Lubricating Ascenders

[Ralph E. Powers]

Been asked about what is the best lubrication to use for the hinges/pins/springs of ascenders. I suggested WD-40 lightly sprayed (or drops) at those points and working them in (opening and closing the cam a few times) and wiping off the excess.
Was told that WD-40 isn't good because it's water-based and water on metal induces rust. Well yes, this is true... but far as I know aluminum doesn't rust. Also the fact that I've been using that product for years with no ill effect on my gear.

What do you use? How often?

[ArCaver]

Water based? It's actually a water displacing agent. I've used it to prevent rust on equipment but I don't consider it a very good lubricant. One of the dry lubes designed for wood working equipment or locks would be a better choice since they won't gum up with dirt as easily as something "oily" in nature.

I don't think a water based product would do this: http://spluch.blogspot.com/2007/07/neve ... 0-can.html

[hank moon]

Regular machine oil on the cheap end

Metolius cam lube or similar "dry" lube (as used for mtn. bike chains) on the pricy end.

Use WD-40 to clean out old gunk in prep for lubing.

[hunter]

I use a Teflon based bike chain lubricant (White Lightening I think). It is not cheap (maybe 15-20 per bottle) but it doesn't take much. The idea for bike chains is that dirt sticks to oil which is bad and Teflon doesn't have this issue.

James

[ian mckenzie]

I use a Teflon based bike chain lubricant (White Lightening I think). It is not cheap (maybe 15-20 per bottle) but it doesn't take much. The idea for bike chains is that dirt sticks to oil which is bad and Teflon doesn't have this issue.

James

You could use parrafin on your bike chain which is much cheaper.

[caverdoc]

I typically use ambergris or duck butter.

Dr J

[Chads93GT]

The paraphine wax is close! Us crazy mountain bikers use White Ligtning Chain Wax! Its basically liquid paraphine. I use it on the chains, and all moving parts, including the cables. Dirt doesnt stick to it, and it sheds the excess off as its used.

WD40 stands for Water Displacement - 40, the 40 being the 40th formula. It was designed to spray on rockets back in the 50's? (look it up on wikipedia). Its basically deisel fuel in a can. The only thing its good for is spraying inside your distributor cap when you spray down your hot rods engine and you get water in the distributor. But enough of that ;)

[Ralph E. Powers]

I typically use ambergris or duck butter.

Dr J

Greenpeace wants to talk to you doc.

[caverdoc]

I typically use ambergris or duck butter.

Dr J

Greenpeace wants to talk to you doc.

Ralph, I don't make the poor leviathans vomit. I just scoop up their rich buttery effluvium and go about my business.

Dr J

[ArCaver]

I typically use ambergris or duck butter.

Dr J

Greenpeace wants to talk to you doc.

Ralph, I don't make the poor leviathans vomit. I just scoop up their rich buttery effluvium and go about my business.

Dr J

It's the duck butter that has me worried...

[shibumi]

It's the duck butter that has me worried...

Look, can you folks keep your personal lives out of this technical question? This is a family forum.

For my gear I use light machine oil, very sparingly.

[gregmathis1]

Anything wrong with using silicon spray? Have been using it for years with no problems. Was thinking about using dolphin fat but I like the idea of duck butter.

[ek]

Dolphin fat may be too high in PCB's to be advisable for this application.

[ArCaver]

It's the duck butter that has me worried...

Look, can you folks keep your personal lives out of this technical question? This is a family forum.

For my gear I use light machine oil, very sparingly.

How light are the machines, and how do you press the oil from them?

[JoeNurse]

I'd worry more about the mercury level of my dolphin fat than the PCBs. How about bat snot? Its more fun to collect.

I use Blaster TDL Dry Lube on most everything. It is a plastic safe spray teflon (PTFE) that doesn't leave an oily film behind