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Can I use sewing machine oil for lubing the chain?

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Can I use sewing machine oil for lubing the chain?

Old 12-11-18, 12:03 PM
  #26  
79pmooney
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Originally Posted by jonahmano
Is it ok to lube the chain with sewing machine oil? One experienced bike mechanic was suggesting me when I asked him for the best chain lubricant. He was saying why do you waste so much of money on a chain lube?

Any comments?
I seem to remember that two of the purposes for which 3-in-1 oil was marketed were sewing machines and bicycle chains. I'm guessing sewing machine oils haven't changed much. (I'm speculating that there is less of a driving force for lighter, faster sewing machines. I haven't heard yet of grand tournaments where sewers compete every day for three weeks or so; winner determined by miles stitched. The machines taken apart and re-built nightly. I could be wrong, I don't keep close track of the sewing world.)

I got some fairly pricey fine oil for my refrigerator doors. Despite the cost, it seems very similar to 3-in-1.

Ben
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Old 12-11-18, 12:46 PM
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Originally Posted by 79pmooney
I seem to remember that two of the purposes for which 3-in-1 oil was marketed were sewing machines and bicycle chains. I'm guessing sewing machine oils haven't changed much. (I'm speculating that there is less of a driving force for lighter, faster sewing machines. I haven't heard yet of grand tournaments where sewers compete every day for three weeks or so; winner determined by miles stitched. The machines taken apart and re-built nightly. I could be wrong, I don't keep close track of the sewing world.)

I got some fairly pricey fine oil for my refrigerator doors. Despite the cost, it seems very similar to 3-in-1.

Ben
3-in-1 oil was invented for bicycle chains in 1894. The "3-in-1" stands for "cleans, lubricates and protects". It used a "spindle oil" which is just a mineral oil originally used on spindles in cloth manufacturing. Probably not that different from modern bicycle oil based lubricants.
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Old 12-11-18, 05:21 PM
  #28  
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what do the pros use?
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Old 12-11-18, 05:36 PM
  #29  
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The Pros use whatever someone pays them to use. That is where the name Pros comes from. Roger
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Old 12-11-18, 08:16 PM
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No. Yes. Are you kidding?
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Old 12-11-18, 09:11 PM
  #31  
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Sure, works great on Shimano.
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Old 12-11-18, 10:26 PM
  #32  
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Originally Posted by fietsbob
half true;
Teflon was part of the Nuclear Weapons (Manhattan) project.
it has just a tiny- little longer seal at those temperatures
to get the Implosion around the Pit, simultaneous from all directions.

It also is self lubricating..

.....
I remember from my first semester physics class that teflon has a lower coefficient of sliding friction than for static friction - I thought "wow, that's mind boggling".
Quantum mechanics was fourth semester; it takes a lot more than teflon to boggle my mind after that.
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Old 12-12-18, 10:08 AM
  #33  
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The UK faced some lean years during and after WWII. The contemporary official, from the factory instructions for maintaining Sturmey-Archer hubs suggested cyclists lacking purpose made lubricants use sewing machine oil for the internal mechanism and Vaseline for the ball bearings and labyrinth seals. Many of those AW & FW hubs are still with us, 75 years later.
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Old 12-12-18, 12:21 PM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by cyccommute
Teflon was a serendipitous invention by Roy Plunket while trying to develop a new refrigerant for DuPont.
And the name makes more sense than some. "Teflon" is sort of distilled out of "tetrafluoroethylene". Actually, it's a polymer (chain) molecule: "Polytetrafluoroethylene" or "PTFE" for short.
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Old 07-20-22, 01:03 AM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by DiabloScott
I remember from my first semester physics class that teflon has a lower coefficient of sliding friction than for static friction - I thought "wow, that's mind boggling".
Quantum mechanics was fourth semester; it takes a lot more than teflon to boggle my mind after that.
Isn't that the case for most materials? Their dynamic coefficient of friction is lower than their static.
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Old 07-20-22, 03:07 AM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by jonahmano
One experienced bike mechanic was suggesting me when I asked him for the best chain lubricant. He was saying why do you waste so much of money on a chain lube?
Any comments?
Well, each to their own, I guess. I know chains are relatively cheap but they're probably the component that takes the most abuse, especially if you're riding in inclement weather. I feel it's worth spending a little extra for a decent lubricant that won't get washed off at the first sign of rain or attract dirt in dry conditions. My current favourite is Fenwicks Professional chain lube for the road bike; I'm still trying to find the best option for the mountain bike as I think the Fenwicks will attract too much dust in the dry conditions we're having at the moment.
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Old 07-20-22, 08:04 AM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by jonahmano
...

Any comments?
...chain lube threads are, traditionally, some of the best gladiatorial combat threads on teh Beikforooms. Subscribing
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Old 07-20-22, 08:09 AM
  #38  
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Originally Posted by Hoopdriver
The sewing machine groups that I follow have a lot of discussions about lubes; however no way as rowdy and polarized as this place.
...I heard that the frame builder who used to do business locally as "Diablo Cycles", a guy named Boone McReynolds, wound up in Oregon somewhere, fixing sewing machines as his new gig. I know nothing about polarity.
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Old 07-20-22, 08:12 AM
  #39  
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Originally Posted by BikingTech
I lube my chain with the blood, sweat and tears from working for the Man.
...speaking for the Man, pedal harder and you won't notice the lubricant.
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Old 07-20-22, 01:14 PM
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That's it ? Two pages and out of gas !??

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Old 07-20-22, 01:15 PM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by BikingTech
I lube my chain with the blood, sweat and tears from working for the Man.
For exactly the same reason, I use ear wax.
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Old 07-20-22, 01:28 PM
  #42  
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Lots of folks here: "I use whatever's cheapest, because I'm cheap, but I like to call it 'frugal.' Used crankcase oil, rancid frying oil, snot--hell, one good farmer blow and I'm good for 600 miles! It's important that I save some money when working on my $12,000 dollar bike."

Others: "Spend a few bucks on a proper chain lube. Just pick one--they're all pretty good."
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Old 07-20-22, 01:34 PM
  #43  
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3 & 1 oil works well. It just turns black quickly. Wipes off easy though.
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Old 07-20-22, 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by hazetguy
this thread is almost 4 years old, and a lot of the people who posted in it haven't been on the site for years.
....I cannot believe I once again fell for a zombie thread.
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Old 07-20-22, 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by Ron Damon
Isn't that the case for most materials? Their dynamic coefficient of friction is lower than their static.
You are correct in your technical statement.
Where you are incorrect is your decision to revive a many year old thread to bring that up.

Originally Posted by 3alarmer
....I cannot believe I once again fell for a zombie thread.
True, but the GIF you posted above made me smile, so you have your good deed for the day covered.
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