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Camera CLA & Repair: What oil to use?

I wouldnt compare Cameras to watches/clocks, they are in constant motion and model trains...do that as well but not in the same amount of course.

That said, I dont think the choice of oil is that crucial as long as the viscosity and ability to adhere to parts is in the ball park.

I serviced a few turntables (record players) and some people spend half their life time searching for some obsolete lubricant that was specced 75 years ago.....
 
Like the guys with Leslie's that think you need to use special Whale Oil to lube the stupid strings that turn the cone and drum.
I have told people over and over. Your cabinet was made in 1952. That oil no longer exists.
 
Adam Demuth said:
Amazon's not an option for everybody.
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Sorry to hear that. I should have added “YMMV”, I guess. Whichever Palau in the world is yours is probably completely beyond Amazon delivery until they perfect long-distance delivery drones. I hope you can use another source of delivery to get the oil of your dreams.
 
My Palau is the most remote Palau that there is, the gorgeous island nation with a mere 500 miles of ocean between us and the nearest landmass. Having to wait weeks or months for something I need has taught me grand lessons in improvisation and in conserving what I already have. I was pretty good at it in the States, but I'm at a whole new level now. The "x" of my dreams is anything I can find on on island that works halfway like it needs to

I'll pick up the aerosol tri-flow, squirt some out and let it sit and see if anything separates like was recommended with WD-40. I think it should be fine no matter what, but something always gives me the willies about aerosol stuff.
 
IIRC, the first American Automatic car Transmission was an Oldsmobile, and it used sperm-whale oil.

A long time ago, but no so old that a collector of car memorabilia, might have a can or bottle on hand, though whether or it would be grandfathered in, and legal to transfer/sell, is an open question, others should answer.

Right now, I'm using Singer Sewing machine oil, though I might start to thin it with 50% Naphtha, for a bulk application, than evaporates to 50% oil.

Good Luck.
 
Automatic transmission fluid has been mentioned here. Is that the same as hydraulic oil?

During the winter months I oil the slideways and bed of my lathe with hydraulic oil. This is to stop it rusting.
I use it because it was given to me free, and does the job after a fashion.
It's drawback is it evaporates after a couple of months, so I have to apply two or three coats over the course of the autumn and winter.
If hydraulic is the same as transmission then it may be a waste of time using transmission oil.

I use recognised brands of clock and watch oils, also two grades of Nye damping grease. Mainly because I have repaired clocks and watches as a hobby for years, and already have them on the shelf.
The handy lubrication pens and syringes usually give no details of the grades or source of the oil they contain. It could be Golden Syrup for all we know. I prefer to place my faith in recognised, named lubricants.

So, is transmission the same as hydraulic oil?
 
BobUK said:
So, is transmission the same as hydraulic oil?
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Yes and no is perhaps the best answer. Transmission oil is a type of hydraulic oil, but will contain different additives than one for hydraulic service. If you're looking for lathe way oil, there is a specific product for that. An example: https://cglapps.chevron.com/msdspds/PDSDetailPage.aspx?docDataId=77221&docFormat=PDF

I suspect that the oil isn't "evaporating", but rather running off. Typically, hydraulic oil is quite thin, so it won't cling to the metal. ATF will behave the same. A way oil has tackifiers added to help it stay on the surface.
 
Hoppes and other gun oils seem to be little more than mineral oil. You can get a pint of mineral oil for a few dollars at the drug store.

Nye clock oil was the recommendation - but it now sells for $70/oz. I have a small bottle of the whale oil variety, the bottle hasn't gotten sticky over the past 50 years.

I now use Mobil 1 (well, Kirkland) synthetic engine oil. It won't gum or oxidize and stays reasonably in one spot.
 
Nye, the company, has an extensive line of lubricants. Nyoil is good stuff for most camera repair efforts and is their “economical” product. They also make some very expensive specialized oils.
 
I was keying off the Amazon listing: https://www.amazon.com/Watch-Clock-Synthetic-Repair-Movement/dp/B000RB2XFW

Although I specified "Clock Oil," Amazon pulled up "Synthetic Watch oil" at $70/oz. I guess I didn't look closely enough. At 3uL / watch (a WAG - about 1/10 of a small drop), 1 oz/30ml would be enough for 10,000 watches or a penny a watch. NyOil at $10/oz should be plenty good enough for camera applications.
 
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