Rubber lube

StefanJ · Post by **StefanJ** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:27 pm

I love the old-school instructions for lubing motor rubber:

Glycerin and green soap, purchased from the local drug store!

I figure these would be on the shelf between Doctor Finley's Radium Linament and Snockly Brother's Effervescent Celery Headache Powder . . .

I know there's a commercial rubber lube available, but is it still possible to get old timey ingredients, or their equivalent?

From the Wikipedia description, "green soap" is sometimes called castille soap. The only castille soap I know is Dr. Bronner's, the minty liquid soap with the bizarre religious rants on the label.

Is glycerin actually available over the counter?

Any general advice on using lube?

Thanks,

Stefan

supercruiser · Post by **supercruiser** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:30 pm

I have a bottle of SIG Lube. Don't remember where I got it.
I hear that some folks use Son-of-a-gun or ArmorAll.

Phugoid · Post by **Phugoid** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:51 am

Castor oil is pretty good, is cheap and available. If you don't max out the rubber for competitions etc it will probabaly serve you fine.

It can go sort of sticky on the rubber when left, so when I return from a flying session I always remove the rubber (which is always a good idea so you can inspect it for knicks and cuts anyhow) wash it in hand soap, throrougly rinse it and dry it. I then store it in a zip tie bag ready for next time. This only takes a few miniutes and in this way I have some motors that have done scores of flights over a couple of years and still work like new.

ADW 123 · Post by **ADW 123** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:02 am

glycerin is also avalable at a walgreens or a pharmacy. i do use castor oil wich is also avalable in those places and there is no porportionate mixing needed so i just use that. also cheep... works for me. i had trouble easily finding green soap so i just said screw it and got myself some castor oil.

Squishyp38 · Post by **Squishyp38** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:58 pm

Isn't glycerin explosive?

StefanJ · Post by **StefanJ** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:54 pm

Thanks for the castor oil advice. I'll give that a shot.

Squishyp38 wrote:Isn't glycerin explosive?

Nah, it's used in soap and medicine and all sorts of innocuous stuff.

Looking at Wikipedia, it's also used as a sweetner.

Bargle · Post by **Bargle** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:15 pm

Squishyp38 wrote:Isn't glycerin explosive?

It's the nitroglycerin you're got to be careful with.

Really careful.

skyjet · Post by **skyjet** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 3:53 pm

Hi, i have used silicon gun oil with excellent results, just a few drops in a plastic bag and massage the rubber in the bag and it lasts for ages.

Cheers Skyjet