hi
I use a shoe lace (actually a skate lace) crazy glued to a straightened out wire (like a coat hanger) snip the end of the lace some glue on the inside of the lace structure then insert your wire let it dry...or push the lace through with the wire either or.
you can buy gun grease for about $11 from a airsoft store or you can use lithium grease. A tip from a fellow ASofter it comes in a yellow tube with black ends called LU Max from cdn tire for about 2.50. use with a qtip try not to use too much and gunk it up.
These alternatives have worked for me.
