Q. Lubricant for Akimbo / duck oil

TimberSmith

TimberSmith

Location
Sydney
I've noticed the top cam on my akimbo fails to engage reliably. I'm looking to carry a lubricant in my kit to give it a good lick on a regular basis.

Can anyone recommend an appropriate lubricant preferably in a small sturdy container that I can keep in my kit bag.

I've seen swarfega duck oil recommended but I can't find it here in Australia. I could import a bottle but the smallest I've found is a 500ml spray can.

I've got graphite powder but know this is no longer recommended as a lubricant in the industry.

Thanks for your help.
Happy climbing.
 
Any light machine oil will work fine. Just put a little 3-in-1 oil in a medicine dropper bottle. Or go to any fabric store and get a little squeeze tube of sewing machine oil for a couple of bucks.

Squeezing oil out of ducks is for people who eat tofu and watch Martha Stewart.
 
I spray it down with WD40 and then blast it off with 150psi air from the air compressor.
Any wetness left behind from oiling is gonna attract dirt and gunk like a magnet, wipe it all away or blow off with compressed air. Thin thin layer of oil is good, but people may have a different idea of what constitutes a “thin layer” . To me, thin layer means get it off with rags or air, no degreaser or solvents.
WD40 isn’t a great oil but it’s a pretty good cleaner. If I ever need to, I might use a drop or two of 3 in 1 or gun oil, but I’d then try to blow or wipe it off after.
 
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I had a upper sticking cam too, just used some light bio sewing machine oil once. Never had a problem since. I’d try lubing it once or twice before designating a lube kit in my regular gear bag.
If I need lube in the field I have a bottle of triflow, a can of wd 40, but my go to is a drop or two of my bio chainsaw oil. Now chainsaw oil isn’t my first choice but I figure I’m going to get it on my gear one way or the other eventually so why the hell not?
 
Had anyone here tried one of the bike chain lubes? Like white lightning I think is what I used. It was pretty nice for that purpose. Goes on pretty thin then dried to leave a bit of waxy film. The idea was that dirt and junk should kinda slough off with the wax over time keeping the chain clean.

I think wax + rope is a potentially problematic
 
JeffGu said:
I think not. Most ropes are waxed during production.
Click to expand...
Maybe, like waxed thread is actually stronger, but that's like beeswax, let's the threads stick to each other. The wax in this stuff is not uniform, it's like little particles in suspension. It's designed to flake off. Then again how much could possibly transfer off onto the rope?

So net result is probably doesn't matter. Maybe it's ok. Might be worth trying. Gives a protective coating, creates a dry film lubrication, sheds dirt. Sounds good.
 
I had a upper sticking cam too, just used some light bio sewing machine oil once. Never had a problem since. I’d try lubing it once or twice before designating a lube kit in my regular gear bag.
If I need lube in the field I have a bottle of triflow, a can of wd 40, but my go to is a drop or two of my bio chainsaw oil. Now chainsaw oil isn’t my first choice but I figure I’m going to get it on my gear one way or the other eventually so why the hell not?
southsoundtree said:
What are you using for bio chainsaw oil?
Click to expand...
Stihl... not cheap and thin, but I haven't had a issue with it.
 
evo said:
I had a upper sticking cam too, just used some light bio sewing machine oil once. Never had a problem since. I’d try lubing it once or twice before designating a lube kit in my regular gear bag.
If I need lube in the field I have a bottle of triflow, a can of wd 40, but my go to is a drop or two of my bio chainsaw oil. Now chainsaw oil isn’t my first choice but I figure I’m going to get it on my gear one way or the other eventually so why the hell not?

Stihl... not cheap and thin, but I haven't had a issue with it.
Click to expand...
Twice the price of canola, or more. I used to use it. Just don't let saws sit with canola unused for long periods, similarly to unstabilized gasoline..




Back to your regularly scheduled Akimbo programming.
 
DumpyMcDoodleface said:
Had anyone here tried one of the bike chain lubes? Like white lightning I think is what I used. It was pretty nice for that purpose. Goes on pretty thin then dried to leave a bit of waxy film. The idea was that dirt and junk should kinda slough off with the wax over time keeping the chain clean.

I think wax + rope is a potentially problematic
Click to expand...
I've been using a chain wax. It was an expensive little bottle, and the solvent smells like distilled hell.
It works really well, passes gear check, and immediately begins to trap crud and make my biniers stick. I prefer rem oil when it is handy (meaning at my house or near my truck) It's less gunky than WD-40.
 
Thanks for all replies and advice I've ordered a 60ml bottle of white lightning it was the easiest one to get my hands on (thanks ebay). Looking forward to some smooth akimbo sailing. Been really enjoying climbing on it.
 
I confess that I sometimes put a drop of bar oil on the cam if it sticks in the field. It’s always on hand, but it does attract crud so it needs to me cleaned and blown out back at the shop.
 
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