captainslack
Five Goats Hunter
I've got an Industar-50 with a stiff focusing ring. From what I'm read on various websites I need some sort of synthetic grease to loosen it up. I don't have a clue what to look for, though. Any suggestions?
synthetic grease
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aizan
Veteran
moly grease, afaik.
P
pshinkaw
Guest
Radio Shack's gel lube is good stuff, but it is a little dense. I tried it on a lens helical and it provided too much resistance for my taste. However, it is excellent for putting iris blades back in place. It also keeps f-top rings from accidentlly moving around. I have also used it on the sliding bars of rapid advance levers. It does stay put.
There is a white lithium lube sold in electronics stores (I shop at Altex Electronics). GC Waldom Silicone Compound Grease.
http://www.altex.com/
It claims to be low volatility and has worked very well for me, even in the Texas heat. I use it on lens helicals. Radio Shack probably has something similar. I believe low volatility and constant viscosity is also prized amoing electronics hobbyists since a lot of computer gear is subjected to a constant level of heat.
-Paul
There is a white lithium lube sold in electronics stores (I shop at Altex Electronics). GC Waldom Silicone Compound Grease.
http://www.altex.com/
It claims to be low volatility and has worked very well for me, even in the Texas heat. I use it on lens helicals. Radio Shack probably has something similar. I believe low volatility and constant viscosity is also prized amoing electronics hobbyists since a lot of computer gear is subjected to a constant level of heat.
-Paul
captainslack
Five Goats Hunter
Guess I'll take a trip to Radio Shack tomorrow and see what's available.
Has anyone used any of the stuff Micro-Tools sells? They have a wide selection, but their prices seem high.
http://www.micro-tools.com/Merchant2/lubricants.htm
Has anyone used any of the stuff Micro-Tools sells? They have a wide selection, but their prices seem high.
http://www.micro-tools.com/Merchant2/lubricants.htm
VictorM.
Well-known
I've had some success with bicycle grease: "Finish Line Premium Grease". Not too expensive, either.
stet
lurker.
I'd suggest a grease that's really thick and packs well, like red-colored high-temperature wheel bearing grease from an auto shop. The auto stuff is much thicker, which helps if your parts aren't machined very well. I have an Industar 61 L/D that I carved out the old wax-like grease from then redid with fairly thick white grease I got from a sports store, and it turned smooth but wiggled because of the uneven machining. The red stuff fixes that to an extent.
captainslack
Five Goats Hunter
I bought some of the Radio Shack gel lube today and applied it to the helical threads on the I-50. It's turning much easier now. Thanks for everyone's suggestions!
As Paul, said, this lube is a little stiff for the job I'm using it for. If I need to do this again on a different lens, I'll probably get a different kind of lubricant. This I-50 is going on the Leica IIf I bought on Ebay yesterday (it's the only collapsible lens I have) and I can live with the focusing ring being a little stiff as it's only going to stay there until I save up some money for an Elmar. Provided, of course, the nasty looking scratch and cleaning marks on it don't result in nasty looking pics. In which case, there's an I-22 in my future.
As Paul, said, this lube is a little stiff for the job I'm using it for. If I need to do this again on a different lens, I'll probably get a different kind of lubricant. This I-50 is going on the Leica IIf I bought on Ebay yesterday (it's the only collapsible lens I have) and I can live with the focusing ring being a little stiff as it's only going to stay there until I save up some money for an Elmar. Provided, of course, the nasty looking scratch and cleaning marks on it don't result in nasty looking pics. In which case, there's an I-22 in my future.
atelier7
Well-known
would this pass as grease?
http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/4315bece0ba5788e273fc0a87f9c0770/Product/View/N1205
http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/4315bece0ba5788e273fc0a87f9c0770/Product/View/N1205
Honu-Hugger
Well-known
captainslack said:
But how much do you need and what is the work worth? G-man's seepage advice is very wise; no sense in going to the trouble to make a repair now only to be faced with other problems later. Henry Scherer's knowledge of lubricants is yet another reason I trust him to all of my lens work (whatever he agrees to take on), even non Contax lenses.
blee017
John Lee
I used "Super Lube" from micro-tools (3 oz tube for $5.26) with good results.
It is colorless and thinner than the Radioshack Gel.
Now a word about micro-tools.
Among other things, I ordered a Niwa screwdriver set containing two handles and several blades.
Apparently Niwa handles are back-ordered and they sent all the blades without the handles.
So make sure that they have what you are ordering in stock; their web site does not show that information.
It is colorless and thinner than the Radioshack Gel.
Now a word about micro-tools.
Among other things, I ordered a Niwa screwdriver set containing two handles and several blades.
Apparently Niwa handles are back-ordered and they sent all the blades without the handles.
So make sure that they have what you are ordering in stock; their web site does not show that information.
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