Is Vaseline safe on rubber orings?
I have flash lights, and other electronics that have orings. looking for a safe lube for the rubber.
I am guessing Vaseline is not very conductive, but would it be ok to use as a lube on electrical connectors in an emergency? safe on plastics?
I've read that vaseline is conductive (petroleum based). tse321 is not conductive, but tsi301 is as it contains a solvent. Don't know how 321 affects rubber..
rubber is a very broad term, but generally should be ok. food-grade petroleum jelly is used as a lubricant in cosmetic, OTC and food processing equipment and on occasion can contact rubber seals, EPDM, viton, PTFE etc. in filler pistons and sanitary fitting gaskets. UV will be worse on soft rubber than PJ, most likely.
Silicon grease is a good general purpose lubricant for virtually all types o ring. Many of the 'pure' synthetic greases are ok for most o rings (nitrile, viton etc.) - probably not the best for silicon o rings but still ok.
Silicon grease is a reasonably good protector but specialist greases have their place. If corrosion is not an issue then silicon grease is fine. If salt, and similar corrosives, are present I would go for a pure synthetic grease. I no longer use (or see the need) for petroleum based greases. Assuming bearings are also involved I would then only use a quality synthetic grease.
Food Grade - I like that term, what would be food grade that I can use, don't have to worry about kids or moi handing it when replacing batteries etc.
Silicon check - I need to spray some on the truck door seals, every time it gets cold after a rain storm, the darn doors get stuck.
Quote from: Gobi King on November 09, 2020, 06:49:28 PM
Food Grade
Benny had some food grade grease a while back. You can also find it at a restaurant supply store.
-steve
Quote from: oc1 on November 09, 2020, 07:27:16 PM
Quote from: Gobi King on November 09, 2020, 06:49:28 PM
Food Grade
Benny had some food grade grease a while back. You can also find it at a restaurant supply store.
-steve
Ok, see what I find, how do I figure out if it is safe on rubber?
In hardware store plumbing department they usually carry a grease for lubing up orings and other rubber seals used in plumbing.
yep that's silicone grease - providing it is pure, i.e. no additives it's considered non toxic.
Just get some Superlube grease. It's cheap.
Quote from: Gobi King on November 09, 2020, 08:31:30 PM
[how do I figure out if it is safe on rubber?
Use
FDA in the search term. FDA compliant equates to food-safe. Most products will say it's safe for O-rings. For example:
http://www.clearcoproducts.com/pdf/grease/NP-Silicone%20Grease%20NLGI2%20O-Ring%20and%20Valve%20Lubricant.pdf (http://www.clearcoproducts.com/pdf/grease/NP-Silicone%20Grease%20NLGI2%20O-Ring%20and%20Valve%20Lubricant.pdf)
"Rubber" is sort of a squishy term, so to speak, and is used in all sorts of ways.
From another place; "
Some of the common types of O-ring materials include PTFE, Nitrile (Buna), Neoprene, EPDM Rubber and Fluorocarbon (Viton). Silicone and Kalrez® O-ring materials are also widely used, especially in high temperature applications."
-s
Shibly - I shot you a couple photos on your cell of a product that we use; I think it will just the ticket for you. I just pulled in from a long day on the 91 FWY; I will try and upload photos to the forum tomorrow. It says "White" on the label but it is more like industrial grade Vaseline in terms of color and texture. I don't know anything about salt water but we use it for O-rings, shaft seals, piston seals, you name it and it our environment is can see temps from -3C in glycol plumbing to sub boiling in our wort transfer. Pretty commonly available but if you cannot source and want to try it I should be in one of the breweries later this week and I can see if we have an extra tube laying around. - john
I have used this for over 40 years on plastic,Rubber, Vinyl, and more .
3M Wet type spray silicone !
Good stuff .
(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcTdl2kHGZLCZPNjDh4LzPraaVDHmEPHnEfFMgTjA3K_2RqoKuc9wGmajr70GLX88gAjGpqNRfz4LA&usqp=CAc)
As always read precautions before using ANY Chemical or Lubricants.
Do Not use ANY Petroleum based product near oxygen masks,bottles etc..
Don't feed to Children, Pets, or the Elderly.
Chap Stick
Boat zippers, snaps, and fishing knots too
John, got it, posted it here.
Steve - MSDS, good point,
Wompus - I read the msds on 3m spray silicon - not good for skin contact
Keith - superlube, I will check if my local stores have a food grade grease.
thor - yes, I have no idea what the orings are made of.
The search is now for PURE/food grade silicone grease. Vaseline is out as it attacks rubber, I just read that.
I am pretty sure I have sil-glide silicone lube downstairs. let me grab that and read the warnings.
I have a water pump with a rubber impeller. Directions that came with the pump say to coat the impeller with Vaseline. After burning out the impeller twice (it fell apart,) I started to use silicon grease. Years later, the impeller is still going.
My go-to light lube for metal fishing rod ferrules and o-ring gaskets is nose oil. Rub it against the side of your nose - works great ;D
SuperLube works great —
If your not putting it in your mouth — why do you need food grade?
Best, Fred
Quote from: Gobi King on November 10, 2020, 05:24:25 PM
John, got it, posted it here.
Steve - MSDS, good point,
Wompus - I read the msds on 3m spray silicon - not good for skin contact
Keith - superlube, I will check if my local stores have a food grade grease.
thor - yes, I have no idea what the orings are made of.
The search is now for PURE/food grade silicone grease. Vaseline is out as it attacks rubber, I just read that.
I am pretty sure I have sil-glide silicone lube downstairs. let me grab that and read the warnings.
Nothing in that list is much good for skin contact or ingesting,or Breathing the vapors .
Sil- Glide is very good for things yep I use it on drive shaft couplings and steering gear knuckles(keeps the popping noise away) but the Spray from 3M will keep your snow shovel from ice sticking on it also locks,door locks on cars, Weather strips on all doors keeps vinyl dashes alive for ever,rubber trim , windshield wiper blades ,garage door guides,sliding glass doors,any rubber trim ,squeaks in dashes /leather,belts,hoses,. Shoes,
Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers and more .
GOBS Gobi,,,,,,, just GOBS of uses .
Did I mention it is Good Stuff?
Ya don't want to spray it near anything you are going to paint as it will crinkle the heck out of it or light a match to it ...lol
P/M your addy and I will send you a can on me.
Quote from: Decker on November 10, 2020, 05:56:35 PM
I have a water pump with a rubber impeller. Directions that came with the pump say to coat the impeller with Vaseline. After burning out the impeller twice (it fell apart,) I started to use silicon grease. Years later, the impeller is still going.
My go-to light lube for metal fishing rod ferrules and o-ring gaskets is nose oil. Rub it against the side of your nose - works great ;D
I use the Sil Glide on my boat water pumps and ZERO Failure for many years .
Tha nose oil makes my line stick to the rod or maybe it is Snot ? I dunno I am kinda bass ackwards as my nose runs and my feets smell.
One note about silicone grease: strange as it may seem, silicone grease is not compatible with silicone rubber.
Silicone is a bit uncommon material for o-rings, but it is out there.
Here is the food grade o-ring specific product from Superlube:
.
https://www.super-lube.com/o-ring-silicone-grease (https://www.super-lube.com/o-ring-silicone-grease)
And the comparability chart:
https://www.super-lube.com/Content/Images/uploaded/documents/Compatability%20Charts/Super%20Lube%20Silicone%20O-Ring%20Grease.pdf (https://www.super-lube.com/Content/Images/uploaded/documents/Compatability%20Charts/Super%20Lube%20Silicone%20O-Ring%20Grease.pdf)
I think that this blend (also food safe) might also work with o-rings, and can also be used fore a reel grease (this is what Todd uses on reels):
https://www.super-lube.com/silicone-lubricating-grease-with-syncolon-ptfe (https://www.super-lube.com/silicone-lubricating-grease-with-syncolon-ptfe)
I bought a tub of it for a good price on that evil web commerce site named after a river in South America.
Also agree that food safe is always a good idea when it is an option. Many dangerous compounds bio-accumulate, meaning that they build up over time in live tissue, so the less nasty or unknown toxicity chemicals in your life, the better. Plus I was able to use the same grease to fix the hinges on my oven. With its high dropping temp and PTFE (AKA Teflon) additive, it might also be a candidate for drag grease.
-J
Use Armor-All... Dominick
Fred,
my girls have a habit of biting their nail, kinda a nervous habit,
for the stuff that they might open like the flash lights, water tight boat boxes etc I want an ALL rounder grease.
Wompus, pm inbound, thanks!
Jurelo - that compatibility chart is interesting. I have no idea what the orings are made of in different items I have.
lol, I wonder if it could be amazing amazon ;-)
biggest shocker here was:
1. Vaseline is NOT good for rubber stuff
2. Silicone grease is NOT compatible with silicone rubber.
If you want an in depth look at lubricants and 'rubbers':
https://www.efunda.com/designstandards/oring/oring_chemical.cfm?SM=none&SC=Silicone%20Grease
I've re-building some pcp airguns recently (lots of o rings)- the best news I got was I'm probably already uding the best grease - pure synthetic with PTFE ;D
Lanalon grease is food safe, not sure about mixing with rubber, it is from sheep wool, there is a company in Queensland, Australia, that sell is, if you google lanalon, they maybe able to inform you if they have completed tests with rubber, good luck cheers Don.
Quote from: Wompus Cat on November 10, 2020, 12:46:22 PM
I have used this for over 40 years on plastic,Rubber, Vinyl, and more .
3M Wet type spray silicone !
Good stuff .
(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcTdl2kHGZLCZPNjDh4LzPraaVDHmEPHnEfFMgTjA3K_2RqoKuc9wGmajr70GLX88gAjGpqNRfz4LA&usqp=CAc)
ly.
WOMPUS!!!!
Why the Wet Silicone vs the Dry Silicon???
Let us know please,
Thanks.
Wayne
I saw mention of food-grade lubricants.
I use to do a lot of homebrewing back in the day. They sell a food-grade lubricant that is used on the o-rings of kegs.
Search for "Keg Lube" on Amazon.
Quote from: El Pescador on May 11, 2021, 08:26:51 PM
Quote from: Wompus Cat on November 10, 2020, 12:46:22 PM
I have used this for over 40 years on plastic,Rubber, Vinyl, and more .
3M Wet type spray silicone !
Good stuff .
(https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcTdl2kHGZLCZPNjDh4LzPraaVDHmEPHnEfFMgTjA3K_2RqoKuc9wGmajr70GLX88gAjGpqNRfz4LA&usqp=CAc)
ly.
WOMPUS!!!!
Why the Wet Silicone vs the Dry Silicon???
Let us know please,
Thanks.
Wayne
Wet Type Penetrates the Rubber,Vinyl ,Leather , etc .
Dry sprays are suitable for working on more sensitive equipment because the mist evaporates quickly and leaves behind a protective film. ..............
If you use the 3M wet type silicone on your Vinyl Dashes ,door panels,any Rubber on your car it will last indefinitely.
if you want stuff to harden and crack I recommend Armour All.
Quote from: foakes on November 10, 2020, 06:00:34 PM
SuperLube works great —
If your not putting it in your mouth — why do you need food grade?
Best, Fred
Hey Fred, I think I'm the one that brought up food grade- he probably doesn't require it, but he asked for "safe", and OTC process engineering is part of what I do in my professional life, so my input was based on that.
pretty sure there's a more-$$$, food-grade SuperLube
for blender/processor/grinder gaskets & such
can't taste much worse than cold lard ;D
Raid the pantry & put Crisco on it. We use Crisco on the rubber gaskets on N.Y.C. water mains for years. Never had a problem with Lab. Tests.
Mike
I've been a Plumber since '63