What would anyone recommend for lubricating pneumatic cylinders, as I found most silicone sprays contain acetone after damaging a couple pneumatic cylinders. Any recommendations I could find on Amazon, as I have checked local hardware stores, and most products there contained acetone.

I have not tried it on LEGO but have used it on other things and I would assume it's perfectly safe on pretty much any surface, food grade mineral oil. I have noticed though it gets a bit sticky after some time but it can be easily cleaned off and reapplied. People have actually totally submerged computer components in the stuff for cooling, it is also used as a laxative by some and many candies are coated with the stuff. I got it at the pharmacy, very inexpensive.

I have also used petroleum jelly to water proof ship model hulls, where the driveshaft for the prop goes thru the hull. Doesn't seem to have adverse effects on plastic or rubber. I remember my dad coating his spear gun rubber bands with it before going spear fishing too. This was in the sixties though, so now they probably have some special stuff for that. 

Not sure either but if it says %100 silicone spray are you saying it still has acetone in it? 

Edited July 22, 20186 yr by Johnny1360

I have found that silicone spray does damage ABS.  I have posted this before, and I don't mean to be crude, but the best stuff I have found is:

 

http://stayswetlonger.com/products/wet-platinum-premium-lubricant/

 

I know this sounds like a joke, but it is not.  I move often for work, and this means things sit sedentary for long periods of time, including my lego sets/collection.  I have one of Alex Zorko's LPEs that I have used for years.  After over a year of sitting on a shelf, I dusted it off, lubed it up, and it worked great. Also, no need to repost things, but if you check out my youtube videos I have several where I play with Lego as a turbine, with lego axles, gears, etc. and other pieces moving at thousands of RPMs.  I lube everything with this stuff, and never had any problems. 

If anything, I would assume that petroleum jelly would be safe.

2 hours ago, TechnicRCRacer said:

If anything, I would assume that petroleum jelly would be safe.

no.......too thick.  Provide lubrication it would,  but slow things down unnecessarily also it would......

I also have bad experience with silicone spray, they break the 24t gears in my GBCs. That's because the silicone carrier dissolves the impact resistance improvers in ABS making the ABS more brittle.

I now use PTFE spray from WD40 (so NOT the WD40 spray itself), is works without problems. With pneumatic cilinders I have no experience yet but will have when I have build my first GBC with pneumatics :)

Edited July 22, 20186 yr by Berthil

My g/f suggested to use soap or hair shampoo since its safe to use on plastics.. I did try to use shampoo but at the end it does dries up and cause the fake pistons on the fake engine to have more resistances. 

LPE Power uses this for his pneumatic engines. So I guess it is safe. 

https://www.amazon.com/Cyclo-C33V-Silicone-Spray-Lubricant/dp/B01LXLKWC7

12 hours ago, Johnny1360 said:

mineral oil.

I'd say no to that, as it seems to have an effect on the rubber seals inside the cylinders - the two cylinders I once used it on now both leak air though their tops, not to mention that the very thin oil also slowly seeps out...

7 hours ago, nerdsforprez said:

10 hours ago, TechnicRCRacer said:

If anything, I would assume that petroleum jelly would be safe.

no.......too thick.  Provide lubrication it would,  but slow things down unnecessarily also it would......

For LPEs, yes maybe, but for normal everyday use it's probably the best option - I've found that it's 100% safe, and also thick enough to not seep out of the cylinders (or motors, which I've also sometimes use it for) when in storage.

Since there are many Silicon sprays were mentioned why not to make a short recap?

• Cyclo C33V Silicone Spray Lubricant (Silicone + Oli distillate + Heptane + Propane). Used by LPE Power, looks like safe.
• Petroleum Jelly - provides too thick layer, may increase the slip resistance for LPE.
• Wet platinum premium lubricant - used by nerdsforprez, no issues were observed
• WD40 PTFE Spray (not WD40 Spray!) - used by Berthil for GBC, no issues were observed

As for me, I used WD40 Specialist Silicone Spray (Geraniol + NSF H2) with no any issues, but for a too short period to say something.

I once heard that a solution to un-jam monorail switches is to put graphite lube in the crevices and shake it around. It seems to work and I think it is safe, but I am not sure.

8 hours ago, Void_S said:

Since there are many Silicon sprays were mentioned why not to make a short recap?

• Cyclo C33V Silicone Spray Lubricant (Silicone + Oli distillate + Heptane + Propane). Used by LPE Power, looks like safe.
• Petroleum Jelly - provides too thick layer, may increase the slip resistance for LPE.
• Wet platinum premium lubricant - used by nerdsforprez, no issues were observed
• WD40 PTFE Spray (not WD40 Spray!) - used by Berthil for GBC, no issues were observed

As for me, I used WD40 Specialist Silicone Spray (Geraniol + NSF H2) with no any issues, but for a too short period to say something.

This would make for an interesting comparison study.  In addition, one could compare these options not just on a one-time trial basis, but also on a temporal one.  Like, apply the substance, wait a month or two, and then see how much, at all, the substance has degraded in its protection. 

With the option I am recommending I have literally applied it to an LPE, or one of the turbines I have built; left it on a shelf for several months at a time, only to see that the lubricant is still doing its job.  Out of curiosity, because Alex Z. @ LPE power really is a pro when it comes to LPEs, I wonder how often and regular he has to apply his lubricant to his LPEs..... 

I will try the PTFE spray and see how that works out. it says it works on all plastics except for PS, and PC. After looking at the SDS  it does contain some mineral oil(>5%), heptane, naphthalene, and kerosine,  though no acetone. https://www.wd40company.com/files/pdf/wd-40-specialist-dry-lube-msds-canada.pdf 

I will test it on the damaged cylinder before applying to any of the new ones I got.

It appears that mineral oil can cause swelling of rubbers, and some plastics, though if being in such a small concentration, I don't think that will have too much of an impact if I am careful of the amount applied. 

Edited July 24, 20186 yr by Tommy Styrvoky

2 hours ago, Tommy Styrvoky said:

 

It appears that mineral oil can cause swelling of rubbers, and some plastics, though if being in such a small concentration, I don't think that will have too much of an impact if I am carful of the amount applied. 

I suppose that could be a plus for worn out O-rings maybe. 

I use a PFTE lube for most gear transmissions. Lasts long and is a dry film so no dust collection. When applying it should be done in an area with fresh air. Like outside! The propellant used can be toxic. Been using it for years.

On 7/24/2018 at 12:52 AM, nerdsforprez said:

Out of curiosity, because Alex Z. @ LPE power really is a pro when it comes to LPEs, I wonder how often and regular he has to apply his lubricant to his LPEs..... 

@nicjasno should be able to answer that...

So far the PTFE lube seems to work, though I have yet to test the engine running with it. As I am currently waiting for a BL order of the old style switches, the new ones seem to be somewhat stiff when sealed up, not sure what to change to make them operate smoother.

I just used some recommended lubricant on some stuck monorail switches and it is plastic safe and works well. It is called CRC 2-26 lubricant (? Don’t have it with me right now). 

The CRC 2-26 5 oz. Multi-Purpose Lubricant is a plastic-safe lubricant, penetrant and corrosion inhibitor. This lubricant helps prevent electrical malfunctions and restore damaged equipment caused by water penetration, ...looks like good stuff...I wonder how long it lasts!

Once properly lubed you don't need to relube very often.

On plastics and rubber use a silicone based lubricant. Oil based lubes will destroy the rubber and plastics.

Edited August 26, 20186 yr by nicjasno