses in-house during assembly. Probably whatever is available at the time.
Right, that's the hallmark of any manufacturing process: whatever's lying around. I'm dead sure they don't have a material number, storage and handling process, or logistical trail for whatever caulk, non-dairy creamer, or other ambiguous white paste they slap in the gun right before they toss them in laundry baskets for shipping.
:)

[Clay]

Well, I wouldn't go that far. I simply meant that most manufacturers will use bulk machine oil and lithium grease in manufacture, not products that you or me might buy off the shelf. TW-25B is available in bulk however and I'm sure Sig would get a nice price.

Sent from my SCH-S738C using Tapatalk

[gtmtnbiker98]

Well, I wouldn't go that far. I simply meant that most manufacturers will use bulk machine oil and lithium grease in manufacture, not products that you or me might buy off the shelf. TW-25B is available in bulk however and I'm sure Sig would get a nice price.

Sent from my SCH-S738C using Tapatalk
Do you think they actually pay for the TW25B if that, is in fact, what they use? What better marketing than to provide a free sample of the lubricant? How many buy the stuff blindly, with their only statement being, manufacturer recommended?

[John Ralston]

Do you think they actually pay for the TW25B if that, is in fact, what they use? What better marketing than to provide a free sample of the lubricant? How many buy the stuff blindly, with their only statement being, manufacturer recommended?

I use it because it actually works. That stuff is SLIPPERY! Makes a crappy trigger feel halfway decent and a decent trigger feel great.

[JV_]

You should try Lubriplate 105 (http://www.brownells.com/gun-cleaning-chemicals/oils-lubricants/lubricant-protectant-oils/lubriplate-prod6524.aspx). It feels just as slippery and has far better prices.

10oz is $10.

[Alpha Sierra]

Wheel bearing grease would probably work just as well.

[gtmtnbiker98]

I use TW25B in cold weather and during warmer months, I like Slide Glide medium, but it is a lint - crud magnet.

[Chuck Haggard]

I always learn stuff for the engineer guys, but this thread gives way added LoLs

Back to reading and not posting.

[Rich]

Question I've been told that TW25B doesn't play well with other oils and that you have to use there Oil/lube in order for it to work properly together?

I have been just using oil for all my handguns, carbines , M37 12GA.

So far I haven't had any issues . But then again I stop at 500rds ! pistol or carbine

[Casual Friday]

I always use up the free included little tube of it from Sig, but I've never really noticed it not working well with other lubes.

[TGS]

Although not SIG....

Bruce Gray's shop uses that nasty black caliper grease. Seems to work well. Any thoughts about that stuff?


You should try Lubriplate 105 (http://www.brownells.com/gun-cleaning-chemicals/oils-lubricants/lubricant-protectant-oils/lubriplate-prod6524.aspx). It feels just as slippery and has far better prices.

10oz is $10.

How about Lubriplate 130A (http://www.brownells.com/gun-cleaning-chemicals/oils-lubricants/lubricant-protectant-oils/lubriplate-130-a-mil-spec-grease-prod6525.aspx)? Any difference?

[TumblinDown]

Although not SIG....

Bruce Gray's shop uses that nasty black caliper grease. Seems to work well. Any thoughts about that stuff?



How about Lubriplate 130A (http://www.brownells.com/gun-cleaning-chemicals/oils-lubricants/lubricant-protectant-oils/lubriplate-130-a-mil-spec-grease-prod6525.aspx)? Any difference?

I can't speak to 105 vs. 130A, but I do like Lubriplate SFL-0 (http://www.midwayusa.com/product/379954/lubriplate-sfl-0-gun-grease-14-oz-can). Bought a woodworking syringe to apply it. Good stuff!

[Savage Hands]

Although not SIG....

Bruce Gray's shop uses that nasty black caliper grease. Seems to work well. Any thoughts about that stuff?



How about Lubriplate 130A (http://www.brownells.com/gun-cleaning-chemicals/oils-lubricants/lubricant-protectant-oils/lubriplate-130-a-mil-spec-grease-prod6525.aspx)? Any difference?


Pics are not showing up, so just click the links :)


Part 1
Here's a lubrication recommendation from Scott Folk for Sig's from when he was with Grayguns and now Apex Tactical...
http://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/430601935/m/908103701
http://www.apextactical.com/blog/index.php/random-apex/lubrication-of-sig-sauer-pistol-rails/

Lubrication of Sig Sauer pistol rails


This article is about what I personally recommend for lubricating Sig Sauer pistols. I have different methods for lubricating other guns, but this article is focused on the Sig Sauer pistols.

My philosophy
If metal rubs metal; you need grease between the parts.

We lubricate guns simply to allow the parts that rub on one another to move smoothly. Modern combat handguns are not intended to be run without lubrication. A previous customer of mine made this mistake recently and is now spending a lot of additional money to get his gun in working order after degreasing his gun, dry firing 1,000 times then shooting it after it came back from getting action work.

Application Tools
I had an empty “Shooter’s Choice” syringe sitting around so I filled it with my favorite grease. Any method of application will work just fine. I use about a half-ounce of grease a day while working on guns and was in need of a way to keep grease readily available without having to unscrew the top of a jar or bottle and I found the syringe to work perfectly for my applications. What I like best about the syringe is that I can put the grease directly where I want it, such as inside certain springs and the corners of frame rails.

Product options
Any gun-grade grease will do the trick. I personally prefer to use Lubriplate, Shooter’s Choice grease including a cool syringe for later use or Slide Glide. The grease in the following pictures is a lithium/moly-based grease that I’m experimenting with, details available soon.

Lubrication Application
I’ve applied most of the grease to the underside of the frame rail completely filling the top inside corner. This is critical along the length of the rails because most of the force of recoil lifts the slide and applies force rearward and upward against the underside of the frame rails.


Notice how there is a greater amount of grease near the muzzle end of the gun than at the rear. This is intentional. There is only so much space in the tolerance of the pistol for lubrication to reside. Since the slide goes on back to front it’ll push the remaining grease to the back of the frame and bunch it up on the back of the slide when the slide it closed.


You can see that I didn’t use as much grease on the side of the rails as I did on the underside, this is purely because it’s not generally as necessary. The top also gets a layer of grease to protect against galling and excess friction.


Different Mission, Different Approach
For my every day carry (EDC) I grease the rails, put the slide on, run the action a couple of times, remove the slide then wipe the rails off to remove the large amount of bulk. I leave the grease on the under side of the rails alone when I wipe them off, the slide normally holds enough grease to keep things running.
For an EDC, remember your gun goes everywhere you do and is exposed to everything you are, hot, cold, humidity, dust, taco shells from that ill advised taco you ate while trying to talk on your cell phone while driving last week….everything. So if you have grease squirting out of every crevasse on the gun, you’ll be attracting the general detritus of everyday life into your gun. Generally, that crap doesn’t make it in far enough to do any kind of damage unless you’re irresponsible enough to never clean your carry gun.

For open carry EDC for law enforcement, you gotta start thinking a bit more. I’ve had a couple of cops bring me their duty pistols for work and I’ve been astonished at what I’ve found. When I cocked the hammer of one of them, I found three pieces off bitten of finger nail and a corner of plastic from a plastic ketchup packet….”Come on man, clean your gun once in a while” actually escaped my mouth. I asked how long it had been since he last cleaned it and he told me it had been a couple years, “I hardly ever use it, I figured it was still pretty clean”. His gun was absolutely bone dry and I found dust on the frame rails as opposed to lube.

Cleaning Practices

Competition
Clean it after every 200 to 400 rounds. Most of the time a big match, or a day of shooting will be enough of a work out that your gun will need cleaning.

EDC with frequent use including open carry
Clean it after every time you use it. If you’re going to depend on that gun to save your life, you want it to work the first time you pull the trigger, so keep it clean and lubed.

EDC with little to no use
Clean your gun at least once a month, it’s more of the same of your gun being needed to save your life. Even without use, your gun needs to be cleaned and re-lubricated, so give it a quick bath and make sure it’s ready when you need it. There are 720 hours in a 30 day month, I think you can afford to spend 1/720 of a month cleaning your gun every month, it’s cheap insurance.

Lubricants Mentioned
Lubriplate: Available from http://www.Brownells.com
Shooter’s Choice: Available from Shooter’s Choice
Slide Glide: Available from http://brianenos.com/


Part 2

http://www.apextactical.com/blog/index.php/random-apex/sig-sauer-internal-lubrication/

Sig Sauer Internal Lubrication


General Info
When I assemble a Sig, I install what I call “the 3 primaries”, first. They are as follows:
Decocking Assembly
Hammer Rebound Assembly
Magazine Release

The first 2 are mandatory to install first, they can be installed later, but with a fair amount of difficulty for people like me with large hands. The Magazine Release can be installed at any time.

Parts that don’t need lube
Firing Pin Block, Firing Pin and associated springs. These parts will bind up with dirt and debris extremely fast if you grease them, so I leave them dry.

Lets get started
The order of the following pics are the order I assemble the gun, I’ve found this works best for me and is not necessarily the only way to assemble a Sig.



First things first, install the decocker assembly and Hammer Block



The double action face of the hammer gets filled with grease, the Sear is going to rub against the hammer when the trigger us pulled and requires a lot of lubrication.



The double action notch on the right underside of the hammer needs to be greased also.


The Sear goes in next with grease on the DA face and on both sides.


The safety lever gets grease on both sides and special attention on the Sear engagement trigger bar engagement surfaces.


The Strut gets grease on the entire top section


When greasing the Main Spring, I insert the tip of my grease syringe into each end of the spring and leave a line of grease. I insert the end of the strut all the way into the spring to push the grease to one end, remove the strut, flip the mainspring around and reinsert the strut. At this point, the strut and spring go in the frame.



I always put a line of grease on the side of the frame the trigger bar rides on, this is a major drag point and should remain lubricated.


The Trigger Bar gets grease on most of the back end and some on the sides.



The Trigger doesn’t need much grease, only the part where the Trigger Bar Axle contacts the Trigger should be lubricated with a small dab of grease.


The Locking Block Insert gets grease on the underside lockup surface and the top nearest the back in the center as well as a bit on the recess for the Slide Lock Lever Spring.


The Grease for the spring helps prevent the spring from digging into the Locking Block Insert as well as hold the spring in place while you install the Locking Block Insert.


Once all the parts are installed, grease the rails and install the slide.

[JV_]

How about Lubriplate 130A (http://www.brownells.com/gun-cleaning-chemicals/oils-lubricants/lubricant-protectant-oils/lubriplate-130-a-mil-spec-grease-prod6525.aspx)? Any difference?

105 is thinner, it's just like tw25b.

[JonInWA]

I've used TW25B for years, initially at the recommendation of SIG and Glock factory armorers/gunsmiths that I personally know and trust, and then further at the recommendations in print from Hilton Yam and Larry Vickers. The stuff works, and doesn't migrate, although over extended periods of time it will at least somewhat dry out and need to be re-applied (on the very conservative side, I'd recommend once a quarter). I've found that my AR bolt assembly/bolt carrier does need a bit more of it than I use for handguns.

Although probably unnecessary, I have found that it'll work well with lighter lubes-specifically MC2500 oil and Weapon Shield.

Best, Jon

[Chefdog]

TGS (or any of you guys) if you want to try some Lubriplate 105 shoot me a PM. I bought one of the 10oz tubes and there's no way ill make a dent in it any time in this decade. It's a pretty good viscosity for general lubin' around the house. I pulled the bezel off my Seiko and put a dab on the gasket, and it spins like a top, even after washing my hands with degreasing kitchen soap literally dozens of times every day. Good stuff.
Anyway, I can squirt some in a ziploc and drop it in the mail, let me know.
Cheers.

[campbed]

I've been using Lubriplate SFL-0 as a replacement for TW25b for over a year, much cheaper, and food machinery grade approved. I just today received a 14oz can of SFL-1 (NLGI grade 1) that is the same NLGI grade as TW25b. I think NLGI grade 0 (the SFL-0) is maybe too thin. We'll see.

Lubriplate sells SFL-1 by the can now on their on-line store.

[JodyH]

$8.99 for a lifetime supply of Lubriplate 105 at NAPA Auto Parts is hard to beat.

[Clay]

$8.99 for a lifetime supply of Lubriplate 105 at NAPA Auto Parts is hard to beat.

If it has a long shelf life. Some grease gets pretty nasty after a few years.

You can normally find a 14 oz cartridge tube of Super Lube grease for $12 around here, and it is a great choice. Clear -no staining, extremely wide temp range, very long shelf life, and the ASTM test results are very good. I think it's pretty awesome, and they make an aerosol spray that works well, too.