Vaseline as grease
Mark Cleary
I would think it would be fine but tell my why if it should not. I am
not talking about greasing something that needs a lot grease but maybe a
thread like on a brake pad or similar.
--
Deacon Mark Cleary
Epiphany Roman Catholic Church
andre...@aol.com
Yeah, but it will probably break down a lot faster than grease for
bearings, threads and other applications. Auto grease is really cheap
too.
Lou Holtman
> Ok, call me a bit stupid but can Vaseline be used for greasing a thread?
> I would think it would be fine but tell my why if it should not. I am
> not talking about greasing something that needs a lot grease but maybe a
> thread like on a brake pad or similar.
Why use vaseline when any grease is cheaper and better? I bought 500 ml
grease years ago and I didn't use half of it. I have 8 bikes. Go figure.
Lou
landotter
> Ok, call me a bit stupid but can Vaseline be used for greasing a thread?
> I would think it would be fine but tell my why if it should not. I am
> not talking about greasing something that needs a lot grease but maybe a
> thread like on a brake pad or similar.
It would work fine for a thread. However, I wouldn't trust a guy that
has Vaseline laying around willy nilly.
thirty-six
> Ok, call me a bit stupid but can Vaseline be used for greasing a thread?
> I would think it would be fine but tell my why if it should not. I am
> not talking about greasing something that needs a lot grease but maybe a
> thread like on a brake pad or similar.
Petroleum jelly is fine for bicycle threads, either that or oil. You
dont want to be splashing oil around brake pads or rims. So, either a
proper little oil can or use the jelly with a stick. I dont like to
use a typical auto grease with its thickener or soap because there are
some types which will end up binding the threads and will not allow
for accurate feel when refastening after some time. Overtensioning of
the bolt may then occur with stripped threads or later, snapping.
Could possibly have influenced my failures with seat pin clamp bolts.
Frank Krygowski
> Ok, call me a bit stupid but can Vaseline be used for greasing a thread?
> I would think it would be fine but tell my why if it should not. I am
> not talking about greasing something that needs a lot grease but maybe a
> thread like on a brake pad or similar.
I can't imagine a reason to try it!
Well, maybe if I were riding across some remote area of the Dakotas,
had a squeak that was driving me crazy, forgot to bring any oil with
me, and came upon a store that had only vaseline, no oil or grease.
BTW, on brake parts, I'd be much more likely to use blue Loctite than
to use grease. It prevents threads rusting just as well, and it also
prevents accidental loosening. Same is true on fender attachments,
rack attachments, etc.
- Frank Krygowski
thirty-six
> On Dec 27, 8:27 pm, Mark Cleary <mclear...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > Ok, call me a bit stupid but can Vaseline be used for greasing a thread?
> > I would think it would be fine but tell my why if it should not. I am
> > not talking about greasing something that needs a lot grease but maybe a
> > thread like on a brake pad or similar.
> > --
> > Deacon Mark Cleary
> > Epiphany Roman Catholic Church
>
> Yeah, but it will probably break down
Doesn't.
thirty-six
> Op 28-12-2009 4:27, Mark Cleary schreef:
>
> > Ok, call me a bit stupid but can Vaseline be used for greasing a thread?
> > I would think it would be fine but tell my why if it should not. I am
> > not talking about greasing something that needs a lot grease but maybe a
> > thread like on a brake pad or similar.
>
> Why use vaseline when any grease is cheaper and better?
It isn't.
thirty-six
> On Dec 27, 10:27 pm, Mark Cleary <mclear...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > Ok, call me a bit stupid but can Vaseline be used for greasing a thread?
> > I would think it would be fine but tell my why if it should not. I am
> > not talking about greasing something that needs a lot grease but maybe a
> > thread like on a brake pad or similar.
>
> I can't imagine a reason to try it!
>
> Well, maybe if I were riding across some remote area of the Dakotas,
> had a squeak that was driving me crazy, forgot to bring any oil with
> me, and came upon a store that had only vaseline, no oil or grease.
Any lip balm or fat.
>
> BTW, on brake parts, I'd be much more likely to use blue Loctite than
> to use grease. It prevents threads rusting just as well, and it also
> prevents accidental loosening. Same is true on fender attachments,
> rack attachments, etc.
So does a decent level of torque when the lubricant is oil or pet
jelly.
andre...@aol.com
> On 28 Dec, 03:50, "andresm...@aol.com" <andresm...@aol.com> wrote:
>
> > On Dec 27, 8:27 pm, Mark Cleary <mclear...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > > Ok, call me a bit stupid but can Vaseline be used for greasing a thread?
> > > I would think it would be fine but tell my why if it should not. I am
> > > not talking about greasing something that needs a lot grease but maybe a
> > > thread like on a brake pad or similar.
> > > --
> > > Deacon Mark Cleary
> > > Epiphany Roman Catholic Church
>
> > Yeah, but it will probably break down
>
> Doesn't.
I don't know the technical properties of vaseline vs auto grease.
However, when I work with vaseline a good wash with water and soap
will get rid of it. With auto grease I have to use a stronger
detergent and much hotter water.
Peter Cole
> On Dec 27, 10:27 pm, Mark Cleary <mclear...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> Ok, call me a bit stupid but can Vaseline be used for greasing a thread?
>> I would think it would be fine but tell my why if it should not. I am
>> not talking about greasing something that needs a lot grease but maybe a
>> thread like on a brake pad or similar.
>
> I can't imagine a reason to try it!
>
> Well, maybe if I were riding across some remote area of the Dakotas,
> had a squeak that was driving me crazy, forgot to bring any oil with
> me, and came upon a store that had only vaseline, no oil or grease.
When sailing, I've sometimes used tanning lotion on salt-frozen
shackles, hinges and threads.
Even if you do a lot of mechanical work, a lifetime supply of anti-seize
is under a sawbuck, ditto for silicone lube. You can live without
either, but I wouldn't choose to.
thirty-six
That would be a good point. Especially so around brakes. Petroleum
jelly is, I believe, a polymerised mineral oil. Auto grease is an oil
held in suspension by a soap or 'thickener'. It is this soap which
holds the gloop together and ends up as a weak adhesive (sometimes not
so weak) when the oil dries out. Pet jelly does not exhibit this
thickening with time and so does not end up binding the threads.
thirty-six
Just made a lookup and petroleum jelly has a melting point of around
130degF so it seems in order to wash off any surplus using hot water
and soda around the brakes. Auto grease will release its oil
depending on temperature and pressure. Not guessable for auto grease,
each application would require testing for each grease to know when
the grease will drip oil or drop. Vaseline is easier to dab on and to
clean off the surplus and does not bind as grease can.
Fritz
After reading an article by Sheldon where I believe he promoted the
use of vaseline for wheel bearings, I tried it on my bike wheel
bearings. My experience with the lube was not good. It lubricated
fine but seemed to run out and make a mess on hot days in So CaL.
I would not use it again for that purpose. Although I do use it for
threads with no problem.
thirty-six
> After reading an article by Sheldon where I believe he promoted the
> use of vaseline for wheel bearings, I tried it on my bike wheel
> bearings. My experience with the lube was not good. It lubricated
> fine but seemed to run out and make a mess on hot days in So CaL.
> I would not use it again for that purpose. Although I do use it for
> threads with no problem.
Lard is also good, but will oxidise easily. Vaseline contains
antioxidants whereas pure petroleum jelly does not. So for bearings I
think Vaseline is likely essential unless it's a single event. Mind
you, for the purposes of sealing castor oil in the chain, simple,
cheap petroleum jelly should work fine. It could also be used to
effect a seal upon a wheel bearing but would also be limited to
130degF.