Ballistol for your trackball? What can't it do?

Posted by InevitableMeh@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 25 comments

Is your trackball slow, sad and gritty?

Do you like the aroma of Ballistol in your office?

Well, now you can have a slick, smooth trackball and the homey warm scent of Ballistol as you navigate your spreadsheets.

True story, it works pretty awesome on trackballs, try it. Just wash the ball with soap and water, slick it up with a few drops of Ballistol and wipe the excess with a paper towel and away you go.

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hamerfreak@reddit

I love Ballistol & you can use it on anything. They even advertise it as being able to use on wound care. I don't own a trackball, but I use it in a pinch when making eggs and banana bread when I run out of butter.

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shadowa1ien@reddit

even advertise it as being able to use on wound care

Wait... so you're telling me i can just slap some ballistol on my cuts and scrapes? Is it like... antibacterial?

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WealthAggressive8592@reddit

Yeah it's a disinfectant. They just don't advertise it as such for legal reasons (thought they have a separate sanitizer product which is basically the same stuff but FDA etc certified). It's also (allegedly, for legal reasons) food safe, though it's also a laxative so I wouldn't recommend trying it out (also, inhaling it & getting it in your eyes may be harmful).

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Outrageous-Button746@reddit

Why isn't it food safe in your country? Here in Austria it is food safe and we have very strict laws when it comes to food

A friend also took a shot once from a shot glass

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WealthAggressive8592@reddit

Ballistol never made an effort to get it FDA certified, so it's illegal for them to advertise it as food safe or for medical purposes.

In order for the FDA to approve something, they have to have documents from recent clinical trials proving that the product is not only safe for animal & human uses, but also that it is ultimately beneficial to the user. Then the product is required to meet certain quality & manufacturing standards, etc. Its probably way too much hastle for Ballistol to go through for basically no gain.

As I understand, it's basically (if not outright) the same product & just as safe. I also have a friend who drank a decent amount of the stuff out on a range trip

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Outrageous-Button746@reddit

It sanitises, helps healing and prevents scars so yeah. Also keeps mosquitos away by the way

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CaRbZ1313@reddit

Talked to a Ballistol rep at an outdoor show. As per him: During WWI soldiers would put a patch with it over the wound. It’s made from medical grade products and would help stop infection to the point that soldiers who used it stood a much better chance of recovery.

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Bandit400@reddit

Ive also heard it can be used to spray houseplants to kill bugs.

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Cygnus6300@reddit

I use ballistol for everything, even my coffee!

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WealthAggressive8592@reddit

Mixing coffee and ballistol together? I cannot imagine how much your bowels hate you lol

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Mountain_Employee_11@reddit

i haven’t seen a trackball since 2013

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Quw10@reddit

I have to use em frequently, some of the computers at work still have them. Even better they have Windows 97 and Vista on a few of them.

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Mountain_Employee_11@reddit

my condolences, vista and 97 with no XP is like 2 slices of bread with no filling

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ThePenultimateNinja@reddit

Be careful using lubricants on plastics; there can be compatibility issues.

If an incompatible lubricant is used, sometimes the plastic will be visibly damaged immediately, but other times, the damage is more long-term, and can take weeks or months to manifest itself.

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pakratus@reddit

As general advice, absolutely. But, it appears Ballistol recommends using it on plastics and rubber.

"Plastic & Rubber:
BALLISTOL revives oil resistant synthetic surfaces without leaving a greasy residue. It helps maintain elasticity and prevents plastic and rubber from drying out. Perfect for maintaining rubber window and door seals on cars, synthetic gun stocks and even old gramophone records. DO NOT USE ON COMPACT DISCS."

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ThePenultimateNinja@reddit

Well, that's what I meant by being careful. You checked, and found that Ballistol is compatible with plastics.

I wonder why it says not to use it on CDs? Maybe it leaves an oily film that stops the laser reading properly or something

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InevitableMeh@reddit (OP)

The documentation for the track ball recommends oil based lubricants. I checked first for sure.

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InevitableMeh@reddit (OP)

They fit right in with the memories of meals, I look at my shirts as my own expression of Pollock to carry with me.