Message: 1

Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2004 15:06:04 -0600

From: "Tim Engel" <tengel@mchsi.com>
Subject: Re: Lithium Grease

From: <dsherm112@yahoo.com>
To: <camera-fix@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, January 19, 2004 4:13 PM
Subject: [camera-fix] Lithium Grease
>

> Can I use Lithium grease in place of moly grease?

Sherm,

No. You're comparing apples and oranges.... grease and additive.

Lithium grease is a liquid oil (it could be petroleum, vegetable, animal, or

synthetic) thickened with a soap that's based upon chemical compounds of
Lithium (like lithium 12-hydroxy stearate). In a similar fashion, sodium
grease is another common type made of oil thickened with a soap based upon
sodium compounds.

"Moly grease" is micro-powdered Molybdenum Disulfide (mo lib da num) added

to a "grease" that may be lithium, sodium, synthetic or some other
non-grease cream carrier. The same applies to "Graphite grease" and
"Teflon grease". As examples, Graphogen is a colloidal suspension of
Graphite in a grease-like carrier, and Moly-Graph is a colloidal suspension
of Moly and Graphite in a lithium-petroleum grease.

Molybdenum Disulfide is widely recognized in the lubrication industry as an

extreme pressure and anti-wear additive. If an application calls for a
Moly lubricant, it's calling for more than just a plain, ordinary grease...
lithium-based or otherwise. In that case you should make the effort to
find and use a Moly grease.

Over time, many soap-based greases will release their oils. Set a grease
gun on the workbench and after a while it will be surrounded by a puddle of
oil. The petroleum oils used in conventional industrial and automotive
greases are not compatible with many of the plastics used in newer
cameras... including polycarbonate (Lexan), polyamide (Nylon), acetal
(Delrin) and polyvinyl chloride (vinyl) which are common in cameras.

If you only work on classic/ vintage "all-metal" cameras, chemical

compatibility may not be much of a concern; but a grease that releases free
oil over time might be. If it's smeared on in a light, spot-localized
film, that probably won't be much of an issue. But a soap grease is
probably not the most appropriate for a lens helicoid where grease is
applied in greater quantity, since any free oil that is released may find
it's way to the leaves of the aperture diaphragm or the shutter.

Although not generally stated clearly, the Lithium grease called for in
cameras is very different from common industrial/ automotive lithium
greases. It's a white lithium grease originally formulated to be safe for
use in food plants. From there, many other uses have been found. In
general, white lithium greases are very benign and compatible with most
materials... including most plastics. They also do not tend to release
free oil... or at least as readily.

Moly, graphite or Teflon greases contain those materials in micro-powdered

form as extreme pressure or anti-friction additives. "Moly Grease" does
not describe the chemistry of the base grease as much as it indicates
Molybdenum-Disulfide powder has been stirred in. Some "Moly Greases"
aren't even greases in the conventional sense, but colloidal suspensions of
Moly powder in some other greaseless from of creamy carrier.

Molybdenum Disulfide is an effective extreme pressure / anti-wear additive

with some additional low-friction benefits. Graphite's claim to fame is
primarily in reducing friction. However, the benefits of adding powdered
Teflon to oils and greases is questionable... at least subject to debate.

DuPont (holder of the Teflon trademark) has publicly withdrawn it's support
of such 3rd-party "Teflon" lubricants (like Slick-50) for many
applications, saying their research doesn't support the claims. Teflon
heat fused to a surface like cookware or bearings and guides is very
effective. And Teflon heat fused into plastic parts during hi-temp molding
processes also reduces friction. But DuPont maintains their research
indicates that simply stirring Teflon powder into a lubricant does not
reduce friction or improve lubrication.

Regards,
Tim Engel

PS...
Nothing to do with grease, but just a teaser...
For many light oil applications in cameras, I've started using a
penetrating dry-film lubricant made by LubeCon called Drop'l Do. It's
Molybdenum Disulfide micro-powder in a volatile liquid carrier and packaged
in a small squeeze bottle with a needle tip. Shake it up, dispense a
small droplet just where you want it and it wicks deep into tight
clearances. Let it dry. The carrier is more than just a solvent and
leaves it's own dry film lubrication, combined with the Molybdenum
Disulfide dry lube. It's very effective and great where you want light,
low-drag, non-viscous lubrication without the mess of a conventional liquid
lubricant... like shutters.

Unfortunately, LubeCon does not sell retail. Their reps work strictly
with industrial accounts. I've told the rep around here that I think there
are applications for the product in camera, watch and instrument repair,
and gave him the names of places like Fargo Enterprises and Cam-Comp. He
seemed very interested, but it's been a year and I haven't seen the product
show up at any of the camera repair suppliers.

If you work for an industrial manufacturer, go back to the maintenance

department or tool room and ask the manager if the LubeCon rep comes around
(subsidiary of Castrol Industrial North America Inc). They often give away
1 oz bottles like other salesmen give away pens, note pads or calendars.
That's how I came by my first few bottles. Their sample bottles just say
LubeCon without the name Drop'l Do on it. But some LubeCon customers do
re-sell it to their customers. In that case, the name Drop'l Do is
printed on the bottle. Here's a website for one such vendor (trailer
hitches... about as far from camera repair as you can get).
http://www.hitches4less.com/dropdoprophi.html

Address:
LubeCon Systems Inc
201 N. Webster
White Cloud, Michigan 49349
USA
(800) 582-3266) Phone, US & Canada (that's 800-LubeCon)
(231) 689-0002 Phone, Outside US or Local
(231) 689-0372 Fax
<Catina.Metcalf@castrol.com>
<http://www.lubecon.com/>