On 19/08/2010 00:47, Ian Iveson wrote:
A good quality Sewing Machine oil is formulated to do
a
similar job.

Not by a long way it isn't.

Agreed. In the US 3-in-1 Small Motor Oil is readily
available in a
convenient dispenser.

I tend to lump 3 in 1 in with WD40. They may both 'work'
but there are
other far better products for a single task. I'd not use
either on
anything important. Just to stop the garden gate
squeaking.


They're great for freeing things that are rusted-up. But I
entirely agree that I wouldn't think them suitable for a
turntable bearing. As has already been said a sewing
machine oil sounds about right.

Are there 3 things in 3-in-1? What are they?


:-) I think it means three jobs with one product, marketing speak?

If you want the oil to stay in place for 20 years, without
leaking, evaporating, wearing out or absorbing water and
whilst reliably continuing to inhibit corrosion, a modern
automotive gearbox oil is designed for just that purpose. It
may have a redundant property or two, but other options
mentioned, including "sewing machine oil" fall short in one
or more respects.

Sewing machine oil was (is?) common in households because
sewing machines need frequent oiling. Where does all the oil
go? When you oil a door hinge and it needs oiling again
after a year, where did the oil go? If you oil an outside
hinge with light machine oil, sewing machine oil, or
especially "3-in-1", why does it need oiling again after a
month or two, or after a few showers?

Gear oil will outperform those penetrating light oils by
miles. And it won't leak like a penetrating oil might. If
available gearbox oil is too viscous, motorcycle fork oil
would be good, but not so easily available in small
quantities for a few pence.


I just used engine oil in the end. ISTR the Project oil supplied with a
TT had a similar consistency.

I don't think there's one answer to the question 'what's best' - it's
always going to be a compromise between friction and (say) evaporation.
I know heavier oils have been criticised for 'noise' - I couldn't really
say.

Rob

In article , Rob
wrote:
On 19/08/2010 00:47, Ian Iveson wrote:


Are there 3 things in 3-in-1? What are they?


:-) I think it means three jobs with one product, marketing speak?

I think that is correct.

So far as I recall it is essentially an oil mixture with added graphite
powder. I suppose it may also have some kind of surfactant, but no idea.
Don't have a can to see if it gives details.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

In article ,
Jim Lesurf wrote:
I tend to lump 3 in 1 in with WD40. They may both 'work' but there are
other far better products for a single task. I'd not use either on
anything important. Just to stop the garden gate squeaking.

You've reminded me that in days of yore '3-in-1' was sometimes a quick
'fix' for noisy and worn pots. Lubricated *and* provided a new film of
conductor over any worn parts of a thin carbon track. Not sure what the
long-term consequences may have been, though! Probably dire... :-)

This is the problem. Both might well provide a quick fix - but how do they
last compared to using a dedicated decent product?

--
*When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article Oi_ao.107852$6C1.98906@hurricane,
Ian Iveson wrote:
They're great for freeing things that are rusted-up. But I
entirely agree that I wouldn't think them suitable for a
turntable bearing. As has already been said a sewing
machine oil sounds about right.

Are there 3 things in 3-in-1? What are they?

IIRC, Cleans, lubricates and prevents rust. Of course that was the
original - later products might just use the name.

As a kid, I used it to polish rust off chrome etc on a bike, so my guess
is it contains a fine abrasive too. Which is the bit which worries me.

--
*Work is for people who don't know how to fish.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

In article Oi_ao.107852$6C1.98906@hurricane,
Ian Iveson wrote:
Gear oil will outperform those penetrating light oils by
miles. And it won't leak like a penetrating oil might. If
available gearbox oil is too viscous, motorcycle fork oil
would be good, but not so easily available in small
quantities for a few pence.

Most synchromesh car gearboxes these days use either engine oil or
sometimes ATF (auto gearbox stuff) although that's not to say so called
gear oil isn't on sale.

A car engine has all sorts of bearings and shear stresses, so my gut
feeling is a suitable weight one would be the best choice. As well as
being readily available in reasonable quantities at a good price.

--
*Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 19/08/2010 10:56, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In articleOi_ao.107852$6C1.98906@hurricane,
Ian wrote:
Gear oil will outperform those penetrating light oils by
miles. And it won't leak like a penetrating oil might. If
available gearbox oil is too viscous, motorcycle fork oil
would be good, but not so easily available in small
quantities for a few pence.

Most synchromesh car gearboxes these days use either engine oil or
sometimes ATF (auto gearbox stuff) although that's not to say so called
gear oil isn't on sale.

Hypoid EP90 Gear Oil - used in differentials where the pressures are
much higher.

And I think it was a bit too heavy for my spindle so I might change it
for something lighter.

--
Eiron.

On 19/08/2010 10:30, Jim Lesurf wrote:
In , Rob
wrote:
On 19/08/2010 00:47, Ian Iveson wrote:


Are there 3 things in 3-in-1? What are they?


:-) I think it means three jobs with one product, marketing speak?

I think that is correct.

So far as I recall it is essentially an oil mixture with added graphite
powder. I suppose it may also have some kind of surfactant, but no idea.
Don't have a can to see if it gives details.

That's the special 3-in-1 with added graphite. The normal stuff is just
a light oil.

--
Eiron.

In article , Dave Plowman (News)
wrote:
In article Oi_ao.107852$6C1.98906@hurricane, Ian Iveson
wrote:
They're great for freeing things that are rusted-up. But I entirely
agree that I wouldn't think them suitable for a turntable bearing.
As has already been said a sewing machine oil sounds about right.

Are there 3 things in 3-in-1? What are they?

IIRC, Cleans, lubricates and prevents rust. Of course that was the
original - later products might just use the name.

In the days when I used to ride a bike (Dawes Super Galaxy IIRC) to work I
used to regularly clean it with two sprays of lube/rustpreventer. I can't
recall the brand name. A three letter acronym followed by a number. Happy
days... except for all the white van drivers who seemed to want to kill any
cyclist they encountered and would aim at you and drive you off the road.

As a kid, I used it to polish rust off chrome etc on a bike, so my guess
is it contains a fine abrasive too. Which is the bit which worries me.

It may have just dissolved the oxide. But I've not seen or used 3-in-1 for
years so have no idea what it contained.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in
message
In article
, Arny
Krueger wrote:
A good quality Sewing Machine oil is formulated to do a
similar job.

Agreed. In the US 3-in-1 Small Motor Oil is readily
available in a convenient dispenser.

I tend to lump 3 in 1 in with WD40. They may both 'work'
but there are other far better products for a single
task. I'd not use either on anything important. Just to
stop the garden gate squeaking.

IME they are two very different products.

IME WD40 is rarely if ever a permanent fix. You are either trapped in a
cycle of periodic reapplications, or you use WD40 to free things up so that
the final solution product can get in there and do its job.

When I worked for IBM as a machine fixer and maintainer, they issued us
spray cans of "IBM Number 6" which was rumored to be WD-40. We were told to
never use it to repair or maintain *anything*. Rather we were told to use it
to clean and free things up with. Spray, cycle the mechanism to free things
up, and then remove with a clean rag. Finish the job with an application of
the right stuff.

In contrast, the appropriate 3 in 1 products will get you through the
OEM-recommended lubrication cycle. There's nothing special about them
except that they are formulated for those certain purposes, readily
available, and sold in convenient sizes and dispensers for the household and
small shop market.

In addition to the above products I also make extensive use of white lithium
grease, moly-based bicycle chain lube, and graphited lock lubricant, for
casual situations.

Big toys get the vendor-specified lube, whatever that is.

"Ian Iveson" wrote in
message news:Oi_ao.107852$6C1.98906@hurricane
A good quality Sewing Machine oil is formulated to do
a
similar job.

Not by a long way it isn't.

Agreed. In the US 3-in-1 Small Motor Oil is readily
available in a
convenient dispenser.

I tend to lump 3 in 1 in with WD40. They may both 'work'
but there are
other far better products for a single task. I'd not use
either on
anything important. Just to stop the garden gate
squeaking.


They're great for freeing things that are rusted-up. But
I entirely agree that I wouldn't think them suitable for
a turntable bearing. As has already been said a sewing
machine oil sounds about right.

Are there 3 things in 3-in-1? What are they?

I think that 3-in-1 stands for "Stop Rust, Libricate and Protect"