Bicycle Mechanics - Best chain lube from a hardware store

If one didn't have access to a bike shop briefly what is the best chain lube available at say Home Depot?

I've been tempted to try the chainsaw chain lube spray that I saw at Home depot. My favorite chain lube is Le Tour semi dry and it was developed as a chainsaw lube. I used to get the Le Tour from Branford Bike, but the store burned down.

I regularly use a light motor oil.
3in1 oil would work just fine
Chainsaw bar oil would be fine

dont use wd-40 for extended periods, penetrating oil isnt really a good lubricant, its great for using on stuck nuts and bolts( although I prefer PB Blaster) its really not that great on a bike chain, however, Ive used it for short periods with no ill effect.

3in1 oil would work just fine


I beg to differ on the 3 in 1, it's possibly the worst option. 3 in 1 is a *vegetable* oil, meaning it is a drying oil. It dries by oxidation and will leave a gooey, tar-like mess all over everything.

I've seen Tri-Flow in LHS (local hardware stores). That'd be my pick. I'm not sure if Home Despot carries Tri-Flow.

3 parts odorless mineral spirits mixed with 1 part synthetic motor oil (30 wt. is fine) will do the trick.

Liquid Wrench's Super Lubricant with PTFE.

I use Mobil 1 with a little dropper bottle (came with a sewing machine)

I use Mobil 1 with a little dropper bottle (came with a sewing machine)

That is exactly what I do, and not because I don't have a bike shop handy: it's the best lube (in my opinion and for my type of ride, which is XC with often dry and dusty conditions).

I've seen some teflon oil which comes in a small squeeze bottle at locksmith shops (as well as hardware shops) which dries pretty well once applied. That may be something workable.

Just avoid WD-40 at all costs. Its intended to be a water dispersent... not a long-lasting lubricant. Sprayed in some fine components, it will just goo them up.

3 parts odorless mineral spirits mixed with 1 part synthetic motor oil (30 wt. is fine) will do the trick.
+1

Good if you can't find normal bike lube, but be aware that it is a crap magnet. It's good for wet riding, but if you live in a dry area try to find some proper lube for your conditions.

Home brew, 75% mineral spirits and 25% Mobil One synthetic. One drop on each link, wrap a rag around the chain, turn cranks backwards.

Al

I'm trying a $3 bottle of Dupont teflon dry lube...sounds like it should be similar to Finish Line teflon...same size as their $8 bottle.

Anybody use this?

Alternately, given that you appear to have use of the internet, you could always order some chain lube from an online bike store.

Alternately, given that you appear to have use of the internet, you could always order some chain lube from an online bike store.

+1

I bought two 4oz bottles of Dupont "Performance" teflon lubricant @ $1.95 ea from Lowes a few years ago, appears to be identical to the Finish Line product. Very good performance in dry conditions, only lasts a couple days in the rain. I just emptied the first bottle & found my local Lowes no longer carries the product. I previously experimented with the Finish Line teflon lube & found that a 50/50 mix with transmission fluid yielded a lube that works well in wet conditions but it was messy so I went back to TriFlow in the Winter. If I was in the boonies & needed lube, either automatic transmission fluid or motor oil could be found in any gas station & would be better than nothing. Don

50/50 mix of 10w-30 motor oil and Automatic Transmission fluid w/ a dash of mineral spirts. Another BF member told me of this combo, he did not use the minreal spirits, tightwad was his BF id. Anyway, I have been using this for about a month now and the rain had virtually no effect on it! My riding is primarily commuting and it does not seem to be picking up as much dirt as the tri floe I was using before. One batch should last quite a while! It is cheap, effective and easy. I apply liberally, let the bike sit and wipe off the excess. Not only does it work well, but I don't feel like I am wasting money when I wipe off the exess like I did w/ tri flow. Hope that helps.

Bar and Chain oil. It's made for chains and the bar and sprocket the chain rides in. Winter mix is made from 10w motor oil and summer mix is made from 30w oil. Two additives are mixed in to make it chain oil. First is a penetrate so the oil will quickly soak into the chains internal parts and the second additive makes it very sticky so it will not sling off the chain when it's running at very high speeds. Before I retired Bar and Chain oil was used exclusively on chains used for industrial and heavy equipment. It can get messy when you apply it. First, thoroughly clean the chain. Place one drop on each roller. Operate the crank backwards to distribute the oil thoroughly into the chain. Let it soak in overnight. Wipe the chain with a rag and use a big fuzzy pipe cleaner bent in half and run that through each link to remove excess oil.

You guys are all wrong. ONLY DESSICATED SPERM WHALE OIL can be used on a chain. Anything else will make it fall to pieces when you least expect it, usually when you are miles away from home!

And it can only be applied after a thorough cleaning of the chain in a medical grade ultra-sound cleaner!

It must be applied, DROP BY DROP to the ROLLERS ONLY! If you get the slightest amount of the oil on the side plates, THE CHAIN IS RUINED! THROW IT AWAY! IT IS DANGEROUS!!

It must be applied, DROP BY DROP to the ROLLERS ONLY! If you get the slightest amount of the oil on the side plates, THE CHAIN IS RUINED! THROW IT AWAY! IT IS DANGEROUS!!

Is this one of the conclusions you have reached based on your ongoing experiment??:p

BTW, if you lived in a sandy environment like *some of us* do, you wouldn't be laughing at the efforts we have to go through to keep grit from sticking to excess lube on our chains!

Can people mention whether they are riding in wet or dry conditions when they make their recommendations? Or what time of year they use what lube?

-Summer, dusty, mountain biking I tend to use Finish Line Dry. Wet weather commuting and cyclocross in Portland I tend to use Tri-Flow. Would love to find a wet weather alternative that doesn't create such a mess.-

Thanks!

P.S. -
is the DESSICATED SPERM WHALE OIL only useful in coastal riding conditions? Does it help with the salty air? :)

I have been using LPS-1 and CRC Ultra Lite 3-36, both petroleum based. I think the LPS-1 is available at Orchard Hardware. Both are available at industrial hardware stores like Grainger. Both are dry lubricants. They work well but do not last long...every hundred miles or so.

Dupont makes the Teflon and Finish Line has their brand of it. Its non petroleum based.

I beg to differ on the 3 in 1, it's possibly the worst option. 3 in 1 is a *vegetable* oil, meaning it is a drying oil. It dries by oxidation and will leave a gooey, tar-like mess all over everything.
Like on new bicycle chains when they come out of the box?

I've seen Tri-Flow in LHS (local hardware stores). That'd be my pick. I'm not sure if Home Despot carries Tri-Flow.
That's what I use, rain or shine. I don't understand why it costs so much more at the LBS, lack of sales volume pricing maybe? Or they want you yo use the latest snakeoil...:)

I think a bike rep. told me once that most of the chain lube found in the small "bike type" bottles was just synthetic oil repackaged. I've been using 5-20 wt. synthetic oil and it seems to work fine. Sure is cheaper then bike specific stuff.

Just use some motor oil.
Easy does it.
Dirt cheap and readily available.

I bought two 4oz bottles of Dupont "Performance" teflon lubricant @ $1.95 ea from Lowes a few years ago, appears to be identical to the Finish Line product.....

That's because Finish Line is the manufacturer. I mentioned it in a previous thread. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=183988&highlight=finish+line)

Dragon's piss all the way.