Led Flashlight Cleaning & Lubrication

[space cowboy]

Anyone know if this is necessary? Been reading on other forums that doing this prevents problems. What do you guys use & how to do it?

[DaveK]

I need to know this too. I've read about greasing threads and stuff and wondered if it was really necessary.

[Benner]

Cleaning is important to ensure good contacts are made.

Lube is mainly important for twisties as it makes it a lot easier to operate and can reduce wear.  I lube every thread, but I do that with everything anyway as it just makes sense to keep something free'd up and smooth to open.

That's my take on it anyway.

[DaveK]

What do you use Ben?

I've got some silicone grease that I got for a RC car servo, but that could get a bit messy I guess.

[Benner]

Silicon is ideal really and I'd be using that if I were you.  Doesn't need a lot.  RC car stuff was what I used to use (was really into all that a few years ago).

[DaveK]

Silicon is ideal really and I'd be using that if I were you.  Doesn't need a lot.  RC car stuff was what I used to use (was really into all that a few years ago).

OK, let's bring them to the next meet

[Benner]

What ya got? 

I got really into it and used to drive around England doing it all (heard of the Kyosho Cup?) but I then started getting into Team Associated stuff and the money was just silly.  In the end I sold most of it, but I still have maybe 4 or so left.

[prime77]

Keeping your orings clean and lubed with a good silcone grease will help in waterproof seals.

[DaveK]

What ya got? 

I got really into it and used to drive around England doing it all (heard of the Kyosho Cup?) but I then started getting into Team Associated stuff and the money was just silly.  In the end I sold most of it, but I still have maybe 4 or so left.

Oh nothing as serious as all that - just a kit that I built with my son a few years ago. Just a toy really, but good fun.

Keeping your orings clean and lubed with a good silcone grease will help in waterproof seals.

OK, maybe I should think about this more with my new expensive (for me anyway) torch then.

[Benner]

Yeah I was a member of 3 clubs, and did the odd extra as well.  In the end I could easily go though £50+ in bits, tyres bodyshells etc and that was without taking into account money to get there and the membership fee etc.  One of my cars was a Schumacher 99Pro and I rememeber adding up all the bits (speed controller, receiver, servo's, motor, upgrades the lot) and I had spent over £1K to get it all sorted.  It was shortly after that realisation that I quit. 

[jim guy]

not to change the thread, any of you guys run nitro cars?

[DaveK]

Lol - no, ours is a battery pack thing. We did start to look at the petrol / nitro setups and they were way too expensive.

They did look great though

[Benner]

not to change the thread, any of you guys run nitro cars?

Used to (10 years ago apparently after a quick google search  ).  It was a Kyosho 10th Scale.  Loved it.  

[jim guy]

i too love the nitro cars, got a couple of traxxas

[Spoonrobot]

I use a custom Krytox blend from the LED supply on the O-rings and threads. It's no longer available for sale from that source so I think Nyogel is the new standard. Always good to keep moving parts lubricated. I also use Pro-Gold or Deoxit on the contacts and batteries. I seem to recall there being a few tests over at CPF that showed the two provided quite an improvement in flashlight performance.

[Benner]

i too love the nitro cars, got a couple of traxxas

We have some great tracks here.  My fave was in Ashby.  Here's a little pic;

[DaveK]

I use a custom Krytox blend from the LED supply on the O-rings and threads. It's no longer available for sale from that source so I think Nyogel is the new standard. Always good to keep moving parts lubricated. I also use Pro-Gold or Deoxit on the contacts and batteries. I seem to recall there being a few tests over at CPF that showed the two provided quite an improvement in flashlight performance.

I'll look into that Spoonrobot - thanks

i too love the nitro cars, got a couple of traxxas

We have some great tracks here.  My fave was in Ashby.  Here's a little pic;

(Image removed from quote.)

Is that Ashby, as in Ashby de la Zouch?

[jim guy]

I wish we had more tracks here, we have a few offroad tracks for the trucks but nothing for the cars. Me and my friends race ours on the local airport!

[Benner]

It is Dave yes.  Great track.  Well it was 10 years ago anyway! 

[DaveK]

That's where I live

Well about 4 miles from the town itself, my kids go to school there. I'm just wondering where the track is / was - Ashby isn't very big and I've never noticed it.

[Benner]

Sadly can't help there. 

Bedworth was another good one;

[DaveK]

Hmm, looks like Ashby Woulds Model car Club have disappeared. Their website is gone.....

[Benner]

Many of them drop off as it costs a bomb in keeping the track in decent condition.    Hopefully they are still around as they put on a good event.

[parnass]

I use Nyogel 760G to lube the O-rings and threads on flashlights.   There is a comprehensive grease and lube discussion thread on CPF.

[space cowboy]

Thanks! Seems like this post took a long detour!

[ari6126]

For cleaning I use Isopropyl Alcohol 70%. For lube I use mineral oil.

[Vladimir]

I use Nyogel 760G to lube the O-rings and threads on flashlights.

+ 1

[NutSAK]

Denatured alcohol for cleaning, silicone plumber's grease for anodized threads, Nano-Oil for bare threads and orings.

[Neil]

I use Nyogel 760G to lube the O-rings and threads on flashlights.

+ 1

+2

Though any non-petroleum based grease will probably do. 

   Though perhaps not lard

[Styerman]

I got some silicone grease from the local dive shop , I use it on the "O" rings , all other cleaning is with dilute soap and water . I sometimes clean contacts with an ordinary pencil eraser ( you pommy smurfs call them rubbers , no to be confused with India rubber prophlactics )

Chris