I've been designing, using and repairing lots of different types of equipment for a long time. I've come across many different types of grease and had the opportunity to use them under many different circumstances. For general use, Super Lube is one of my favorites.
For regular household use (what I assume most people will need), you'll want something that lubricates fairly well, protects against water intrusion, won't attack most plastics and rubbers, and ideally is not very toxic. Super Lube fits all those categories.
Once you buy a tube, you'll find uses for it. Some applications I've found include:
-Threaded connections on garden hoses and hose bibs. This prevents corrosion and also lubricates the seals. I no longer have to use a set of pliers to remove my hoses before winter. I also use it on the quarter-turn connections for my pressure washer wand.
-Faucet parts. I use a very tiny dab on the O-ring of the spray nozzle valve of my kitchen faucet to keep it from sticking. Since it's safe for incidental food contact, I feel comfortable using it in kitchen applications.
-Lubricating O-rings. I just rebuilt a Maglite and used this grease on all the threaded connections. Since they're all sealed with O-rings, this makes everything easier to take apart and put back together, plus it prevents the O-rings from getting abraded or bonding to the metal housing.
-Light bulb bases. If you've ever had a light bulb seize in its socket, you know it's no fun getting it back out. A very thin smear of grease on the bulb base prevents this. It's particularly effective on exterior bulbs like the floodlights I have in the back yard. If you think I'm nuts, search for "light bulb grease" and judge for yourself. This also works on (some) automotive and other low voltage bulb bases (IE flashlights).
-Lubricating plastic gears and bushings. This won't attack most plastics so it works well in this application. Note that many bushings are designed to run with oil instead of grease so don't automatically attack every gearbox you see with it.
-Electrical connections. Super Lube can be used as dielectric grease so is useful for protecting electrical connections and terminals from moisture infiltration. I haven't used it on spark plugs but I have used it on low-voltage electrical terminals to seal them from moisture. If you have a 1980s Japanese motorcycle, for example (I'm looking at you, Honda) you'll be doing yourself a favor by buying a tube. Disconnect each electrical connector, place a small amount of Super Lube in there, reconnect. You can use it on battery terminals too, though I usually prefer aerosol lithium grease for this as it's easier to see on the terminals.
-Threaded plastic connections. Plastic-on-plastic connections have a tendency to stick together due to galling. A small film of grease in the threads (you don't have to pack the threads full) will reduce or eliminate the galling. I used Super Lube on an old industrial plastic flashlight recently (yes, I have way too many flashlights) and it no longer binds when I unscrew the cap to change the batteries. Same thing with a few vintage pens that I have (Parker Jotters and an old Waterman fountain pen). Plastic-to-plastic and metal-to-plastic threads often benefit from a very small amount to cut friction.
-3D printer. My 3D printer (an ancient MakerBot) specifies Super Lube as the lubricant of choice for the motion rails and other moving components. They even supply a small tube with the machine.
I wouldn't use this grease in a very dusty environment or in an application that requires high pressure lubrication. This probably isn't what you'd want to grease your driveshaft yoke or ball joints with, and it's a little too pricy to use for everything. But a small tube is very handy to have with your household tools. I have a tube in the garage and just bought another for the tool bag I use for small household repairs. I'm sure I'll keep finding uses for it.
| Material | Plastic |
|---|---|
| Brand | Super Lube |
| Item Weight | 3 Ounces |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Lubricant |
| Upper Temperature Rating | 450 Degrees Fahrenheit |
| Item Form | Grease |
| Manufacturer | Super Lube |
| Model | SUPER LUBE - 21030 - 3oz |
| Item Weight | 3 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 1.35 x 2.9 x 6.44 inches |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | SUPER LUBE - 21030 - 3oz |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 21030 |
| National Stock Number | 9150-01-413-9238 |
