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I'll say it again
A lot of you guys' bearing problems would go away if you used penetrating lube
It's cheap and easy
Spray can with a straw will get lube past the shields. Downside is it could also push in dirt
Penetrating lube will also displace water and help break up rust. That's great for puddles or humid environments
If you're worried about max speed vs dry bearings then look for a thin synthetic lube. There might be a couple options there but I'm not 100%
Gun CLP is another option. Basically the same stuff just for higher end usage, guns vs rusty bolts..
any amazon links to specific products? Got a few bearings I’d like to try to free up and get rolling again. I’d take off shield and use as you mentioned.
I was more looking at cheap/easy options so was only looking at mail ordering good stuff, $15-20 range..
I remember seeing Renewalube on Amazon. They have a couple good options, both thin and regular/standard thickness.
Scroll way down..
This is actually tough for me to whittle down into a short post. I could write an essay and was working on an outline to organize everything.
Cheap.. I'm thinking under $10. There's some $2 options, most stuff is in the $4-6 range.
And I'm talking spray cans, regular size is 11oz, small is 4oz.
Easy.. I'm feeling lazy. I want a cleaner/lube combo. On cheap bearings I wanna just spray thru the shields.
Deep clean is shields of, soak in lube, toothbrush, spin em, possibly repeat. Not disassembling bearings again unless they're Swiss. Rinse with WD40 and then a quick shot of lube.
You can use the same lube for everything above..
And I don't wanna mail order.. I'm think 30-40min round trip to get something local.
So Walmart.. Hardware stores, Ace, Home Depot, Lowes. Auto parts stores, Napa, Carquest, Autozone, Pepboys, etc..
Canadian Tire has some STRONG stuff with solvents that's probably banned in the US now..
*warning*
- I'm not super good at chemistry but I get the basics. None of this stuff will eat plastic.. I don't think they contain any harsh solvents. They use an oil and/or other petroleum product to clean out the gum/varnish left by other oils.. Some might have synthetic oil in the mix, or a hydrocracked "synthetic" oil.
For synthetics I think ester based would be best cuz it's polar and clings to steel. Also reduces friction. Sometimes listed on SDS as diester.. I think veggie oil is ester but I'm not sure.
- I say spray a lot when I really mean spray can or aerosol. Just saying it cuz if you google for spray you might find hand pump spray bottles. Those might work too if they don't have a mister spray pattern. I never tried them..
- I was wrong on sewing machine oil, it's just USP white mineral oil. Didn't realize sewing machines drank oil like they do..
Fuck me. This is turning into an essay..
https://blastercorp.com/blaster-corp-products/I like the og PB B'laster but it's got strong fumes and I wouldn't use in indoors.
The Multi-Max might be a better lube but not clean as well. I haven't tried it yet.
Walmart has both. Seems like all auto parts and big hardware stores carry this brand now.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Super-Tech-Lubricant-8-oz/21618346Super Tech lube from Walmart. $2 for the small can..
I think the new can is grey. Looked good on an old forum SDS, I gotta look up a newer one.
In the auto and hardware sections.
Gun stuff..
This might be a good choice for indoor use.
Anyone remember the old Consolidated bearing cleaner/lube in a spray can?
I think it was gun CLP. Cleaner, lubricant, protectant. Smelled nice.
Walmart has the stuff below. Some stuff was out of stock at places and oddly prices varied by location.
Break Free CLP gets good reviews and I'm definitely gonna try it
https://www.safariland.com/products/holsters-and-gear/cleaning-components/cleaners-and-solvents/gun-lubricants-and-protectants/clp-cleaner-lubricant-and-preservative-15337.htmlhttps://www.brownells.com/gun-cleaning-chemicals/oils-lubricants/lubricant-protectant-oils/break-free-clp-prod1683.aspx Walmart stuff was black like this
https://www.remington.com/shop/Oils%20&%20Lubricants/c/Oils%26LubricantsRemington oil and spray. Oil is just oil but it's $2..
Spray can reads like it's a cleaner/lube but doesn't say dissolve or break up rust or anything. I don't think it's an all in one CLP.
Pro3 looks interesting but WM doesn't carry it. Gun or fishing, outdoorsy store..
https://www.hoppes.com/new-products/hoppe’s®-boresnake®-clpThey also had Hoppes but I didn't notice this CLP
https://birchwoodcasey.com/products?category=95Don't have CLP but have cleaners, oil and grease
http://www.kanolabs.com/penLub.htmlhttps://www.crcindustries.com/products/knock-er-loose-174-penetrating-solvent-13-wt-oz-03020.htmlhttps://www.napaonline.com/en/p/KW_401712 $5.50 for 9oz
Kroil by Kano Labs. Old car guys swear by this stuff, I've never tried it but they say it's better than PB Blaster. I'd like to try it but idk if I'd mail order it.
I think they got bought by CRC and CRC's Knock'er Loose is the same stuff. Available at Napa, if your local store doesn't stock it I think you can ship to store for free.
https://www.3inone.com/products/penetrant/ 3in1 Fast-Acting Penetrant
Orange bottle. Might be super thin. Maybe. Like ISO 2!?!?!?
Drip bottle only, no spray. Haven't tried it yet.
https://www.wd40.com/products/penetrating-oil/WD40 Specialist Rust Release Penetrant
I think it's easy to find at hardware stores. Doesn't seem super special but might be worth trying.
Auto part store brands..
https://www.royalpurple.com/product/maxfilm-synthetic-penetrating-lubricant/https://www.royalpurple.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/2018_maxfilm_pds.pdfhttps://www.pepboys.com/royal-purple-maxfilm-synthetic-penetrating-spray-lubricant/product/670531 $8, 4oz
RP Maxfilm. Synthetic. Idk if I'd call RP a boutique oil company but they make (blend?) good stuff. They used to sell this in 4oz cans. Seems like a pretty good lube, no crazy fumes, but haven't used it to clean/soak. I need to "race" some of this vs Speed Cream to see which is thinner. Listed viscosity is ISO 22, 7, or 5? I don't have any super thin oils for comparison..
https://www.liquidwrench.com/products/Liquid Wrench. I think everything uses cerflon, a ceramic/teflon mix. Pro stuff looks good, synthetic blend, I'd probably try it before the WD40 above.
https://seafoamsales.com/product/deep-creep-penetrating-oil/Sea Foam Deep Creep. Idk doesn't seem like anything special.
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/automotive/oils-fluids-additives-chemicals/grease-gear-oils-lubricants/lubricants-penetrates.htmlOh Canada
Good stuff
http://renewablelube.com/store/penetrating-lubricantshttp://renewablelube.com/products/penetrating-lubricants/ Safety data sheet has viscosity? Idr..
https://www.amazon.com/Renewable-Lubricants-Bio-Blast-Penetrant-Lubricant/dp/B00C3LZTG4/I remember this company as Renewalube, RLI.. they will do custom oils..
It's veggie (soy?) and biodegradable. I think it's an ester. Seems like it'd be good for indoor use.
BPL is a standard thickness/viscosity, a thin ISO 15
Bio-Blast is super thin, ISO 5
Tacky stuff will be like grease..
Now this stuff I would mail order. I'm interested in the Bio-Blast. Stuff with moly seems nla?
If you wanna mail order here's more higher end stuff
https://www.super-lube.com/syncopen-synthetic-penetrant-2It's Kosher!!
And super thin, ISO 3!!!
https://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/other-products/cleaners-and-protectants/mp-metal-protector/LPS
https://www.itwprobrands.com/product/tkx TKX, ISO 10? vanilla flavor
https://www.itwprobrands.com/product/lst LST
https://www.itwprobrands.com/product/lps-1 LPS 1, super thin
https://www.itwprobrands.com/product/b-88 KB-88, like water
https://www.maximausa.com/product/mppl/ https://www.schaefferoil.com/penetro.htmlhttps://torcousa.com/collections/torco-service-products/products/pl-50Ok. I'm done for now..