A good lube to use

John Brock · Post by **John Brock** » 24 Feb 2017 2:15 pm

I know this is a ad nauseum topic from the past...but i couldnt resist
This worked very well. Very light..parrafin base. The nozzle is the best.
Got it a Ace in town. Glad I got it. I also use a silicone spray and a tcpe product
Super Lube on the pedals. Ive tried triflow. God Bless all here.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 Feb 2017 9:42 am

Tri-Flow for me.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 25 Feb 2017 9:52 am

I've tried and used a lot of different oils. Good old 3in1 works just as good.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 25 Feb 2017 9:56 am

I would be scared of anything with a paraffin base.

John Brock · Post by **John Brock** » 25 Feb 2017 12:57 pm

All thoughts welcome......used it sparingly...its sure runnin good though.God Bless

Ian Worley · Post by **Ian Worley** » 25 Feb 2017 1:04 pm

Tri-Flow is a brand name, not a specific product, but for what it's worth, it and virtually all non-synthetic lubricants including light mineral oil products like 3-in-1, WD-40, Singer sewing machine oil, etc. contain paraffin. Nothing to be scared of Erv, you've been using it all along.

Paraffin is a natural chemical component of petroleum. In the context of a low viscosity lubricant it doesn't mean the big blocks of white wax that grandma used to can the jelly.

Jeff Mead · Post by **Jeff Mead** » 25 Feb 2017 1:41 pm

I know regular WD40 is not good on steels but I use this stuff...

John Brock · Post by **John Brock** » 25 Feb 2017 2:44 pm

Yep. Ian,,what yiu said she

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 25 Feb 2017 3:50 pm

If it stays wet, it's a dust and grit magnet. Tri-Flow for me,

Bobby D. Jones · Post by **Bobby D. Jones** » 25 Feb 2017 9:36 pm

I worked in the oil field in WV and PA as a young man, Shoveled and messed in a lot of BULL S#!& (Paraffin)on well sites. Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil has a PARAFFIN Base. Most crude oils of the world has a TAR base.

I have quite a collection of lubes around here. But on my steels I use Tri-Flow on the changer, And Zebco Fishing Reel Grease on the Nut Rollers. I found it was the only lube that worked on the nut rollers of my first steel a S10 MSA with a 12 string key head. With 1 1/2 in. extra dead string in the tuner head, The rollers must roll precise.

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 26 Feb 2017 4:34 am

I just started using the turbine oil on moving undercarriage parts. I use Singer sewing machine on pedal racks and Otis Dry Lube lubricate on everything else. Zero problems and my guitars get serviced each string change.

Bob Carlucci · Post by **Bob Carlucci** » 26 Feb 2017 6:56 am

meh, anything that stays wet and oily, just keep the dirt out.. IMHO, one $5 quart of Walmart full synthetic motor oil will properly lubricate all your pedal steel guitars, and most likely every gun you own as well, for the rest of your life... bob

John Brock · Post by **John Brock** » 27 Feb 2017 3:34 pm

Hey Bob hat motorkote keeps my firearms runnin good

Archie Nicol R.I.P. · Post by **Archie Nicol R.I.P.** » 27 Feb 2017 4:32 pm

Guns? This is the SGF, not the NRA.

Arch.

Jack Ritter · Post by **Jack Ritter** » 27 Feb 2017 5:34 pm

singer sewing machine oil and a very small artist brush for the dobbing. Works very well in the hard to reach places and easy to keep from over oiling.

Jack Ritter · Post by **Jack Ritter** » 27 Feb 2017 5:34 pm

singer sewing machine oil and a very small artist brush for the dobbing. Works very well in the hard to reach places and easy to keep from over oiling.

Ray Thomas · Post by **Ray Thomas** » 27 Feb 2017 5:54 pm

Second Tri-flow

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Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 28 Feb 2017 9:16 pm

singer sewing machine??? this is SGF not a ladies club $:\$

damir

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 28 Feb 2017 9:20 pm

very small artist brush??? this is SGF not art gallery $:\$

damir

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 28 Feb 2017 9:22 pm

synthetic motor oil ??? this is SGF not a Jyffy Lube shop $:\$

damir

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 1 Mar 2017 12:02 am

I personally would avoid anything with a paraffin base.

I remember tearing down a dirty changer, cleaning it out with carb cleaner. It was spotless and everything moved perfectly freely, but of course it needed a lube to keep it running that way. I tried a teflon lube that had a bit of paraffin in it - the paraffin is intended to hold the teflon in-place. I was skeptical, but I wanted to try it. I was totally dismayed at the result - very quickly, the changer movements were visibly inhibited, I could feel it.

I just yanked it out of the guitar (luckily I hadn't completely assembled it yet) and re-cleaned it, and applied my regular Tri-Flow - the one with a very light oil base - https://triflowlubricants.com/product/s ... rip-bottle - no problems. Note that some versions of Tri-Flow have paraffin, others don't. This stuff is very low-viscosity, leaving a non-sticky residue and teflon particles.

If I was using a regular oil, I agree with Bob that a synthetic works well. The advantage, IMO, of a synthetic is that it doesn't break down as easily and has superior lubricant properties. That's the point and why many insist on synthetics for their vehicle motors. I think if an oil like this is not over-used and excess cleaned off, it's just fine.

I usually lubricant a changer pretty generously after it's cleaned and still out of the guitar, but let it sit for a while to drain well, cleaning off any excess before I put it back into the guitar. After that, periodic light touch-ups seem to be enough.

Jack Ritter · Post by **Jack Ritter** » 1 Mar 2017 7:40 am

Jeff Newman even recommended 30w non detergent motor oil.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 1 Mar 2017 8:13 am

I've heard that automatic transmission fluid is also good.

Darrell Birtcher · Post by **Darrell Birtcher** » 1 Mar 2017 8:24 am

What Dave M said is VERY important:

"Note that some versions of Tri-Flow have paraffin, others don't."

There is a lot of confusion out there about Tri-Flow and I believe it's due to the two versions.
To make matters worse, the product with paraffin in it is called "Superior DRY Lubricant" leading folks
to believe that is the one that doesn't have paraffin in it. It is designed as a chain lube for bicycles.
The paraffin keeps it from flinging off.

For steels, use their "Superior Lubricant."
The liquid carrier is designed to slowly evaporate, leaving the dry lubricant behind to do the work.

I don't know about their aerosols or other products, but the "Superior Lubricant" is what you want,
NOT the Superior Dry Lubricant.

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 1 Mar 2017 10:03 am

I like the Tri-Flo that comes in the pinpoint lubricator. I has an extremely light oil base and lots of PTFE and none of that nasty Dihydrogen Monoxide (that stuff is dangerous and it's everywhere LOL!!).

http://www.gregcutshaw.com/Lubricate/Lubricate.html