Home Lube Formula?
12-09-07, 11:50 AM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Bellerose,NY
Posts: 42
Bikes: Specialized Crossroads/ Colnago racer(can no linger ride it due to physical limitations
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Home Lube Formula?
Upon deciding to try a home-made chain lube(somewhat like Pro-Gold,which I"ve been using), I"m still unsure of the correct,or best, proportion of motor oil to mineral spirits.. Any help,please.
12-09-07, 01:30 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,487
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 140 Post(s)
Liked 162 Times
in
89 Posts
I've mixed Pennzoil 30 wt motor oil with mineral spirits, I played around with the proportions, starting with 1:1, then 2:1, and finally 3:1 (larger numbers are mineral spirits). I found 1:1 to be too much like motor oil to penetrate the chain well, 2:1 seemed okay but still noticeably thicker than Pro Link Gold, and 3:1 seemed to look like and have about the same consistency as Pro Link Gold.
I was mixing this up in very small quanties, and in the end I mixed up a few ounces of it in the 3:1 ratio and used it for awhile on a couple of my bikes. It seemed to lube quite well, keeping the chain quiet for a long time between applications.
I wipe my chains off with a rag as needed, but I did find one very noticeable difference between the homeade lube and the "real" stuff, however: the mineral spirits/motor oil mix will turn black on your chain in a very short time, much quicker than something like Pro Link or Tri Flo.
I really don't know why: is it because dirt from the outside world is sticking to the mineral spirits/oil mixture that much more than the "real" chain lube, or is it because the motor oil mix is bringing dirt from the inside of the chain to the outside and holding it in suspension more than the "real" lube? Again I don't know, but the bottom line for me, once I used up the small container of homeade lube, is that I don't like a black chain so I switched back to regular chain lube. There may be others with a different experience, but that was the way it worked out for me.
I was mixing this up in very small quanties, and in the end I mixed up a few ounces of it in the 3:1 ratio and used it for awhile on a couple of my bikes. It seemed to lube quite well, keeping the chain quiet for a long time between applications.
I wipe my chains off with a rag as needed, but I did find one very noticeable difference between the homeade lube and the "real" stuff, however: the mineral spirits/motor oil mix will turn black on your chain in a very short time, much quicker than something like Pro Link or Tri Flo.
I really don't know why: is it because dirt from the outside world is sticking to the mineral spirits/oil mixture that much more than the "real" chain lube, or is it because the motor oil mix is bringing dirt from the inside of the chain to the outside and holding it in suspension more than the "real" lube? Again I don't know, but the bottom line for me, once I used up the small container of homeade lube, is that I don't like a black chain so I switched back to regular chain lube. There may be others with a different experience, but that was the way it worked out for me.
Last edited by well biked; 12-09-07 at 01:58 PM.
12-09-07, 02:13 PM
#5
Don't Bug Me
I probably spend $4.00 every two years for a bottle of Road Rage. That's one expense in my cycling budget that isn't breaking me.
12-09-07, 02:33 PM
#6
use your best eye
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Olympia, Washington
Posts: 3,050
Bikes: '75 Bertin, '93 Parkpre Team 925, '04 Kona King Kikapu, '05 Bianchi Vigorelli
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
If you want to compare or get an idea of what is in chain lubes, Google on the product and add MSDS (material safety data sheet).
__________________
"I tell you, We are here on earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." - Kurt Vonnegut jr.
"I tell you, We are here on earth to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you any different." - Kurt Vonnegut jr.
12-09-07, 02:42 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,095 Times
in
741 Posts
That's not right, the ratio is the other way around.
My formula is 3 parts OMS (odorless mineral spirits) to 1 part Mobil 1 synthetic oil. I use 10W-30 grade of Mobile 1 but that doesn't matter much. I make the mix up one quart at a time and repack it into the 4-0z bottles left over from Pro-Link.
I use it rather lavishly. First I wipe the chain with a dry rag, then apply the lube freely to clean the chain, wipe off the excess then apply more and let the solvent evaporate. My chains stay reasonably clean and last a long time.
My formula is 3 parts OMS (odorless mineral spirits) to 1 part Mobil 1 synthetic oil. I use 10W-30 grade of Mobile 1 but that doesn't matter much. I make the mix up one quart at a time and repack it into the 4-0z bottles left over from Pro-Link.
I use it rather lavishly. First I wipe the chain with a dry rag, then apply the lube freely to clean the chain, wipe off the excess then apply more and let the solvent evaporate. My chains stay reasonably clean and last a long time.
12-09-07, 08:59 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 9,438
Bikes: Trek 5500, Colnago C-50
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
6 Posts
I use about 3 parts mineral spirits to 1 part Mobil 1 synthetic. If you get it too thick you'll have a gooey chain. The ingredients are always in my garage anyway, for other purposes. As for bike specific lubes I like Purple Extreme.
Al
Last edited by Al1943; 12-11-07 at 03:02 PM.
12-10-07, 11:06 AM
#10
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Bellerose,NY
Posts: 42
Bikes: Specialized Crossroads/ Colnago racer(can no linger ride it due to physical limitations
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks, the 3 to 1 spirits to syn.oil sounds worth trying. Later
12-10-07, 11:19 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: La La Land (We love it!)
Posts: 6,301
Bikes: Gilmour road, Curtlo road; both steel (of course)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 273 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
9 Posts
Local chapter of the "Too much time on our hands" crowd, no doubt. 
__________________
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
12-10-07, 04:23 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,095 Times
in
741 Posts
Nope, too many bikes to want to pay $6 for 4-oz when I can pay $10 for more than a gallon. I use it on all 5 of my bikes and supply my family and a couple of friends so I go through a fair bit of lube.
BTW, It doesn't take me any longer to buy OMS and Mobile 1 that it does to go to the LBS for the "right" lube and mixing the two takes maybe 5 minutes. It is not a big time consumer.
BTW, It doesn't take me any longer to buy OMS and Mobile 1 that it does to go to the LBS for the "right" lube and mixing the two takes maybe 5 minutes. It is not a big time consumer.
12-10-07, 11:15 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Soviet of Oregon or Pensacola FL
Posts: 5,339
Bikes: Still have a few left!
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 465 Post(s)
Liked 526 Times
in
265 Posts
After trying most of the commercial bike lubes & experimenting with other lubricants, I began using my large supply of military spec "light weapons oil" on my bikes. The results are very good, similar to Hoppe's. I bought mine at swap meet, but have seen it on sale at surplus stores & gun shops. Don
12-11-07, 11:38 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: La La Land (We love it!)
Posts: 6,301
Bikes: Gilmour road, Curtlo road; both steel (of course)
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 273 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
9 Posts
Nope, too many bikes to want to pay $6 for 4-oz when I can pay $10 for more than a gallon. I use it on all 5 of my bikes and supply my family and a couple of friends so I go through a fair bit of lube.
BTW, It doesn't take me any longer to buy OMS and Mobile 1 that it does to go to the LBS for the "right" lube and mixing the two takes maybe 5 minutes. It is not a big time consumer.
BTW, It doesn't take me any longer to buy OMS and Mobile 1 that it does to go to the LBS for the "right" lube and mixing the two takes maybe 5 minutes. It is not a big time consumer.
__________________
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
:R:O:S. Bought it 10 years ago and have many bikes. Not worth the home-cookery, IMHO.
