fyrstormer
Banned
I have a lot of titanium lights. All but one has screw threads. Most of their screw threads are titanium-on-titanium, and that has to be one of the most difficult-to-lubricate metal interfaces in the world. Titanium oxidizes instantly on exposure to air, and for reasons I still don't entirely understand, titanium's oxide layer repels lubrication with the greatest of ease. Since I usually end up twisting the threads on my lights the way some people fiddle with pens or rub on a worry stone while they're thinking, I became quite concerned with how all that fiddling was wearing out the threads on my lights.
I went through the process of trying all the various pre-packaged "Ti-Friendly" lubricants on the suggested here on CPF, and ultimately I didn't like any of them, so a couple years ago I started working on my own. A few months later, I came up with a formulation I called TiTi Twister 1. TiTi Twister 1 is made from hydrocarbon oil, partially gelled with Teflon powder, and doped with molybdenum di-sulfide as a rolling agent. The base oil itself is doped with climbing agents that help it overcome titanium's tendency to shed lubrication. I've used it on most of my lights ever since; it worked very well at taming even the grittiest-feeling Ti threads.
TiTi Twister 1 works great for most of my lights, but there is one downside; it's quite sticky when pressed into a thin film between threads and O-rings, and makes some twisty lights hard to operate one-handed. Recently I came up with another formulation I've decided to call TiTi Twister 2, which solves that problem nicely. TTT2 is essentially the same as TTT1, except it uses a fluorocarbon oil instead of a hydrocarbon oil. (you've heard of fluorocarbon oil before; it's normally called "Krytox".) I never liked Krytox by itself, but when combined with Teflon and molybdenum di-sulfide, it works very nicely. Its film isn't as sticky as TTT1, which I think reduces its lubricating ability slightly, but it also makes it easier to operate a twisty light one-handed.
Here's a picture of TTT1 and TTT2 side-by-side:
The purpose of this thread is not just to brag about spending a couple hundred hours of my evenings and weekends messing around in my kitchen with bottles of stuff that are decidedly not edible. It's not a sale thread either; since I have only my own personal use as evidence of their effectiveness, I doubt I could get anyone to pay for the stuff. Rather, I'd like to know if there's anyone who would like a sample of either TTT1 or TTT2 to test on their own lights.
TTT1 is safe for nitrile, silicone, and Viton O-rings, and TTT2 is safe for all O-rings including EPDM. TTT1 has a hint of a sulfur smell to it, but it's only noticeable when you open the light to change the battery. TTT2 doesn't smell like anything as far as I can tell. TTT2 is also easier to use on a light that has already been lubricated with Krytox, as there isn't as much of a need to clean every last trace of the old Krytox off the threads. I still think TTT1 provides better lubrication all-around though, if a thorough pre-cleaning and a little whiff of chemicals when you open your light doesn't bother you.
PM me if you'd like a sample of either or both. Post questions here though, so I can answer them publicly.
I went through the process of trying all the various pre-packaged "Ti-Friendly" lubricants on the suggested here on CPF, and ultimately I didn't like any of them, so a couple years ago I started working on my own. A few months later, I came up with a formulation I called TiTi Twister 1. TiTi Twister 1 is made from hydrocarbon oil, partially gelled with Teflon powder, and doped with molybdenum di-sulfide as a rolling agent. The base oil itself is doped with climbing agents that help it overcome titanium's tendency to shed lubrication. I've used it on most of my lights ever since; it worked very well at taming even the grittiest-feeling Ti threads.
TiTi Twister 1 works great for most of my lights, but there is one downside; it's quite sticky when pressed into a thin film between threads and O-rings, and makes some twisty lights hard to operate one-handed. Recently I came up with another formulation I've decided to call TiTi Twister 2, which solves that problem nicely. TTT2 is essentially the same as TTT1, except it uses a fluorocarbon oil instead of a hydrocarbon oil. (you've heard of fluorocarbon oil before; it's normally called "Krytox".) I never liked Krytox by itself, but when combined with Teflon and molybdenum di-sulfide, it works very nicely. Its film isn't as sticky as TTT1, which I think reduces its lubricating ability slightly, but it also makes it easier to operate a twisty light one-handed.
Here's a picture of TTT1 and TTT2 side-by-side:
The purpose of this thread is not just to brag about spending a couple hundred hours of my evenings and weekends messing around in my kitchen with bottles of stuff that are decidedly not edible. It's not a sale thread either; since I have only my own personal use as evidence of their effectiveness, I doubt I could get anyone to pay for the stuff. Rather, I'd like to know if there's anyone who would like a sample of either TTT1 or TTT2 to test on their own lights.
TTT1 is safe for nitrile, silicone, and Viton O-rings, and TTT2 is safe for all O-rings including EPDM. TTT1 has a hint of a sulfur smell to it, but it's only noticeable when you open the light to change the battery. TTT2 doesn't smell like anything as far as I can tell. TTT2 is also easier to use on a light that has already been lubricated with Krytox, as there isn't as much of a need to clean every last trace of the old Krytox off the threads. I still think TTT1 provides better lubrication all-around though, if a thorough pre-cleaning and a little whiff of chemicals when you open your light doesn't bother you.
PM me if you'd like a sample of either or both. Post questions here though, so I can answer them publicly.