Ballistol Universal Oil

Ballistol Universal Oil is a multi-purpose oil that cleans, lubricates and protects metal against rust, and also cares for wood, smooth leather, rubber and oil-resistant plastics. F.W. Klever GmbH has made it in Germany since 1904, when it was developed as a gun oil for military use. It is Military Proven, as used by military around the world. One can now covers the toolbox, the shed, the car and the gun cabinet.

The short version: spray or wipe on a thin coat, give it a few minutes to creep into the joint, then wipe off the excess with a dry cloth. It leaves a light film that keeps damp off metal and does not go sticky, so it suits the jobs you do once and then leave alone: locks, hinges, tools put away for winter and a gun in the cabinet.

What can you use a multi-purpose oil on?

A multi-purpose oil earns its place by doing four jobs at once: freeing stuck parts, lubricating without gumming up, leaving a film that keeps rust off, and being safe on the materials around the metal. Ballistol Universal Oil does all four, which is why the same can works in so many places.

• Tools and the workshop: light surface rust on chisels, saws and spanners, protecting tools in a damp garage, and freeing seized nuts and bolts.
• Around the house: squeaky hinges, stiff locks and padlocks, sticking drawer runners and sliding doors, and sticker residue.
• In the garden: secateurs, shears, mower blades and gate hinges. See garden tool care.
• Cars, motorbikes and caravans: rubber door seals in frost, battery terminals, locks, tow balls and fasteners exposed to road salt. See car and motorbike care.
• Wood and leather: dry tool handles, antique furniture, gun stocks, boots, belts and slings. See wood care and leather care.
• Brass, silver and chrome: it cleans light tarnish and brings back the shine. See metal care.

More of its 1001 uses, grouped by room and hobby, are in what Ballistol is used for.

Which size of Ballistol should you buy?

The oil is the same in every size, so choose by where you will use it and how much. Bottles work out cheaper per millilitre than sprays.

How does Ballistol compare with other multi-purpose sprays?

For everyday jobs such as freeing a stuck part, displacing water or quietening a hinge, Ballistol and most other multi-purpose sprays work equally well. Ballistol is the better fit where the oil has to stay put for months, or where it touches wood, leather or a gun, because it is mildly alkaline and does not resinify.

The full comparison is in our multi-purpose oil comparison. For drip oils, see Ballistol vs 3-in-One.

How to use Ballistol Universal Oil

1. Wipe off loose dirt and grit first, so the oil reaches the metal.
2. Spray or drip on a thin coat. On a hinge or lock, two or three short bursts are plenty.
3. Work the part a few times and leave it 2 to 5 minutes to creep in. For rusted threads, leave it at least 15 minutes, or overnight.
4. Wipe off the excess with a dry cloth, leaving a thin film behind.
5. On wood and leather, rub it in with a cloth, leave it to soak in, then buff. Test on a hidden spot first, as light leather can darken.

How to tell it worked: the hinge stops squeaking and the lock turns without forcing, water beads off the treated metal instead of sitting in a film, and dry leather feels supple again. Re-apply after a soaking, or every few months on tools and kit kept in a damp shed or garage.

Safety and data sheets

The aerosol is flammable: keep it away from heat, sparks and naked flames, never spray onto a hot exhaust, and use it in a ventilated space. Keep it out of reach of children. Read the safety data sheet and the product information sheet, or browse every sheet in our technical data library.

Questions people ask

What makes a good multi-purpose oil for home and workshop use? A good multi-purpose oil frees stuck parts, lubricates without gumming up, leaves a film that keeps rust off and is safe on the materials around the metal. Ballistol Universal Oil was designed to do all four, and it also cares for wood and leather.

Is Ballistol better than other multi-purpose sprays? It depends on the job. Ballistol suits long-term protection, guns, wood and leather because it is mildly alkaline and does not resinify, while for a quick squirt on a squeaky hinge most of them work.

Can Ballistol be used as a penetrating oil? Yes, Ballistol Universal Oil works well for loosening rusted nuts and bolts, because its low surface tension lets it creep into fine gaps in the thread. Leave it at least 15 minutes, or overnight on badly rusted parts.

Is Ballistol Universal Oil food safe? No, Ballistol Universal Oil is not a food grade oil. For chopping boards, kitchen knives and food machinery use Ballistol H1 Food Oil, which is NSF H1 registered.

Does Ballistol damage rubber or plastic? Ballistol Universal Oil is suitable for rubber and oil-resistant plastics and is often used on car door seals in winter. With an unknown plastic, test it on a hidden spot first.

Guides: How to Clean Antique Furniture · Axe Rust: Remove It and Stop It Coming Back · How to Soften Leather · uPVC Window Maintenance · How to Unfreeze a Frozen Lock · 1001 uses for Ballistol Universal Oil