Photo industry lubricants

[waynecrider]

In the industry, what is used for metal on metal wear points?

 

[richard ide]

Wayne,

Can you be a little more application specific please?

Richard

 

[Roger Hicks]

In the industry, what is used for metal on metal wear points?

Some run dry; some use clock oil. An old quick-and-dirty trick for cleaning and lubricating leaf shutters is allegedly to dissolve 5-10% clock oil in ether; slosh the shutter around in that for a while; drain it; and let it dry. A tiny amount of oil is left: not enough to gum up the blades, but enough to add a little lubricant on the bearings. I'd be grateful if anyone who has actually tried this could say if it works.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Coating machines and other lab equipment must be kept clear of oil as any oil contamination will cause coating defects. But, I have no idea what they use or how they use it.

I do know that many moving parts have air bearings.

PE

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I think the current quick-and-dirty method of cleaning a leaf shutter is to flush it with lighter fluid (the "Ronsonol Flush"). It can work with all metal shutters like Compur and Ilex/Acme shutters, but it's bad for older Graflex shutters that have rubber blades, and an absolute disaster for old Compound shutters with paper blades.

What I do for Compur and Ilex shutters is to open them up and remove the speed-setting dial, flush in a container of naphtha (which is the main ingredient in lighter fluid), and use a drop of light oil like sewing machine oil in the slow speed retard mechanism (run the shutter on 1 sec and it's the assembly with the spinning gears), and this will usually keep the shutter running well for a few years. I use a light coating of lithium grease in the channels for the speed setting dial to keep the dial running smoothly and reduce wear in the dial.

The usual lubricant for shutter and aperture blades is graphite powder.

In answer to the original question, I haven't checked lately, but as I recall, there is a range of lubricants for different purposes available at www.micro-tools.com.

 

[BrianShaw]

The usual lubricant for shutter and aperture blades is graphite powder.

Some people do this, but I have never seen this recommended in any shutter service manual I have read. I believe the usual "lubricant" for shutter/aperture blades is SCRUPULOUS CLEANLINESS.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Well, I've gotten shutters back from SK Grimes while Mr. Grimes was alive with graphite powder on the blades.

 

[BrianShaw]

Well, I've gotten shutters back from SK Grimes while Mr. Grimes was alive with graphite powder on the blades.

I have no doubt that you speak the truth. As I said: "Some people do this..."

 

[waynecrider]

Wayne,

Can you be a little more application specific please?

Richard

I've got a lens adapter with some moving parts. I think a little lubricant wouldn't hurt on the metal contact points.

 

[Photo Engineer]

It is interesting to see how a simple statement can mean different things to different people.

PE

 

[Roger Hicks]

I've got a lens adapter with some moving parts. I think a little lubricant wouldn't hurt on the metal contact points.

Clock oil.

 

[richard ide]

I agree with Roger. Clock oil has less tendency to spread than most oils. One lubricant I use as well is "Lock ease" made by AGS. It is graphite suspended in a solvent. It is good for locks as well.

Richard

 

[Roger Hicks]

Clock oil has less tendency to spread than most oils.

And less tendency to dry up/gum up with time.

 

[richard ide]

"And less tendency to dry up/gum up with time."

 

[Roger Hicks]

"And less tendency to dry up/gum up with time."

Aaaargh. Didn't notice it when I wrote it, obviously.

 

[bob100684]

we use white grease on the drive chains of our fuji film and print proscesors. Not sure if it's anything special, all the writing other than fuji film is in japanese.

 

[richard ide]

Another method which may be suitable for some applications is to apply a very small amount of paste wax with a Qtip.

 

[Kino]

Just as an aside, if you have sticky processing gear, a tiny bit of anhydrous lanolin can work as a lubricant. A cine film processor manufacturer I know uses it on the PVC valves in their chemical recirculation loops and it does not spot the film. Of course, it may make a difference that their developer tank is 500 gallons and recirculated by 3 horsepower pumps!

 

[Mark Layne]

Some run dry; some use clock oil. An old quick-and-dirty trick for cleaning and lubricating leaf shutters is allegedly to dissolve 5-10% clock oil in ether; slosh the shutter around in that for a while; drain it; and let it dry. A tiny amount of oil is left: not enough to gum up the blades, but enough to add a little lubricant on the bearings. I'd be grateful if anyone who has actually tried this could say if it works.

A very similar result can be obtained using 'Quickstart' from the auto supply store such as Canadian Tire. It is essentially ether and seems to leave just enough residue to lubricate.
Mark