Hello all,

In searching for graphite grease for my power feed, I couldn't help
notice that lithium based grease is much more readily available. Is
that perhaps because it is better than graphite?

Put another way, would you clean out the graphite and start using
Lithium grease, or order from the real thing from
http://www.graphitestore.com ?

Best Line wasn't terribly opinionated on the subject. They were
pleasant, but "sure, if the thickness is about the same" isn't really an
answer. Or is it?

Bill

Put another way, would you clean out the graphite and start using
Lithium grease, or order from the real thing from
http://www.graphitestore.com ?


Clean out the old if you decide to change . You don't want to mix
lubricants, it's asking for trouble.
I don't think I would change from the spec'd lube unless i knew why it
was chosen in the first place. I might be inclined to use a moly based
lube instead of the lithium.
All of that said I have seen dried out crapped up graphite based lubes
continuing to work just fine.

On Sat, 19 Nov 2005 19:15:56 GMT, Bill Schwab
wrote:

Hello all,

In searching for graphite grease for my power feed, I couldn't help
notice that lithium based grease is much more readily available. Is
that perhaps because it is better than graphite?

Put another way, would you clean out the graphite and start using
Lithium grease, or order from the real thing from
http://www.graphitestore.com ?

Best Line wasn't terribly opinionated on the subject. They were
pleasant, but "sure, if the thickness is about the same" isn't really an
answer. Or is it?

Bill
The lithium in lithium base grease is soap and is the carrier for the
lubricant. Graphite is a lubricant. If the manual says to use graphite
then use it. If a lithium soap based grease with oil as the lubricant
dries out it means that the lubricant is gone and all that remains is
the soap. A graphite containing grease, if it dries out, will leave
the graphite behind. So even a dried out graphite grease will still
leave a high pressure lubricant behind.
ERS

While I have no hard data to prove anything, it seemed that when
we changed over to teflon loaded grease [the aqua colored stuff]
the slides seemed to move easier and stick slip was reduced.
This was on an old mill and several old lathes so may not mean
much but it is something that you can try for not much money.

Uncle George

On 19 Nov 2005 13:37:05 -0800, "KyMike"
wrote:


Bill Schwab wrote:
Hello all,

In searching for graphite grease for my power feed, I couldn't help
notice that lithium based grease is much more readily available. Is
that perhaps because it is better than graphite?


Bill



As you may know, you can make your own graphite grease by mixing dry
graphite with ordinary grease, if you have a local source for the
graphite. Another way is to add enough graphite to STP oil treatment
until it forms a stiff paste. In my opinion this works even better for
many uses, but in case of doubt I would follow the machine builder's
recommendation.

Mike

Mike,

As you may know, you can make your own graphite grease by mixing dry
graphite with ordinary grease, if you have a local source for the
graphite.

I didn't know that; I probably can get the graphite, though I can just
as easily go with the vendor I've found for the grease. I do have to
ask what is meant by "ordinary grease" though. A few weeks ago, I'd
have read right over that, but having seen so many base types, the world
isn't that simple anymore ~:0



Another way is to add enough graphite to STP oil treatment
until it forms a stiff paste. In my opinion this works even better for
many uses, but in case of doubt I would follow the machine builder's
recommendation.

No offense to the guy at Best Line, I don't think they have a strong
opinion, or if they do, I haven't found the person who knows the reason.

Thanks!

Bill

Proctologically Violated©® wrote:
Used to be you could buy little squeeze bottles of pure graphite, for locks,
etc.
Lock-ease was a low-viscosity product w/ suspended graphite.

Grind up pencil leads??? Carbon-arc torch rods?
Mebbe not!
Iffin I remember correctly from chem, seems graphite had a slightly
different super-structure than plain old compressed carbon--loosely bonded
into flat molecular small sheets/rings, which would then slide over each
other.

I think what I will do is just order this stuff:

http://www.graphitestore.com/itemDet...10&c urPage=1

and be happy. FWIW, it seems to me that graphite grease was common, but
that it is becoming less so????

Thanks!!

Bill