Author Topic: I've been had! My white lithium grease isn't white at all! (Read 927 times)

Awful · « **on:** Sun, 18 March 2012, 02:55:13 »

I've looked around and it appears my white lithium grease is the wrong color!

No but seriously. Is their anything wrong with using the "brown" white lithium?

I always thought it was this color. Not a muddy color like the crap I ended up getting. This isn't my pic btw. Just one I found.

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 44733[/ATTACH]
Forgot to add. This is for my stabilizers not my bunghole.

Awful · « **Reply #1 on:** Sun, 18 March 2012, 12:08:54 »

I'm seriously. Anyone know if their is a difference?

fohat.digs · « **Reply #2 on:** Sun, 18 March 2012, 12:21:50 »

When my daughter was 3 she could not understand why a gray squirrel was gray, but a red squirrel was only reddish-gray.

Awful · « **Reply #3 on:** Sun, 18 March 2012, 20:42:27 »

I seen that thread and picture. That's actually what I'm comparing to. Mine is darker then that. One more thing, that is a metric **** ton of grease on those stabilizers isn't it? I've always used a toothpick and just put it on the inside of the rectangle area where the support bar sits :\

@Harrison yeah this is a dingy tan/beige, but it's new. Which made me to believe their was something "extra" in it.

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=36389-75041-10307LOW&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=3364604&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

Here is what I got.

"Silicone-free and recommended for plastic parts"

Iono! It feels fine etc. Just don't want to to do anything bad over time.

Awful · « **Reply #4 on:** Sun, 18 March 2012, 20:48:22 »

I guess biobased won't hurt anything.

Hey Rip. Off-topic in my own thread. I found something way better then "regular tape" to hold in loose stabilizer inserts. http://www.lowes.com/pd_25010-64994-CQW520_0__?productId=3460306&Ntt=plumbers+tape&pl=1¤tURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Dplumbers%2Btape&facetInfo=

^Teflon Plumber's tape!

Awful · « **Reply #5 on:** Sun, 18 March 2012, 20:50:22 »

The pink doesn't. It's thicker!

Quarzac · « **Reply #6 on:** Sun, 18 March 2012, 22:03:42 »

Makes me think its oxidized. Can lithium grease do that? Sounds like it's just old, but it probably wouldn't affect the effectiveness much.

DISCLAIMER: I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS. THIS IS AS MEANINGLESS AS MEANINGLESS SPECULATION CAN GET.

Awful · « **Reply #7 on:** Sun, 18 March 2012, 22:42:34 »

I used pink to wrap my plugs/tunnels with for awhile (yes, that's safe since it's teflon). It was a good bit more rigid then the floppy white stuff. Someone actually sent me several rolls since my local hardware store didn't have it.

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 44846[/ATTACH]

tp4tissue · « **Reply #8 on:** Mon, 19 March 2012, 01:16:05 »

Quote from: Quarzac;550177

Makes me think its oxidized. Can lithium grease do that? Sounds like it's just old, but it probably wouldn't affect the effectiveness much.

DISCLAIMER: I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS. THIS IS AS MEANINGLESS AS MEANINGLESS SPECULATION CAN GET.

Yes, pure lithium oxidizes immediately with contact with air.. Congratulations, good guess..

Although I don't believe this is the cause for the grease turning Brown...

tp4tissue · « **Reply #9 on:** Mon, 19 March 2012, 15:20:57 »

Quote from: ripster;550663

The McRip Effect.

Show Image

I've since moved on to Fluoroinated PFTE.

(Attachment Link) 44915[/ATTACH] (Attachment Link) 44918[/ATTACH]

http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?22656-Gallons-of-Spooge-The-Official-Ripster-Lubricant-Experiment-Thread

So I'm a little confused.. What exactly does Ripster recommend??

Like pick "ONE"

rknize · « **Reply #10 on:** Mon, 19 March 2012, 16:52:56 »

I'm pretty sure it's called "white" because it's not dyed green, blue or anything else like various greases used for automotive applications. It's just the natural color of a grease that was developed so it wouldn't stain clothing.

White lithium grease is a very loose term. Some "white" greases have zinc-oxide added to make them more white. Others don't and have a more beige look to them. Neither the lithium nor the zinc have anything to do with how well the grease lubricates. They are just there to keep the grease in place (drop point, etc).

rknize · « **Reply #11 on:** Mon, 19 March 2012, 17:37:01 »

Same rule applies, I guess.

sordna · « **Reply #12 on:** Mon, 19 March 2012, 18:52:19 »

A while back I got a pink tub of Sta-Lube (CRC industries) multipurpose "Super White Grease" from a hardware store, it's pretty white (only slightly beige). I don't think the color matters or has anything to do with quality. That's probably the cheapest, most basic white grease, it's like $5/lb. Your brown might as well be better, just use it without worries.

Awful · « **Reply #13 on:** Mon, 19 March 2012, 19:01:42 »

Oh I had been for months now. First on my Das and now on my Filco. I just thought about it the other day when I switched caps out and went to relube.

sii92 · « **Reply #14 on:** Wed, 21 March 2012, 07:13:19 »

Quote from: tp4tissue;550309

Yes, pure lithium oxidizes immediately with contact with air.. Congratulations, good guess..

Although I don't believe this is the cause for the grease turning Brown...

Doesn't pure lithium also explode when in contact with water? I would think lithium grease wouldn't be pure lithium... or is it? I guess the oil part of it protects it from moisture...

rknize · « **Reply #15 on:** Wed, 21 March 2012, 09:57:11 »

No, it's lithium stearate. Pure lithium is highly-reactive and also a solid. Not the best choice for a lubricant. Lithium stearate is a "soap". When combining greases (greasing a suspension joint), you always want to make sure they use the same soap type.

Anyway, this is all automotive stuff. We're talking keyboards here. :tongue1:

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Author Topic: I've been had! My white lithium grease isn't white at all! (Read 927 times)