Valor (2008) cleaning and lube

[dwsmithjr]

Originally Posted by Grizzman

I've been using Hoppes on my '09s since new and haven't experienced any issues either. These early Valors and CCOs used Cerakote as the finish, in case you want to Google further.

While I haven't personally used Slide Glide, I've heard good things about it. Mine have been quite tolerant of different lubrication. I've used FP-10, TW-45B, Wilson Ultima-Lube, and even Mobile 1 with perfect results.

I have a friend, a 1911 gunsmith who builds custom guns. He gets absolutely irate when I bring him a 1911 with grease on the rails. Then he patiently shows me how he recommends lubing the rails, with just a drop of oil which he then allows to run down the grove, a drop in a couple of other places, and that's it.

Still, I started using it because I shoot SIGs and they absolutely need a good grease for the alloy frames. I don't know about other alloy frame guns, but the rails on the SIGs will wear right down to the shiny aluminum if you don't use grease. That's not a good thing. I think it's the coating they use on the slides, the Nitron. The folder steel slides didn't seem to have that problem as much and the one gun I had with the k-kote finish was fine. I think perhaps the Ilafon finish is also good.

Anyway, I just started using Slide-glide after reading a book by Brian Enos and use it on everything. I'm probably a bit liberal with it, but it still works well and the "lite" version is very good. I keep a container of each. The feel of the movement of the slide with the Slide Glide is just a think of beauty, almost a sensuous experience!