3 in 1 Oil

I don't suppose there are many oils within price ranges we'd think of as 'normal' that don't contain volatiles that can evaporate, leaving gums'n'varnishes.

In some situations, like in piston/cylinder interfaces that'll mainly be driven with air, it seems that might have advantages.

Like Bazyle and RichardS2, I use it because it works, is available and convenient to apply. In most applications in my workshop - as distinct from on models - it'll get dirty, cleaned off and re-applied long before it has a chance to go gummy.

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I'm grateful for your contribution to my education, Monoman

I have sought and found a document which explicitly states itself to be : Safety data sheet according to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006, Annex II Revised on / Version: 12.02.2014 / 0001

**LINK**

https://www.flints.co.uk/pdffiles/3in1_msds.pdf

[ quietly amused by the fact that its filename includes msds ]

Unfortunately this contributes almost nothing to expand my understanding of the product.

I must be missing something: Could you please try to explain explain the advantage of this SDS over the MSDS.

MichaelG.

I many years ago replaced 3 in 1 oil cans with Parker Hale gun oil.

I don't rate the spray 3 in 1 very highly (that did seem to have little efficacy in the long term). But the regular squeezy bottles of it do seem to maintain their oiliness for a long time.

I would say things like linseed or vegetable oils are a no go, on the basis that they definitely do dry out quite quickly. 

It's probably a little bit thicker than machine oil (not the slideway stuff, which is very thick), but I tend to use neat industrial cutting oil for most jobs now. So its use is mainly limited to mechanisms and the like for me rather than a cutting lubricant. WD40 is pretty good for most things mechanical and a superior rust remover. 

3 in 1 also has a very low flash point, which probably means it's not the best for use as a high speed cutting aid. 

Michael W

Edited By Michael-w on 13/06/2018 19:58:38

I have a soft spot for Wahl clipper oil. Lubricates well, handy packaging, protects without being gummy and I have never noticed it attack plastics.

Brian