SpudFiles

saefroch wrote:

Oxbreath wrote:I can guarantee that the silicone grease, (plumber's variety, at least), will withstand a lot more of -that-, than the motor oil, lithium, or vaseline, will, as well.

Not too sure about that statement, I still haven't yet re-greased my piston valve after 5 shots at 1,000psi using motor oil, and that's a lot of "wear" from airflow. I also haven't had a problem with it burning, naturally... or being absorbed into o-rings.

Do an experiment.

Get some plumber's silicone from Lowes.

Now smear some on a piece of PVC, and pour some of the oil on another piece of PVC.

Get out your air compressor, with the blowgun attached, and blow on each for a few minutes.

See for yourself how long it takes for each to "blow away".

And then rub your finger on each spot, when both look to have been blown away. See if one of them still feels slick...

This is not necessary. I lube up the cannons for a day of shooting. At the end of the day, they are disassembled and cleaned.

Both Lithium grease and Plumbers Silicone Grease both do not need any addition during a full day of launching stuff. The only time I have to re grease in the field is when a handful of grass or other contaminate makes an o ring leak. Then cleaning involves removing the o rings and wiping everything down, lube and reassembly. Sometimes kids grabbing apples and such will get some grass on it that finds it's way into the o rings.

Unless you are using extreme pressure, normal shop compressors don't leave the valves grease free with either grease.

The Lithium grease is easier to wipe up for a quick field leak repair and is easier to pull with a full charge of air.

For your test, mix some dry grass with each of your grease choices and smear the result in o ring grooves and add the rings. Now see which is easier to clean and reassemble. Having the grease remain on the o ring is only 1/2 the issues with grease.

I'd like to point out the only reason I even read through this topic was to see if JSR managed to fit any jokes in somewhere. Thank you for not disappointing me.

PCGUY do you think you could code a JSR spambot in case (god forbid) we ever lose the real one to a casting accident or something?

Oxbreath wrote:See for yourself how long it takes for each to "blow away."

Well first off I do not have a shop compressor, or a blowgun . I also do not contend that plumber's silicone grease is a better lubricant for such an application than motor oil, but it doesn't matter to me, since the motor oil is free and works just fine for me. There are lubricants out there that will work just fine for pneumatic spudding applications other than plumber's silicone grease.

Just a random question: Does plumber's silicone grease or lithium grease wick along metal?

saefroch wrote:I also do not contend that plumber's silicone grease is a better lubricant for such an application than motor oil, but it doesn't matter to me, since the motor oil is free and works just fine for me. There are lubricants out there that will work just fine for pneumatic spudding applications other than plumber's silicone grease.

The title of the thread is "Ideal piston valve lubricant".

Not "Just fine piston valve lubricant". LOL

And, of course, that brings us to the realization that "Ideal" can be subjective. Motor oil is "ideal" for you, because it is available and free. Lithium is "Ideal" for Tech, because he constantly cleans and re-lubes his airguns.

I posted on the assumption that "Ideal" meant a lubricant that would not degrade O-rings, or plastic, or leather. That would stay put, longer than others. And that would not degrade with heat, or even combust if enough heat were generated.

Heck, if "Just fine" is the standard we are aiming for, then even crisco would do...

saefroch wrote:Just a random question: Does plumber's silicone grease or lithium grease wick along metal?

I have no idea. I suppose I could find out, with a quick 'google' on the subject.

I know this is an old thread but does anyone know what the best lubricant is for use with a hot glue piston housed in a metal tee?

White lithium grease or Vaseline.

Cool, thanks Gun Freak for the quick response.

Plumbers silicone, white petroleum jelly,aka vaseline, k y, vegetable oil, anything slippery pretty much!!!

Do NOT use vegetable oil, butter, olive oil, etc. All sorts of little critters will love growing in your cannon.

Fnord wrote:I'd like to point out the only reason I even read through this topic was to see if JSR managed to fit any jokes in somewhere. Thank you for not disappointing me.

PCGUY do you think you could code a JSR spambot in case (god forbid) we ever lose the real one to a casting accident or something?

hehe only just saw this

I'd like to point out the only reason I even read through this topic was to see if JSR managed to fit any jokes in somewhere

to be honest I checked this thread just because it has 'lubricants' in it and because JSR has posted here.. so Fnord I guess great minds think alike or something like that