Do any of you lube your switch boots?

[B737Driver]

I was curious if any of you use lube on your switch boots to prevent cracks? If so, with what? My Ra Clicky seems to have a few small cracks on the flat rubber boot.

Thanks,

Driver

 

[Databyter]

I was curious if any of you use lube on your switch boots to prevent cracks? If so, with what? My Ra Clicky seems to have a few small cracks on the flat rubber boot.

Thanks,

Driver

I'm haven't lubed any before, although I've replaced a few. But I'm thinking armorall would be a good solution for your question. It cleans and protects a variety of surfaces, although not specifically rubber.

 

[kramer5150]

I lube the underside rim, where it compresses against the switch cap. I have found this to help improve water seal.

 

[420light]

Never thought to. Might now though.

 

[kts]

I use silicone spray on all my rubber boots, it cleans and prevents cracks.

 

[Igor Porto]

Yes, I use silicone oil to lube the rim, improving water resistance. And occasionaly I rub some silicone on its face, to keep the rubber in good shape.

 

[Big_Ed]

When I'm done lubing o-rings, I always have some of the lube left on my fingers, so I go ahead and rub it on the switch boot. It can't hurt.

 

[asfaltpiloot]

I use silicone spray on all my rubber boots, it cleans and prevents cracks.

+1

 

[B737Driver]

When I'm done lubing o-rings, I always have some of the lube left on my fingers, so I go ahead and rub it on the switch boot. It can't hurt.

Big Ed,

That is what I was planning on doing. What do you use?

Thanks,
Driver

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

I don't think my switch boots have dry skin. I may need to check them out... Maybe Neutrogema got something for Switch Boots with dry skin? LOL

 

[Big_Ed]

Big Ed,

That is what I was planning on doing. What do you use?

Thanks,
Driver

Hi Driver, I used to use petroleum jelly, but within the last year, I started using Nyogel 760G. Good stuff. I think I got it from Lighthound.com. I bought the 100 gram/ 3.53 ounce tube. It'll easily be enough for many years of lubing my lights. Petroleum jelly is recommended by Maglite, but can damage some o-rings on other lights, so I just decided to switch over. I believe I read somewhere here on CPF that Nyogel 760 is what Surefire uses on their lights at the factory. Perhaps someone else here can confirm that.

 

[Frank E]

Not intentionally. I clean stuff like that with silicone spray and torches with metallic switches (eg wolf safety torch) with WD40.

O rings I put a wee smear of silicone grease on.

Contacts incandescent lamp contact leaf, switch leaves, -ve battery spring I put a smidgeon of paraffin wax or silicone grease on depending on the torch's ATEX status. That's once in a blue moon though.

I tried a smearing of copaslip (antiseize) on threads of a 4D mag torch (I couldn't find the conductivity figures) and it reduces performance ... a lot.
Speaking of rubber switch boots, I lost the boot off of that one.