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Old October 10th 14, 11:25 PM posted to rec.radio.amateur.antenna
rickman rickman is offline
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First recorded activity by RadioBanter: Nov 2012
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Default swivel lubricant

On 10/9/2014 10:28 AM, Lostgallifreyan wrote:
Tom W3TDH wrote in
:

I need suggestions for a long lasting lubricant paste for the swivels I
use in my antenna support system. The critical aspect is it must be
compatible with polyester & Nylon ropes. If anyone knows of a lubricant
that is applied as a paste and will continue contributing a lubricating
layer for an extended time but that is also not destructive of
artificial rope I would love to hear of it.

--
Tom Horne W3TDH


Try 'Krytox', used for scuba breathing gear, specifically the rubber O-rings
and valves. It's a PFPE grease (perfluoropolyether), and uses various
thickeners, often powedered teflon. It is very inert, tends to stay where it
is put, and so long as heavy weather can't get in to force displacement, it
should last as long as you need it to. As far as I know, it won't be degraded
with UV, and will not outgas much with ambient heat. I'm not sure what if
anything will degrade it quickly.


That may not be a good lubricant. Its intended purpose is to help with
the seal of the o-rings. Lubrication is not really needed there.

That said, I'm sure it is a better lubricant than not having one. Of
course this all depends on what is being lubricated. I assume the
swivels are made of metal, but which kind and what surface?

--

Rick