Cleaning up yellowed/grubby plastic?

From: Tony Duell <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
Date: Wed Aug 25 16:15:38 2004

> Real mechanics read the manual that came with the machine they need to lube,

Correct.

> and they also make sure the lube is rated for the temperature their gear
> will run in. Last time I checked viscosity is temperature dependent, so you
> might need something "thicker" in hotter climates and something "thinner" in
> colder ones.

Normally the manuals will recomend lubricants (maybe with different
recomendations for warm or cool climates). If so, and they're available,
you need a seriously good reason not to use them, IMHO.

My Myford lathe came with a lubrication chart (some 30-odd oil points
IIRC) and recomended lubricants. Myford sell the oils in sensible-sized
cans (i.e. enough to last a couple of years), and they're not that
expensive, so of course I use them. I also use them on similar-sized
machinery and tools...

> For quite a few purposes around the house where something is old and stuck
> and just needs to get moving again (not worth the time and effort for a
> rebuild) WD40 works just fine.

WD40 is ideal for keeping rust of your garden spade, but I wouldn't use
it on precision machinery!

-tony
Received on Wed Aug 25 2004 - 16:15:38 BST