NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Re: Instrument repair
From: Jared Sherman
Date: 2002 Dec 19, 11:24 -0500
From: Jared Sherman
Date: 2002 Dec 19, 11:24 -0500
Robert- My expertise obviously doesn't exist compared to Ken's. But I am familiar with what may be the "ultimate" lubricant for nautical instruments, DuPont's Krytox. Available as a syrupy liquid or a white grease that apears similar to Crsico shortening, Krytox is chemically similar to a liquid form of Teflon. It is unaffected by acids, alkalis, water, salt water, and even free oxygen, sulphur, or chlorine gas. It retains original thickness, tiffness, and lubricating properties from roughtly -70F to +650F, making it suitable for all but the worst days recorded in Antarctica, where is might get a little stiff at -120F. It costs about $5 per half ounce or ounce but "lasts forever" makes that not unreasonable. It is used commercially for odd purposes like lubricating inside spark plug boots, so no "welded" or corossion occurs in the 5 years or 50,000+ miles now recommended for intervals, as a very thin spray. Here in the states Miller Freeman is one of the distributors, you can track down a local one from the DuPont web sites, search on Krytox. I've used the white grease form on sextants, since it doesn't bleed, migrate, or stain it is a very civilized "maintenance crew" to have around.
