More than ever, Airsoft is in need of scientists willing to put hobby knowledge to the test to help resolve age-old disputes. Much of the hobby’s “common knowledge” is perpetuated through forums and word of mouth, which can often be full of half-truths and outdated information. As a result, researching information in airsoft can be rather difficult if you’re trying to find a reliable answer. Ever wondered what the most efficient gas rifle on the market is? Curious about what hopup bucking actually provides the best range and accuracy improvement? A new emerging company known as 4UAD has put the science to the test to find out, studying controlled airsoft data with advanced measurement technology to truly pin down fact from myth. With the results from their findings, they’ve released a line of lubricants, greases, and threadlock perfected for airsoft use and application. Let’s take a look at a few of their newest products!
Leaky mags and degrading air seal components are a scourge to any airsoft gun’s efficiency. While silicone grease is already a popular option for reviving O-rings, many compounds on the market aren’t exactly optimized for airsoft use. They might have unique additives that may help retain longevity on a faucet’s o-rings, but perhaps not so much on a fast-reciprocating piston. Searching for the perfect sealant, the minds at 4UAD cooked up a high-viscosity compound that does quite the job at keeping rubber components rich and supple. I highly recommend applying their sealing compound anywhere air leaks could be of concern.
As someone that’s tried quite a few different gear lubricants in airsoft, I’ve always had gripes with certain characteristics of certain formulas. PTFE is typically the go to, but I often worry about how easily overapplication can cause it’s sticky nature to slow down gear movement. White lithium is another popular option for its slicker performance, though it often doesn’t adhere well over long periods of time. After testing out the 4UAD gear grease, I’ve found that it seems to be a nice middle ground between both. Unlike PTFE, this actually feels like a grease that will butter up the movement between metal, while somehow remaining stubborn enough to not want to leave my fingers after multiple rinses under the faucet. Supposedly the heat-resistant additives help keep grease adherence inside the gearbox, though I’m not sure how much of an issue this usually is. I don’t typically go into my gearbox with a thermometer while it’s cycling to see how it affects the compounds. My only gripe with this grease is its grey coloring, which makes it hard to tell if the mixture becomes saturated with metal shavings. So long as everything is installed properly, that shouldn’t be too much of an issue. I’ll continue using this grease in my future AEGs and highly recommend it other techs as well!
This is a threadlocker. Nothing more, and nothing less. However, 4UAD’s pen-like design sets it apart from traditional liquid threadlockers that can be messy and difficult to apply accurately. This feature ensures that even the smallest screws are securely locked in place without excess waste or spillage, which can be a challenge with other brands that might require more clean-up and can lead to over-application. Pretty handy!
Out of each of 4UAD’s products, this is probably my favorite. I’ve often dealt with bearings not doing their job as bearings due to factory overgreasing, adding unnecessary friction to my gearbox. This stuff works wonders for smoothing that out, making metal-to-metal contact slick as can be. It is an oil, not a grease. As such, it might not have the same sticking power as its thicker alternatives. I highly recommend dosing this substance in areas where you can easily reapply after a few thousand shots. Its high permeability will allow it to sink deep into metal components, slipping into each crevice it can find its way into. Be careful when using this mixture with optical electronics! It’s quite easy for it to find its way onto your sensors if you’re not careful. This is a must have if you’re looking to maximize efficiency with any analog gearbox design, as you can apply this wonderjuice liberally. Give this stuff a try my fellow airsoft techs!
Not sure which lubricant to get? Take a look at 4UAD’s more general grease, designed for a variety of airsoft applications. This all-in-one lubricant's unique blend of ingredients is safe for use on just about every material you’ll find on an airsoft gearbox without causing corrosion or damage. The inclusion of an application brush in the pen itself enhances ease of use and precision in lubrication, making it perfect for on-field maintenance and performance improvement. Though safe, I probably wouldn’t use it on o-rings. Any other contact part, absolutely! This is a must have for any maintenance heavy airsoft guns. I’m looking at you GBB users!
In a departure from their typical market of maintenance fluids, 4UAD designed their own take on the “perfect” airsoft bucking, founded through their rigorous in-house sciences and testing procedures. The result? A bucking that can seamlessly hop even 0.4s into the stratosphere with minimal hop applied. If you’re looking to maximize your range with heavy BBs, this is the for-sure bucking to go with. Its consistency at range is phenomenal, as its high friction material applies impressive amounts of backspin with very little downward force applied. It works wonders in my personal VSR-10. If I continue to see remarkable performance with this bucking with a myriad of other airsoft guns on the market, we may just have the part that finally dethrones Maple Leaf as the king of accuracy upgrades.
Science rules! Each product from 4UAD is crafted with a dual understanding of airsoft and physics, contributing to the consistent efficacy of their products. Seeing how effective everything they’ve produced is at its intended purpose, I’d consider it wise to keep an eye on them for future releases. Pick up some of 4UAD’s handy greases and upgrade components at Evike.com!