Substitute For Silicone Grease

[jor412]

I found out, from what turned out to be a quest for it, that gun hobbyists stores also sell silicon grease.

[FarmBoy]

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.

From molykote.com:

 

Molykote® brand lubricants include a complete line of multi-purpose oils, synthetic and ultra-high-purity mineral-oil fluids, specialty compounds, greases, pastes, anti-friction coatings, and more trusted by engineers to solve or prevent lubrication problems.

 

Molykote is a trade name for a whole host of Dow lubricants. I can easily ask our sales rep what is in any of them but the contents are all sorts of interesting compounds.

 

There is also MolyCote that is a suspension of Molybdenum disulfide. It is used as an anti-seize compound on bolts and other fasteners that are subject to heat cycles. Use it all the time.

 

Dow Corning Silicon grease is really easy to find and not expensive. A one ounce jar or tube will last almost a lifetime of pen repair.

[TETRIS]

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.

 

 

That is why it is worthwhile to say anything, it is always better to keep to ourselves.

[Arqui]

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

Silicon grease is used in runnig belts to reduce friction between the belt and its support. You may ask for it in any fitness center or in a shop that sells fitness devices.

[Vintagepens]

As for what was used before silicone grease, I understand that a preferred lubricant for Onoto cork packing seals was (beef) tallow.

 

In Germany, cork seals have since the early 20th century been prepared by soaking in "paraffin oil" -- which is what we in the USA would call mineral oil. From what I understand, this is essentially a liquid form of petrolatum, aka Vaseline. Judging from the weak waterproofing mineral oil gives to my butcher block counter top, I can't but think that there must be a better way to prepare cork seals nowadays -- perhaps a more liquid version of silicone grease.

[dcwaites]

Silicone grease is also used in servicing Caterpillar tractors. The rubber-based hydraulic hoses need a pure silicone.

 

I bought a 250 g tube for my workplace some umpty-umpty decades ago (just post-Nixon) and squeezed a little into a small bottle. I stil have it, still using it, mostly to seal Platinum Preppy ED conversions. I am much happier with it than the yellow Cressi-Sub diving grease I have.

[Pen Nut]

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.

 

Is this not purely a safety sheet? I cannot find any reference in the document that mentions actual contents of the product.

[Pen Nut]

This from their website may give more insight. I have highlighted some in blue but what the additives actually are who knows.:

 

DOW CORNING® 111

Silicone compound

Specialty

Lubricants

Product Information

TYPICAL PROPERTIES

Specification writers: These values are not intended for use in preparing specifications.

Please contact your local Dow Corning sales representative prior to writing specifications

on this product.

Parameter

Valve lubricant and sealant

Standard* Unit Value

APPLICATIONS

• Lubrication for control and pressure plug valves, water softener and faucet

valves.

• Sealant for vacuum and pressure systems.

• Sealant for outdoor equipment (also shipboard) subject to washing and harsh

environmental exposure: meters, electrical service entrance and underground

connections.

• Damping medium for dash pots in electrical and electronic equipment.

• Chemical barrier coating.

• Used as an anti-stick and sealant for transformer gasket and equipment

enclosures. It prevents gaskets from sticking to metal and resists weathering

and water washout.

• Rubber and plastic O-rings, gaskets and seals.

Physical nature Stiff compound

Color White to light

grey, translucent

ISO 2137 Penetration unworked mm/10 175 to 210

ISO 2137 Penetration, worked 60, max. mm/10 260

CTM 0033A Bleed 24 hours/200°C (392°F), max. % 0.5

Evaporation 24 hours/200°C (392°F),

max.

CTM 0033A % 2.0

Melting point °C None

°F None

* CTM: Corporate Test Method, copies of CTMs are available on request.

ISO: International Standardisation Organisation

FEATURES

• Good resistance to most chemicals

Wide service temperature range

(40°

C/40°

F to 200°C/392°F)

•

• Low vapor pressure

• Low volatility

• Excellent water resistance

COMPOSITION

• Silicone oil

• Inorganic thickener

• Additives

HOW TO USE

How to apply

DOW CORNING 111 Silicone

Compound can be applied by hand,

specially designed automated

equipment, brushing or wiping.

Certain designs of grease guns may

seize up; test prior to use.

A thinner consistency can be achieved

by dispersing in solvents such as

xylene, mineral spirits and methyl

ethyl ketone. DOW CORNING 111

Silicone Compound can then be

applied by brushing, dipping or

spraying.

DOW CORNING 111 Silicone

Compound should not be applied to

any surface which will be painted or

finished. Such coatings may not

adhere to the silicone-treated surface.

If contaminated by a silicone coating,

parts can be wiped or washed with

solvent, washed with detergent, or

immersed in an alcoholic potassium

hydroxide solution and then rinsed in

clear water before painting.

Solubility

DOW CORNING 111 Silicone

Compound is insoluble in water,

methanol, ethanol, or mineral oil, and

soluble in Chlorothene NU®*,

perchloroethylene, mineral spirits and

methyl ethyl ketone. The greater the

consistency (lower penetration value),

the lower the solubility of the specific

silicone compound. The suitability of

the particular solvent should be based

on testing prior to regular use.

Flammability and toxicological

properties should be important

considerations in the choice of a

solvent.

Chemical resistance

DOW CORNING 111 Silicone

Compound is not greatly affected by

mineral oils, vegetable oils or air. It is

generally resistant to dilute acids and

alkalines, and to most aqueous

solutions.

DOW CORNING 111 Silicone

Compound is quite resistant to a wide

variety of organic and inorganic

chemicals. Because each application

may vary in chemical composition,

pressure, flow velocity, relubrication

requirements and equipment design, it

is recommended that the silicone

compound be tested before adopting

for regular use.

DOW CORNING 111 Silicone

Compound is not to be used with

liquid oxygen and should not be used

in applications requiring LOX

compatibility.

HANDLING PRECAUTIONS

DOW CORNING 111 Silicone

Compound may cause temporary

discomfort when in direct contact

with eyes. In case of eye contact,

flush eyes with water.

PRODUCT SAFETY

INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR

SAFE USE IS NOT INCLUDED.

BEFORE HANDLING, READ

PRODUCT AND SAFETY DATA

SHEETS AND CONTAINER

LABELS FOR SAFE USE,

PHYSICAL AND HEALTH

HAZARD INFORMATION. THE

SAFETY DATA SHEET IS

AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL

DOW CORNING SALES

REPRESENTATIVE.

USABLE LIFE AND

STORAGE

When stored at or below 20°C (68°F)

in the original unopened containers,

this product has a usable life of 60

months from the date of production.

PACKAGING

This product is available in different

standard container sizes. Detailed

container size information should be

obtained from your nearest

Dow Corning sales office or

Dow Corning distributor.

LIMITATIONS

This product is neither tested nor

represented as suitable for medical or

pharmaceutical uses.

HEALTH AND

ENVIRONMENTAL

INFORMATION

To support customers in their product

safety needs, Dow Corning has an

extensive Product Stewardship

organization and a team of Health,

Environment and Regulatory Affairs

specialists available in each area.

For further information, please

consult your local Dow Corning

representative.

WARRANTY

INFORMATION - PLEASE

READ CAREFULLY

The information contained herein is

offered in good faith and is believed

to be accurate. However, because

conditions and methods of use of our

products are beyond our control, this

information should not be used in

substitution for customer's tests to

ensure that Dow Corning's products

are safe, effective, and fully

satisfactory for the intended end use.

Dow Corning's sole warranty is that

the product will meet the

Dow Corning sales specifications in

effect at the time of shipment. Your

exclusive remedy for breach of such

warranty is limited to refund of

purchase price or replacement of any

product shown to be other than as

warranted. Dow Corning specifically

disclaims any other express or implied

warranty of fitness for a particular

purpose or merchantability. Unless

Dow Corning provides you with a

specific, duly signed endorsement of

fitness for use, Dow Corning

disclaims liability for any incidental

or consequential damages.

Suggestions of use shall not be taken

as inducements to infringe any patent.

*® Chlorothene NU is a registered

trademark of the Dow Chemical

Company.

©1997-2001 Dow Corning Corporation. All rights reserved.

19/11/1998

Ref. no. 22-1087C-01 DC 3666

2 ® DOW CORNING is a registered trademark of Dow Corning Corporation.

[sajiskumar]

Thank you Ron Z, Ray-Vigo, UltraMagnus, Force viclip, OcalaFlGuy,fraafreg, Chthulhu, Pen Nut, TETRIS, daniel0731ex, Nimmireth, jor412,FarmBoy, Arqui, Vintagepens and dcwaites for your valuable comments. I got the contact information of a Molykote 111 distributor in India and will try to get a small quantity ( 100 gms) through courier. It is little bit costly ( as per Indian Standards (US$10+Shipping))

Thanks again

-saji

[Ron Z]

This from their website may give more insight. I have highlighted some in blue but what the additives actually are who knows.

 

That's the kind of information that we need. My questioning the contents was simply a reminder that one needs to do the homework to find out what is in a product before glibly applying it to a pen. I do it all the time, a habit that I started as a radio engineer. One is often quite surprised by what is in a product, and what things will be harmed by it. The compatibility information is important. Buried in the information is this line under applications that tells us that it's OK to use:

 

• Rubber and plastic O-rings, gaskets and seals.

 

What we find here is that we are back to silicone grease with a brand name on it, not another product.

[SamCapote]

Krytox (DuPont) or Finish Line Extreme Fluoro PFPAE (Teflon greases)

[sajiskumar]

Thanks, SamCapote for the info.

[Richard]

I believe that back in the 1890s-1910s, eydroppers were sealed using beeswax.

Umm, no, actually, eyedroppers were sealed with hard rubber. No sealant was necessary because the pens were machined precisely enough that tightening the barrel/section joint was sufficient to keep the pen from leaking. I've never used a sealant on any of my vintage EDs, and I've never had one leak on me. I think you'll find numerous others who can say the same thing.

 

Modern pens are not generally machined with as much attention to perfect flatness and uniform finish on the critical surfaces, which is why some of them have O-rings at the joint. And why others require a sealant.

[green51]

here in the states there is a variety of silicone grease called tune up grease. It's used in automotive service to insure conductivity for wire and light bulb connections. I believe it has a synthetic base.

[Scrawler]

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.

I have found it much easier to get beeswax than silicon grease in Canada. Beeswax can be gotten from any beekeeper or craft store. Had I realized that beeswax would do, I would not have gone to the extent I did communicating with various manufacturers of silicon products and comparing materials datasheets to find all the common products that can be used with pens.

 

As Teflon has been mentioned, here is one warning. There are products sold in most Canadian Tire an Home Hardware stores in the plumbing department for sealing water pipes. It is called silicon grease, but if you look at the ingredients it also contains lithium. This is thinner and runnier than the silicon grease you want for a pen and it will NOT do in a pinch. It is not for use on any plastic compound and will cause your pen barrel to fail.

 

Somewhere in this site there is a thread where I published the results of my checking on these greases and recommendations, if you are unable to find one that is sold specifically for fountain pens. I will try to find it and copy the list of common compounds here.

Edited October 9, 2011 by Scrawler

[JonSzanto]

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

This is ok by me, just so long as we're talking about free-range yak. End Yak Cruelty NOW!

[Scrawler]

See this thread here:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php?/topic/135504-silicon-grease/page__view__findpost__p__1362732

[Antoinem]

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.

 

Let me know if you want beeswax, I have about 5 lbs of it.

 

Antoine

[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.

 

Let me know if you want beeswax, I have about 5 lbs of it.

 

Antoine

Beeswax would be easier to procure in some countries than silicone grease taking into account the agrarian economy, delivery infrastructure (or lack thereof) & that many individuals don't have one of the major credit cards, access to PayPal etc. Not having any experience with beeswax, I suspect that silicone grease is an excellent substitute for that natural substance. Can anyone comment on their experience with beeswax in terms of pen use?

[Flounder]

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

 

 

I think rubber safe grease, for brake pistol seals, boots and the like, was made from vegetable products before silicone grease was made.