Evolube (possibly Elvolube).

[ian field]

Does anyone know if Evolube (possibly Elvolube) still exists?

This is a product I remember from many years ago when I worked for an
instrument calibration company, its a special lubricant for electrical
contacts which I remember using on those front panel brass studs rotary
switches on decade boxes and measuring bridges.

A while back I found a crumpled tube of the stuff in a toolbox I picked up
at the dump, its sat in a drawer for years until now, the severe rain storms
have caused problems with my motorcycle brake light switch and this
lubricant (the little I have left) seems the only satisfactory way of
excluding the water.

Even if the original product no longer exists, its almost certain that
another brand has filled the gap in the market and I'd like to find out the
name with a view to obtaining some.

TIA.

 

[Eeyore]

Does anyone know if Evolube (possibly Elvolube) still exists?

This is a product I remember from many years ago when I worked for an
instrument calibration company, its a special lubricant for electrical
contacts which I remember using on those front panel brass studs rotary
switches on decade boxes and measuring bridges.

A while back I found a crumpled tube of the stuff in a toolbox I picked up
at the dump, its sat in a drawer for years until now, the severe rain storms
have caused problems with my motorcycle brake light switch and this
lubricant (the little I have left) seems the only satisfactory way of
excluding the water.

I'd have thought silicone grease ought to do that.

Btw, there's this thing called Google.......
http://www.google.com/search?q=evolube

Graham

 

[mc]

Does anyone know if Evolube (possibly Elvolube) still exists?

Apparently so:

http://www.ecllube.com/003products.aspx

Haven't found anyone selling it in small quantities, but the manufacturer
can presumably direct you to a distributor.

 

[ian field]

I'd have thought silicone grease ought to do that.

I'd have thought silicone grease was the worst possible lubricant to put on
switch contacts!

From past experience of light viscosity silicone spray on switches, it
causes intermittent contact - and that was a toggle switch, the brake light
switch supplies current to 2x 21W filaments, so arcing is a possibility
which might form SiO2 on the contacts.

Its an excellent water repellent though.

 

[ian field]

Apparently so:

http://www.ecllube.com/003products.aspx

Haven't found anyone selling it in small quantities, but the manufacturer
can presumably direct you to a distributor.

Yes - my google search found several references to that family of automotive
lubricants, apparently an assortment of grades in a variety of colours.

Mostly extreme water resistance and greases that increase in viscosity in
response to shear (probably not very good for "wiping" contacts!).

 

[Fred Abse]

Does anyone know if Evolube (possibly Elvolube) still exists?

IIRC, there was a product back in the 1960s called "Elvalube". As I
recall, it was made by Gulf Oil, and was just a pure mineral grease
without additives.

Never seen any for many years. Any good quality "straight" mineral grease is
as good as anything, in my experience, used very sparingly. Greases
thicken over time, so it's a good idea to clean any old lubricant off
before applying fresh.

 

[Lostgallifreyan]

Does anyone know if Evolube (possibly Elvolube) still exists?

This is a product I remember from many years ago when I worked for an
instrument calibration company, its a special lubricant for electrical
contacts which I remember using on those front panel brass studs
rotary switches on decade boxes and measuring bridges.

A while back I found a crumpled tube of the stuff in a toolbox I
picked up at the dump, its sat in a drawer for years until now, the
severe rain storms have caused problems with my motorcycle brake light
switch and this lubricant (the little I have left) seems the only
satisfactory way of excluding the water.

Even if the original product no longer exists, its almost certain that
another brand has filled the gap in the market and I'd like to find
out the name with a view to obtaining some.

TIA.

Have a look generally at PFPE's poly fluoro polyethers. You won't want the
kilopoise, because the viscosity is huge, but there are finer ones. Water
repellence is excellent, as is adhesion, and unlike silicones, they tend to
stay where you put them instead of migrating. One possible source of a
small amount of low viscosity PFPE is a scuba gear shop, it's used on the
oxy tank seals.

 

[ian field]

IIRC, there was a product back in the 1960s called "Elvalube". As I
recall, it was made by Gulf Oil, and was just a pure mineral grease
without additives.

When I last used the stuff in a job was many years ago and a long distant
memory, and the tube that since came into my possession was so crumpled the
label was all but obliterated, but now you mention Gulf Oil I think you may
have hit the nail.

 

[ian field]

Have a look generally at PFPE's poly fluoro polyethers. You won't want the
kilopoise, because the viscosity is huge, but there are finer ones. Water
repellence is excellent, as is adhesion, and unlike silicones, they tend
to
stay where you put them instead of migrating. One possible source of a
small amount of low viscosity PFPE is a scuba gear shop, it's used on the
oxy tank seals.

PTFE lubricants are common enough - what is PFPE?

 

[Lostgallifreyan]

PTFE lubricants are common enough - what is PFPE?

Polyfluoro polyethers. But Googling for PFPE will tell you more unless you
like some very rarified chemistry, way over my head.

Correction to my last post, while I'm about it: it's used in the valve
seals, not the tank fittings seals, though maybe both, as it's good stuff.

Apparently both PFPE and PTFE are DuPont things. How come one firm seems to
manage all the advanced polymers I can easily think of, ever since the
fifties? No wonder the tin-hatters say they had special rights to Roswell.

 

[ian field]

Polyfluoro polyethers. But Googling for PFPE will tell you more unless you
like some very rarified chemistry, way over my head.

Correction to my last post, while I'm about it: it's used in the valve
seals, not the tank fittings seals, though maybe both, as it's good stuff.

Apparently both PFPE and PTFE are DuPont things. How come one firm seems
to
manage all the advanced polymers I can easily think of, ever since the
fifties? No wonder the tin-hatters say they had special rights to Roswell.

If its at all similar to PTFE I can't see it doing electrical contacts much
good, PTFE is an excellent insulator - what does PFPE do?

 

[Eeyore]

I'd have thought silicone grease was the worst possible lubricant to put on
switch contacts!

From past experience of light viscosity silicone spray on switches, it
causes intermittent contact - and that was a toggle switch, the brake light
switch supplies current to 2x 21W filaments, so arcing is a possibility
which might form SiO2 on the contacts.

Its an excellent water repellent though.

I've seen a number of switches with a clear grease lubricating them that I
always took to be silicone grease.

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

When I last used the stuff in a job was many years ago and a long distant
memory, and the tube that since came into my possession was so crumpled the
label was all but obliterated, but now you mention Gulf Oil I think you may
have hit the nail.

http://www.google.com/search?&q=elvolube

 

[Lostgallifreyan]

If its at all similar to PTFE I can't see it doing electrical contacts
much good, PTFE is an excellent insulator - what does PFPE do?

I think PTFE greases are a suspension of fine solids. PFPE (Perfluorinated
Polyethers, correction of what I said before) greases are a liquid. If you
choose one with the right (lowish) viscosity, it should stay put on switch
contacts, and act like any fluid, so long as it's not too viscous, the
contacts should close ok. If the switch arcs from heavy currents and
particles build up between the contacts, that might degrade performance,
but even then a PFPE grease should help, as it will exclude oxygen as well
as water. There are solvents to allow removal, so the only serious obstacle
to trying one is price. They cost, so it really pays to look for a source
of small tubes. Scuba gear shops had the smallest cheapest supply I could
find, maybe £28 spend. Worth it though, if it works, you might not find
anything better.

An example of properties of a PFPE grease:
http://www.solvaysolexis.com/static//wma/pdf/5/4/3/4/fom_thin.pdf

Fomblin Z-derivatives are widely used as lubricants in
the magnetic disk drive industry to decrease the fric-
tion between the head and disk, that is, reduce wear
and therefore minimize possibility of disk failure.

• Chemical and Thermal Stability - limited decomposition
• Low Surface Tension - good coating, high spreading
• Low Vapor Pressure - low out-gassing
• Good viscosity index - low change in viscosity over
wide temperature range
• Good re-flow properties - self coating
• Adhesion to substrate via organofunctional bonds
• Excellent Lubricity - reduce disk wear

I imagine that anything that can be used in that sensitive an environment
isn't going to damage a switch, unless the switch produces its own means of
destruction and the grease maintains adverse conditions created by the
switch itself.

 

[Ross Herbert]

Yes - my google search found several references to that family of automotive
lubricants, apparently an assortment of grades in a variety of colours.

Mostly extreme water resistance and greases that increase in viscosity in
response to shear (probably not very good for "wiping" contacts!).

Looking at the ECL products info it would appear that Evolube is not
the best choice for switch contacts. Rheogel 283 and Absolube 411A are
suitable for this use however.

 

[ian field]

..

I've seen a number of switches with a clear grease lubricating them that I
always took to be silicone grease.

Graham

Not if they still work it isn't!

 

[ian field]

Looking at the ECL products info it would appear that Evolube is not
the best choice for switch contacts. Rheogel 283 and Absolube 411A are
suitable for this use however.

Its fairly obvious that I got the name wrong, its many years since I last
saw the product in a workplace and the tube of it that came into my
possession was so crumpled the label was barely readable - I vaguely
recognised what was left of the livery on the tube and could just make out a
few lines of instructions to thinly coat electrical contacts.

The reply from Fred Abse correctly names the product but googling gets no
hits, so it seems likely the product is no longer available. Your suggested
alternatives are well worth following up - thanks.

 

[ian field]

http://www.google.com/search?&q=elvolube

A pay-per-view article - very useful!

 

[Eeyore]

Not if they still work it isn't!

Why do you say that ?

Graham

 

[Eeyore]

A pay-per-view article - very useful!

Pardon ?

Graham