Thoughts on a good lubricant?

[trike-mike]

This is probably trivial but the swivel connector on my Quattro squeaks a little when moving. Probably doesn't bother me in my sleep but the anal retentive gear-head engineer in me finds it a bit bothersome when I'm awake.

While the Red Green adage says, "If it doesn't move and it should, use WD40 and it moves and it shouldn't use duct tape", As much as I love WD40 in all its manifold goodness, I'm really not sure I would enjoy smelling it all night long.

Any ideas on a light lubricant that won't eventually get munged up with lint, cat hair, etc? Or should I just apply a "c'est la vie" to this one and let it squeak?

[bearded_two]

I would use a very light touch of plain silicone grease (not heat sink compound). You can get small packets of plain silicone grease in many stores that sell computer parts. I only use WD-40 as a penetrating oil; I saw how badly it gummed up the actions in a few rifles that somebody (not me) lubricated with WD-40.

[carbonman]

I don't think you want to be breathing WD40 or silicon grease.

Wrap it w/teflon plumbers tape.

[LSAT]

Take it apart and wash it....My Quattro squeeks occasionally and a washing fixes the problem for a couple of months.

[bearded_two]

Silicone grease is commonly used as a lubricant with breathing apparatus; it doesn't aerosolize.

[trike-mike]

Those are good suggestions... I'll try the washing first but failing that, the teflon tape and silicone grease (have both of those) are good ideas. Thanks for the thoughts.

BTW, bearded_two, I have seen many things messed up with WD40 including rifles. The only time I have ever used it there is to revitalize an astoundingly neglected one and at that... only to get it clean. Lots of cleaning after THAT to get the WD40 off.

[Blrfl]

Funny you should start this thread, I've noticed the same squeakiness in my mask over the last couple of nights.

Food-grade silicone grease or liquid spray can be had at most dive shops. Don't get the stuff at computer stores, because you don't want to know what's in it.

--Mark

[trike-mike]

Good point... The stuff I have I don't think would be even remotely considered "food grade"

[bearded_two]

I have a caulking tube of Xerox silicone grease that I rescued from the trash when a former employer changed brand of copier (the tube was still sealed).

When I was in the Air Force, we went through dozens of tubes of Dow Corning silicone grease every month; we used it for greasing everything. We also always had a barrel or two of Dow Corning silicone oil that we used as coolant in transmitters (that stuff is MESSY) and it was almost impossible to get it out of uniforms (pickle suit fatigues) and up off of tile floors.

[chunkyfrog]

I think I would clean the joint (disassembled) and feel carefully for rough spots.
I would then use a manicure buffer and polish the rough spot(s)--hand polish if possible; otherwise use the rotary buffer--
VERY LIGHTLY.. no lube--no smell.

[thegrons]

I bought the Aloe based lube from cpap.com and also there is one out there I forgot the name its a "family name" but as long as it is not petroleum you're OK

[OutaSync]

KY Jelly or AstroGlide? Since everybody already has those.

[chunkyfrog]

[SleepingUgly]

There was a thread about this recently and I contributed my one and only tried and true solution: KY Liquid. Put a little KY liquid around the joint after you've washed the mask. Repeat every time you wash your mask. If you wash it infrequently, you may need to lube it now and then in between washings. It works. The end. Now don't ask me how to fix nose bridge issues, or leaks, or sleep disruption caused by CPAP...

[bearded_two]

The non-water based "Gun Oil" is a good silicone based lubricant.