Substitute For Silicone Grease

[sajiskumar]

Hi,

 

In my place it is difficult to get Silicone Grease. Can I use Petroleum Jelly as an alternative?.

Is there any adverse effect in using this substitute in materials other than rubber/ebonite?

 

Please advise.

 

Thanks

-saji

[Ron Z]

Bruce - time for your comment here......

 

No. Petroleum jelly is... a petroleum product, which will damage rubber and may damage plastic parts. You won't get away with using it unless you are absolutely sure, dead certain that the "rubber" is buna-N, or some other chemical resistant rubber, and most pen parts aren't.

 

Silicone grease is available from a wide range of sources. It can be ordered from folks like Pendemonium if you don't have a local source. Buy some.

[Ray-Vigo]

You may have luck if there are places that service underwater divers. I got mine at a dive/scuba shop.

[UltraMagnus]

Silicone is a rather recent invention, what did they use before it was invented?

[Left FPN]

Silicone is a rather recent invention, what did they use before it was invented?

 

Probably an animal biproduct....from a pig perhaps.....o'ink,o'ink.

[sajiskumar]

Thank you Ron Z, Ray-Vigo, UltraMagnus and Force for your comments.

 

I will clarify my purpose. It is to use in section threads( joining barrels) in EDs to prevent any possible ink leakage and there is No rubber parts involved.

[Left FPN]

What about plumbers mate (ptfe) either tape or liquid form.

[viclip]

Teflon or plumber's tape may put too much stress on the fine threads esp. if they're black hard rubber, leading to cracking.

 

I believe that back in the 1890s-1910s, eydroppers were sealed using beeswax. Living in Canada I find it easier to locate silicone grease than beeswax, I haven't a clue who might sell beeswax let alone what it's predominant use is nowadays, but it should do the job.

[OcalaFlGuy]

At least from my reading on some of the major U.S pen makers, I think their most often used materials for sealing were either shellac or a section sealant. Parker used a proprietary Rosin based sealant that I don't think anyone has replicated. Ron Zorn has replicated and sells the section sealant that Sheaffer used. He has also seen the Sheaffer repair department with gallon jugs of the same readily available commercial shellac that can be found in hardware and home improvement stores today.

 

You could probably use a good section sealant just fine.

 

While the Silicone grease is a newer development it also offers much less effort to separate and (contrary to popular belief) IS available in more places than proper section sealant. It was also probably more beneficial to the vintage pen makers to use a stronger than really necessary sealant to prevent pen owners from accidentally separating parts that shouldn't be. (A lesson certainly taken to heart by many modern restorers.)

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL-really, just get the real deal and be done with it

[UltraMagnus]

Silicone is a rather recent invention, what did they use before it was invented?

 

Probably an animal biproduct....from a pig perhaps.....o'ink,o'ink.

I guess lard could actually work quite well.... :hmm1:

[Ron Z]

If you're using something to seal the threads of an early eyedropper (typo was eyedripper, which may be accurate), the pen is hard rubber, and grease could still harm the pen. You may not want to use a rosin based thread sealant because its quite sticky, and gets on everything if you're taking a pen apart regularly as you will with an ED. Silicone grease is OK, but I rather like the idea of bees was. It's a bit sticky, and would seal well. I would expect that it would not harm the pen.

 

PTFE pipe thread sealant is a mess to clean off. I wouldn't want to use that either.

[fraafreg]

You can buy silicon grease from dealextreme for 2.60USD with free shipping worldwide. No affiliation etc.

[Chthulhu]

Cakes of beeswax can generally be found at fabric and craft stores.

[Pen Nut]

I once bought a nib tool of Fountainbel and got into a long discussion regarding nib sealing with him.

 

Eventually, I think to shut me up, he actually sent me some beeswax to try and have used it on a few occasions with great results. Warmed it in a spoon first and the few impurities that were contained in the wax sank to the bottom and the heat made application easy.

[TETRIS]

Molykote 111 will do a perfect job.

 

Just Google for it.

 

Victor

[Ron Z]

Molykote 111 will do a perfect job.

 

....and do we know what's in said product, and what it is compatible with? Always ask, and know your materials before you use it on a pen.

Edited September 7, 2011 by Ron Z

[Chthulhu]

Molykote 111 will do a perfect job.

 

....and do we know what's in said product, and what it is compatible with? Always ask, and know your materials before you use it on a pen.

 

We do if we look at its MSDS:

 

https://msds.canon-europe.com/Environment/CENVMSDS.nsf/0/5C47FDBBE28F73C5802571E9004DC5E4/$FILE/TKC-0920%20MOLYKOTE%20111%20COMPOUND%20.PDF

 

It's silicone grease, and apparently nothing else.

[OcalaFlGuy]

Silicone grease masquerading as Molliekote 111?

 

We may make it to Hydrogenated Yak Squeeze before the end of this thread afterall...

 

 

Bruce in Ocala, FL-can't wait to see the new improved mobetta shiny name for shellac

[daniel0731ex]

Can you find silicone grease in an "adult toy" shop?

 

Right now I uses the silicone fillings in gel pen inktubes. Collected from over 5+ pens

[Nimmireth]

Hardware stores often have food-grade silicone grease. That's what you want.