DON'T OIL IT !!!

[JIM D.]

I've posted at least twice in the last few years on refraining from using oil type lubricants on any accordion components. I'd like to update my previous
advice as I've found another alternative lubricant. Now my previous advice always was "Don't Oil It" as the oil products will in attract dust and dirt which
in time will only amplify the original problem. I've found many many accordions of age that have slides, shift machines and bass machines that have been oiled
or in some cases greased in the past and now are gummed up with dirt or the grease used has with time turned to a tar that will require disassembly, cleaning and
reassembled with a dry lubricant. Now in the past I've always recommended a product -- Elmer's Slide All dry lubricant-- a good product but has been
discontinued . I've tried a new dry lubricant that is as good if not superior.




Amazon product ASIN B00D3G6IFE
The product sprays on as a liquid and dries to a light teflon coating. Unlike petrol based lubricants it will not swell wood components
or harm accordion finishes. Older accordions will normally require some type of lubricant because of extensive wear of components.
Older accordions with assisted dry lubrication (treble keyboards & bass machines) will aid in the pallets seating faster and improve
the instruments performance.

 

[Dingo40]

Thanks, Jim ?

 

[debra]

Again a very valuable find. We often do want some lubrication, but don't want to use oil. This seems to offer the best of both worlds.

 

[nagant27]

I’ve used a similar spray made by wd40. It’s not the original obviously. It came up as an alternative to the elmers slide all so I tried it.
Do you guys not like graphite because of the mess it makes?

 

[JIM D.]

I started minor accordion repairs in the early 70's and the dry lubricant of choice at the time was graphite. It came in liquid and a dry powder form and
at times we used rubbed on pencil lead (graphite). The powder form when not carefully applied left a black residue that was a pain to
clean up. The liquid form of application was less messy but did leave a slight oil residue that in fact swelled wood and attracted dust. The newer type
Lubricants started showing up in the 70's and have progressed to the lubricants available today.

 

[Pipemajor]

Just wondering if you could use silicone spray on lubricant. The can says it is suitable for use on rubber,plastic, metal and wood . I've used it on the window rubbers on my car and, when the spray evaporates, it is invisible.

 

[Dingo40]

Following up Nagant27, I'm also wondering if this product by WD40 may be suitable??

See here:

WD-40 150g Specialist Anti Friction Dry PTFE Lubricant

Find WD-40 150g Specialist Anti Friction Dry PTFE Lubricant at Bunnings. Visit your local store for the widest range of products.

www.bunnings.com.au

 

[Dingo40]

At first sight, dry graphite (colloidal graphite) in accordions would seem to be potentially disastrous as it could clog the reeds, other than being unsightly and prone to spreading over everything, like jam!?

 

[JIM D.]

I've tried the WD-40 dry Specialist

WD-40 150g Specialist Anti Friction Dry PTFE Lubricant

Find WD-40 150g Specialist Anti Friction Dry PTFE Lubricant at Bunnings. Visit your local store for the widest range of products.

www.bunnings.com.au

It worked well but Leaves a small oily residue that will still tend to attract dust - the Dupont Teflon leaves only a powder and is superior.

 

[Dingo40]

OK!??

 

[Pipemajor]

Seems that the Dupont Teflon spray is virtually unobtainable. None at Amazon,and, when googled, apparently none in the UK

 

[JIM D.]

Amazon product ASIN B00D3G6IFE

DuPont Teflon антипригарным сухой-пленка смазка аэрозоль - 10 унций (примерно 283.49 г.) | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for DuPont Teflon антипригарным сухой-пленка смазка аэрозоль - 10 унций (примерно 283.49 г.) at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

eBay UK --

DuPont Teflon Non Stick Dry Film Lubricant Friction Surfaces Aerosol Spray 14 Oz | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for DuPont Teflon Non Stick Dry Film Lubricant Friction Surfaces Aerosol Spray 14 Oz at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[nagant27]

Ok! Excellent. I just ordered it. Looking forward to trying it out. Thanks Jim as always.

 

[JIM D.]

In my previous post I refrained for addressing using dry lube on older accordion models. Back in the time many accordion manufactures
used grease on shift machines & key rods in the manufacture of some of the older models. This old grease over time has turned to
a tar and will cause the old greased parts to jam and will require removal, cleaning and re-assembling before applying dry lube.
In this case the old adage applies "NOTHING"S EASY".

 

[Cheshire Chris]

I wonder if the silicone-based dry lube used for bicycle chains would work? Its selling point is precisely the fact that dirt doesn't stick to it unlike oil-based "wet" lubes.

Chris

 

[Glug]

Still can't get the Dupont stuff in the UK so I will be using the WD40 version (yes I tried Amazon and Ebay).

But I'm wondering if it's good for brass register slides ?

Brass is 'self lubricating', but is that only brass on brass action ? My brass register slides are between aluminium plates.

 

[Dingo40]

Glug,
AFAK aluminium also is self lubricating?

 

[oldbayan]

I knew an old repair man who used to rub a bar of soap on sliding parts

 

[Glug]

I just tried PTFE on the brass register sliders.
I'm measuring the force to get them to move with a spring balance, mostly so I can check which ones need attention the most but also to check for any improvement.
The balance showed PTFE made no real difference, so I scrubbed it off again.

 

[Ventura]

we were taught to hold a bar of soap against a squeaky fan belt as a short term "fix"
when the driver didn't have time or money to let us put a new belt on