[Beowulf] What is the right lubricant for computer rack sliding rails?

[Geoffrey Jacobs]

On Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 3:33 PM, Nifty Tom Mitchell
<niftyompi at niftyegg.com>wrote:

> On Thu, Feb 05, 2009 at 02:58:06PM -0500, Robert G. Brown wrote:
> > On Thu, 5 Feb 2009, Gus Correa wrote:
> >
> >> Dear Beowulfers
> >>
> >> A mundane question:
> >>
> >> What is the right lubricant for computer rack sliding rails?
> >> Silicone, paraffin, graphite, WD-40, machine oil, grease, other?
> >
> > If you immerse your nodes in olive oil, it shouldn't be an issue, right?
> > ;-)
> >
> > Otherwise, graphite is the only one I'd reject a priori, as it's a fine
> > conducting powder.  Personally I'd use WD, but hell, I'd cook with WD if
> > I couldn't find any olive oil...
> >
> > (The main issue in any case is to be sparing and not spray it so it gets
> > sucked into cooling fans.)
> >
>
> Baring feedback from the vendor...
>
> Also shy away from WD-40 as a general lubricant.  It gets gummy over
> time.  For slides look at a light grease, perhaps a white lithium
> grease like 3M™ White Grease commonly used on some garage doors and
> autos.  It only takes a little....
>
> There are also Teflon based white greases and many excellent but black
> and dirty molybdenum disulphide greases.  Moly rich grease is interesting
> in that the moly "plates" on the surface and if the tolerances are tight
> binding (not lubrication) can occur.  On old cars however it can tighten
> up things if used sparingly.  As much as I like moly greases I think
> a multi-purpose lithium based white grease from an auto supply house is
> the best choice in this case.
>
> It only takes a little....
>

Teflon grease can be purchased from Bicycle shops. It's apparently more
durable than lithium grease over a reasonable temperature range -- less
prone to go runny.

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