What is silicone oil and how to use it?
Maintaining airsoft guns is crucial. It significantly extends their lifespan and ensures they are more effective, not letting us down during gameplay. However, it is essential to remember to always use dedicated products for this purpose.
One of the fundamental agents for maintaining and cleaning airsoft guns is silicone oil. Before starting, it's essential to know how to use it correctly to enjoy the functionality of your model for a long time. Improper servicing can lead to damages and expensive repairs.
Application of silicone oil
Using silicone oil for cleaning and maintaining airsoft guns is similar to using medicine. The comparison may be surprising at first, but in their case, it's necessary to familiarize yourself with the composition beforehand and consult with a specialist - a technician. Using the wrong products can have disastrous consequences. Airsoft guns are not cheap, and repairing them incurs additional costs. If unsure how to maintain your airsoft gun and what products to use, it's advisable to seek the services of professional technicians. Using incorrect products may even lead to damage to the applied elements – some agents react with rubber, causing material destruction. Therefore, silicone oil, a fundamental maintenance agent, should also be applied with appropriate knowledge regarding its composition and application.
Pic. 1 Silicone oil for airsoft guns from the Smart Oil brand
Silicone oil is a liquid polymerized siloxane with organic side chains. Its main component is polydimethylsiloxane, offering excellent thermal and lubricating properties. It is used as a lubricant or additive to hydraulic oils. It does not conduct electricity and is non-flammable. It effectively preserves surfaces, adds flexibility, and prevents aging. Importantly, it is safe for seals and rubber parts used in airsoft guns. It is also suitable as a post-cleaning agent. Its specifications make it an excellent product for lubricating components operating at various temperatures.
Silicone oil in airsoft
Knowing the properties and applications of silicone oil makes it easy to perform the necessary maintenance procedures. It is commonly used to maintain elements in gas pistols and rifles equipped with Blow-Back (a system simulating the slide recoil, enhancing realistic sensations during firing), significantly affecting the faster wear of components. In popular gas-powered airsoft guns with higher power, using additional accessories with increased resistance is recommended, hence maintenance should be carried out with due attention. To extend the lifespan of the airsoft gun, it is advisable to lubricate silicone oil on parts of the slide and frame that rub against each other. It's also essential to note that Blow-Back systems require a significant amount of gas to operate, which can cause equipment issues and a loss of performance, such as the manufacturer-declared number of rounds fired in one load. The application of silicone oil helps restore proper parameters. Silicone oil is also an additive to gases powering the airsoft gun, e.g., green gas. Manufacturers' use of this solution improves lubrication during use, resulting in extended lifespan and better performance.
Silicone oil is also used as an additive to gases powering the airsoft gun, such as green gas. The application of this solution by manufacturers enhances lubrication during use, resulting in extended lifespan and improved performance.
Opinions regarding airsoft gun maintenance are as varied as the number of users. Some oppose excessive lubrication with oils and other dedicated products. However, it is advisable to adopt the principle that, in the case of dirt after shooting, cleaning and maintenance are the responsibility of every airsoft gun owner. Systematic maintenance will not harm in any way. However, caution should be exercised not to overapply the product, as it may interfere with the proper operation of the airsoft gun.
Is silicone oil suitable for everything?
Despite the highly desirable properties of silicone oil, unfortunately, it is not suitable for everything. Apart from oil, greases are also used, especially inside the gearbox of electric airsoft guns. However, such work requires specialized technical knowledge. It can be assumed that silicone oil is sufficient for basic maintenance.
Additionally, it's essential to remember that in airsoft guns, oily products should be used as sparingly as possible. Thick products may cause more harm than benefit. When starting your adventure with airsoft and airsoft gun maintenance, it is always good to seek the opinions of more experienced users. However, if unsure whether a particular product can be safely used, the best solution is to seek the help of technicians who will not only inspect the airsoft gun but also provide valuable advice on the use of products, including silicone oil.
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Author: Resp
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