09-06-2019, 01:44 PM
(09-06-2019, 01:31 AM)awemawson Wrote: What are you using as “lube” ?
My understanding is that no oils are allowed anywhere near oxygen valves, hose couplers and regulators.
Right you are Andrew. Hydrocarbon (petroleum) based oils should never be used around oxygen. It is a fuel source that can be ignited quite easily when impacted with oxygen. Bad ju-ju.
Instead I am using Krytox which is a fluorinated synthetic grease that is inflammable, chemically inert, and safe for use in oxygen systems. I believe it is commonly used in the aerospace industry among others due to it's resistance to both gaseous and liquid oxygen. I can tell you Krytox is extremely expensive though. But when nothing else will do...
I also used it when I rebuilt my regulators. I only wipe enough on to put a 'sheen' on the surface of seals & slip rings before assembly. You certainly don't want to glob it on. I have a .5 oz (14.8 ml) syringe of it that would last me several hundred lifetimes. But that was the smallest amount I could buy.
Willie