[GreenKeys] [External] Re: WD-40

Sun Sep 6 17:52:43 EDT 2020

All natural oils increase in viscosity over time. That’s why old Teletypes are sticky. Has any one ever found an old teletype that wasn’t gummed up?

Oils contain a mix of different length molecules, and the shorter lighter ones evaporate first. So they get more viscous. 

It doesn’t matter in normal use because we normally apply fresh which restore the viscosity.

Synthetic oils have uniform length molecules so don’t change viscosity with age.

WD40 is a very light “oil” with some really heavy molecules. Its fine for cleaning but its very volatile so quickly evaporates and goes sticky. Its not a lubricant.

If you use it clean it off and apply an appropriate lubricant, but note, unless it fully synthetic any oil you apply will also get sticky with age…

Dave

G4UGM

From: greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net <greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Scott Johnson
Sent: 06 September 2020 22:05
To: '1oldlens1' <1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com>; 'Jones, Douglas W' <douglas-w-jones at uiowa.edu>; 'Jeffrey Angus' <jdangus at att.net>; 'greenkeys' <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] [External] Re: WD-40

The Zoom spout oiler you buy for electric motor use is just 10W machine oil.  Maybe they are referring to steam turbines, or roof ventilator turbines, Hi!  MIL-7808 turbine oil is synthetic, and if you like to use it, it is $15-20 qt. at you local FBO. There are two variants, differing in viscosity.  I use it for a variety of things, but I still have a 2 gallon can of teletype oil, so I am set.  In fact, if you live in the Phoenix area, bring a bottle, and I will fix you up.

Scott V. Johnson W7SVJ

5111 E. Sharon Dr.

Scottsdale, AZ 85254-3636

H (602) 953-5779

C (480) 550-2358

scottjohnson1 at cox.net <mailto:scottjohnson1 at cox.net> 

scott.johnson at ieee.org <mailto:scott.johnson at ieee.org> 

From: greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net>  <greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mailto:greenkeys-bounces at mailman.qth.net> > On Behalf Of 1oldlens1
Sent: Sunday, September 6, 2020 1:47 PM
To: Jones, Douglas W <douglas-w-jones at uiowa.edu <mailto:douglas-w-jones at uiowa.edu> >; Jeffrey Angus <jdangus at att.net <mailto:jdangus at att.net> >; greenkeys <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net <mailto:greenkeys at mailman.qth.net> >
Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] [External] Re: WD-40

There is something called turbine oil made for high speed machinery.  I suspect a lot of fine machinery pil is repackaged turbine oil.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

-------- Original message --------

From: "Jones, Douglas W" <douglas-w-jones at uiowa.edu <mailto:douglas-w-jones at uiowa.edu> > 

Date: 9/6/20 12:59 PM (GMT-08:00) 

To: Jeffrey Angus <jdangus at att.net <mailto:jdangus at att.net> >, greenkeys <greenkeys at mailman.qth.net <mailto:greenkeys at mailman.qth.net> > 

Subject: Re: [GreenKeys] [External] Re:  WD-40 

From: Jeffrey Angus [jdangus at att.net] -- Sunday, September 6, 2020 2:12 PM

> A specific oil?

When Teletype Corporation was a branch of the Bell System, they recommended KS7470 oil.  That is no-longer available, but I did some research.  See:
-- https://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/pdp8/UI-8/ks7470oil.shtml

I've been using Starrett 1620 Tool and Instrument Oil, because it comes in convenient sized small bottles.

One datasheet I found said this is really Nye Delicate Machinery Oil 113, which you can easily buy by the gallon or drum.

But, on my small instrument-makers lathe, I use sewing machine oil.  It's clear instead of yellowish, but seems very similar in general characteristics.  You can get it at just about any fabric store.  I learned about this when I encountered a secretary at work deep in discussion with a coworker who restores full-sized steam locomotives for a hobby.  Her hobby was restoring sewing machines, and they were deep in a discussion of freeing old rusted mechanisms, cleaning bearings, degunking and lubrication.  It turns out that an old sewing machine that's been rusting in a barn for 50 years is no more or less a problem than an old locomotive that's been rusting in a city park for 50 years.  Aside, that is, from the matter of size.

            Doug Jones
            jones at cs.uiowa.edu <mailto:jones at cs.uiowa.edu> 

--
"I am a river to my people."
Jeff-1.0
WA6FWI
www.foxsmercantile.com <http://www.foxsmercantile.com> 

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