My Dad was a metallurgist. I once asked him about using plant-based
bearing grease, and he said the main issue of course was the ability
of any lube to withstand the heat from friction. Petroleum-derived is
the best choice for this, though he said one could use plant-based if
one didn't mind far more frequent overhauls. Now, this was fifteen
years ago, and I'm sure someday someone will find a good formula for a
non-petroleum lube. Maybe the linked stuff is it?
Our shop uses MEC's Bio-Cycle for cleaning, but standard high-temp
bearing grease for hubs. It'd be great if a plant-based product indeed
works as advertised.
Mark Rehder - Coordinator re-Cycles Community Bike Shop http://re-cycles.ca
On 4-May-11, at 1:42 PM, Chris Chan wrote:
MEC used to stock a biodegradable lube. It didn't work very well.
If you build a covered shed, you can keep your solvent tank outside.
You just need something to keep the rain from getting into your
system--before we stopped using our varsol tank, our shed was just
big enough for the system itself (you stood outside of the shed to
actually use it). You can just hammer together something really
simple.On Wed, May 4, 2011 at 11:13 AM, Jonathan Morrison <jonathan@slcbikecollective.org
wrote:
Has anyone heard of or used this plant based lube line? http://orontas.com
Sincerely,
Jonathan Morrison Executive Director Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective 2312 S. West Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84115 w: 801-328-2453 c: 801-688-0183 f: 801-466-3856 www.slcbikecollective.org
The mission of the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective is to promote
cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and
as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. The
Bicycle Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational
programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income
households.On Wed, Apr 2, 2008 at 10:33 AM, Michael Wolfe
gzuphoesdown@gmail.com wrote: Page 13 of the 1992 Bridgestone bicycle catalog has a unique
recommendation of using olive oil.http://www.sheldonbrown.com/bridgestone/
On 4/2/08, Bob Giordano mist@strans.org wrote: Indoor air quality
is tops on our list for a healthy shop atmosphere. We do not store anything that gives off harmful fumes. Tooth brushes and simple green (highly diluted) in a small wooden bowl is our parts
cleaning station. We are even moving away from simple green (i've learned it
is harmful to some)- to a citrus based cleaner.I guess tri flow is the only thing with fumes in the shop. Often we
ask people to use it outside. I'd like to find a non-petroleum lube.-Bob Giordano, Free Cycles Missoula
Michael Wolfe wrote:
Speaking of liver damage, etc.. Wondering if any shops out there
have had
issues solvent tanks in their shop? The fumes give me a headache
but others
don't seem to mind it. Mostly I worry about the health effects on
the full
time people in the shop. Short of installing a hood or ventalation
system,
what options are there to locate that stuff outside?