Lubricants Basics

[matabog]

And another question, please, because I feel the chemistry is your second nature.

I found a cheap source of  trichlorethylene . Could I use it instead of "One dip" solution to wash the hairspring?

 

Also, I think it is nasty stuff, what are the risks?

 

Thank you,

Bogdan

[zenon]

And another question, please, because I feel the chemistry is your second nature.

I found a cheap source of  trichlorethylene . Could I use it instead of "One dip" solution to wash the hairspring?

 

Also, I think it is nasty stuff, what are the risks?

 

Thank you,

Bogdan

Bogdan trichlorethylene (trójchlorek etylu) is quite nasty piece of work. I would avoid it. Maybe it is only an anecdote but heard that the vaporous in higher temperature (60C up) split into phosgene?  Yes it is excellent degreaser/cleaner but one feature of it is proved to be carcinogenic. I am not a chemist so maybe someone knowledgeable might comment on that.

 

Ciao

[canthus]

Hi Matabog,  I spent many years in the lubes industry working with most industries but never got involved with watch oils until I took up the hobby of watches.   The structure is due to having to give training courses to customers, users etc !!   I have no connections to any of the watch oil marketers.  As with most expensive things a lot is branding/marketing but a lot is also recovering costs of R&D, low volume manufacturing, slow moving stocks etc.   Spending £1 million on R&D/Manufacture and recovering over 10 million litres of engine or hydrailic oil means only 0.10 £/litre.  Spending the same over 10,000 litres of watch oil (a hell of a lot of watches can be oiled with this amount!!!), is 100 £/litre.  Also higher quality and hence higher unit cost products will be used and often extra processes such us ultra-filtration are used.  No doubt there are lower cost alternatives, but when you are offering guarantees etc then you want the least comebacks so need to follow the watchmakers recommendations or stipulations fully.  It is like buying a new car, normally serviced by manufacturers dealership during warranty, then after wards maybe not !  The more expensive the car the more risk you take not meeting warranty conditions or getting specialist knowledge service.

The chemistry knowhow is limited to oils etc as acquired through experience and some basic stuff from college.  I know a man who has a vast knowledge of oil chemistry and often get my answers from him, no doubt he also knows man who knows a man !!!!

Trichloroethylene is best avoided at all times.  From experience I nearly passed-out as a youngster when cleaning my peddle cycle parts using it !!!  Its risks were not highlighted at that time and it was widely used in industry for de-greasing tasks, but is now virtually banned or has to have very expensive and effective fume extraction etc plant to use it.

 

Glad you enjoyed my posts.

[Rob]

One-Dip is 99.9% Trichloroethylene. So buying the Bergeon branded bottle is probably no different from your other source (apart from price). They are both equally nasty.

[Geo]

One-Dip is 99.9% Trichloroethylene. So buying the Bergeon branded bottle is probably no different from your other source (apart from price). They are both equally nasty.

My thoughts too!

[zenon]

One-Dip is 99.9% Trichloromethane. So buying the Bergeon branded bottle is probably no different from your other source (apart from price). They are both equally nasty.

Well if this is so then obviously it is a matter of being cautious, having a good ventilation and saving money. I do know trichlorethylene worked with it as a degreaser. Seems there is nothing better because its viscosity is very, very low (gets into every tight space). Just be careful - inhaled trichlorethylene will push you high! ;-).

[bobm12]

Is it ultrasonic safe?

[zenon]

Is it ultrasonic safe?

It all depends on one's age. The older we are the less we have to lose is there is something not pleasant about.

 

As I understand "ultrasonic" is the use of a vibration in the range 20 000 Hz - 400 000 Hz. It is hard to say what it can do to our bodies - there is ultrasound welding of plastics there...  I hope it is safe as we are subject to all sorts of frequencies from power lines, TV sets, though mobile phones, modems/routers. I guess we will see in 10-15 years (or 25-30 next generation) if it is safe. Very low acoustic frequencies tend to encourage deafness and moronism (0.5 Hz - 2 Hz). I think with our equipment we are safe.

[Vich]

Well Bob, I worked in IT for decades, remember using the old green monitors and must have been subject to every sort of vibration (resist George) and a fair range of radiations available having had numerous x rays.  For me another 10 to 15 years is improbable but I will take whatever the Good Lord gives and as Clockboy and myself admitted in a previous thread the equipment is now safe (unlike George who is still firing on both cylinders)  I am already using two hearing aids and there are loads of delicious drinks yet to try, which brings me to Moronism - looks like a full house. 

However, I like fiddling with watches and really intend to enjoy whatever time I have left even using my three ultrasonics until they fail - hopefully before me. :cool:

Cheers,

 

Vic

[bobm12]

Oh, no! I was thinking about the ultrasonic machine to clean the watches! As you know, flammable substances make their use unsafe because they generate heat. Since the Trichloroethylene or One-Dip -- in this case -- has an edge to cut grease, I was thinking about using it in the machine. That was the question about! Sorry for the misunderstanding! :)

 

Cheers,

 

Bob

[Vich]

Joking apart, I have never used that stuff in my machines, I tend to use the Naptha to clean and Isopropanol to rinse, but in little sealed jars within a pool of water.  I have only used fairy liquid and water on bracelets etc. in the open cleaner.  My "one dip" is Horosolv based on Benzene but I have never used that in an ultrasonic.

 

I have been close to bursting into flames but usually when something flies off into the distance and I have to get on my hands and knees and then its just about a block and tackle job to get back up again - years of being on my hands and knees threading RJ45 through flood cabling in underfloor conduits and cable management.

 

Cheers ,

 

Vic

[zenon]

It all depends on one's age. The older we are the less we have to lose is there is something not pleasant about.

 

As I understand "ultrasonic" is the use of a vibration in the range 20 000 Hz - 400 000 Hz. It is hard to say what it can do to our bodies - there is ultrasound welding of plastics there...  I hope it is safe as we are subject to all sorts of frequencies from power lines, TV sets, though mobile phones, modems/routers. I guess we will see in 10-15 years (or 25-30 next generation) if it is safe. Very low acoustic frequencies tend to encourage deafness and moronism (0.5 Hz - 2 Hz). I think with our equipment we are safe.

I am sorry I did not get the question right. :D

[bobm12]

LOL!