Bicycle Mechanics - Home Brew Lube Applicator

After you mix up home brew lube, what kind of container do you use to store and dispense it?

home depot sells this applicator bottle with a needle tip that you can cut to desired opening size.
I think it's in the same isle as lubricants and bungee cords.

I bought some needle oiler bottles from Brownells a few years ago, and though I don't use homebrew lubes anymore, I put my lubes (either Boeshield T9 or Prolink) in the dispenser and drop exactly one "drop" at each chain roller.

The Brownell oiler bottles come three in a pack, and I definitely recommend them. You will never waste lubes again, if you buy the needle oilers linked below.

I feel I have earned back the money used in purchasing the oiler bottles by the quantity of lube not wasted unnecessarily. And I am still using only one bottle. I intend to have them for the rest of my life.

I also just realised that these oilers are available on eBay. Just make sure they come in three-packs, and don't pay excessive shipping cost.

http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=20180/Product/NEEDLE_OILER_BOTTLES

I just recycle old lube bottles... you might be able to score some of these at a bike shop if you don't have one kicking around.

Eyedrop bottles work well. Just pry off the tip to fill, then snap it back on.

I just recycle old lube bottles... you might be able to score some of these at a bike shop if you don't have one kicking around.
That's what I do too. I have a couple of Pro-Link plastic dispenser bottles that I just refill. I store the bulk lube in a 1-qt metal screw top can that originally held mineral spirits.

I use eye and ear medicine droppers with White Lighting
and Prolink. This works well for one drop /link application on chains. CVS drug store has them 2 for $2.99 on their web site SKU #251606. I found it best
not to allow the oil contact the rubber bulb, causing
the rubber to swell, loosing it suction ability with repeat or prolong contact.

I used some prolink bottles until the plastic got brittle and cracked. I now make my own from hair coloring applicator bottles I get for a couple of bucks at Sally Beauty. To make the orfice smaller, I used a soldering gun to melt the tip shut, then inserted a heated pin to create a new opening. I've been using that bottle for years.

http://www.sallybeauty.com/color-applicator-bottle/SBS-320890,default,pd.html?cgid=Supp02

Eyedrop bottles work well. Just pry off the tip to fill, then snap it back on.

Never thought of that... and with the glaucoma epidemic we are experiencing here eyedrop bottles should be plentiful enough.

I use my old Chain-L container...

http://www.os2.dhs.org/~john/oilcan.jpg

Home Brew Lube Applicator
After you mix up home brew lube, what kind of container do you use to store and dispense it?
Please tell me more about this home brew lube that you speak of.

This might be a little high and outside, but hey, it's worth a shot.

If you have a friend who is a brass player, ask them for an empty valve oil bottle. I've found that the tip is perfect for lubing a chain and the shape makes it easy to carry along on a tour.

181479

The tip is easily removed for filling. My homebrew lube is made from two parts mineral spirits to one part motor oil. I've used both dino and synthetic 5W-20 with excellent results.

Tri-Flow comes in a similar container with the same tip except the bottle is black, which makes it hard to mix the lube 'just so'.

I mix my own lube out of chain saw bar and chain lube and mineral spirits. I keep/dispense it from an old 3in1 oil can.

I have a small Visine eyedrop applicator that I sometimes put into my seatbag just to have some lube along for the ride. I never need it, because I'm careful about lubing my chain, but sometimes on my rides, I'll encounter other riders with squeaky chains (yikes!), and I always offer to lube them up.

Please tell me more about this home brew lube that you speak of.
Mine is 3 parts OMS (odorless mineral spirits bought by the quart or gallon at any home center, hardware store or paint dealer) and 1 part 10W-30 Mobile 1 synthetic oil.

I mix it in a quart container and fill the 4-oz Pro-Link bottles I mentioned above for use.

Please tell me more about this home brew lube that you speak of.

I use a small shot of 3-in-1 garage door lube and the rest filled with 10W30
I think it's about
1/8 garage door lube
7/8 10W30

it's wet and salty here during the winter.

10W30 straight is about the same consistency as phil wood tenacious lube.

Using Google to search on home chain brew formulas, a few came up replicating Prolink. Many use Mobile 1(various
multi weight formulas to various ratios of mineral spirits). However upon talking with Prolink, they say
that it is not a lubricant, but an anti friction formula.
Anyone remember the commercial for STP motor oil treatment many decades ago? It was impossible for the person to hold a flat bladed screwdriver, handle down,
between their index finger and thumb on the driver blade, when covered with the STP. I have used moly,various oils,
mineral spirits, motor oil treatment in different ratios.
I used to even "floss" between the chain links after
lubing to remove the excess oil with pipe cleaners.
For the most part on my good bikes, I use Prolink for the road, and White Lighting on the mountain bikes.

I think the most common formula for "homebrew" is 4 parts mineral spirits to 1 part (Mobil One) synthetic motor oil. Obviously there are other similar, and not so similar, formulas. I make mine 3 parts odorless mineral spirits to 1 part Mobil One because I normally have these in my garage anyway.

Using Google to search on home chain brew formulas, a few came up replicating Prolink. Many use Mobile 1(various
multi weight formulas to various ratios of mineral spirits). However upon talking with Prolink, they say
that it is not a lubricant, but an anti friction formula.
Anyone remember the commercial for STP motor oil treatment many decades ago? It was impossible for the person to hold a flat bladed screwdriver, handle down,
between their index finger and thumb on the driver blade, when covered with the STP. I have used moly,various oils,
mineral spirits, motor oil treatment in different ratios.
I used to even "floss" between the chain links after
lubing to remove the excess oil with pipe cleaners.
For the most part on my good bikes, I use Prolink for the road, and White Lighting on the mountain bikes.

they're trying to sell you stuff...

However upon talking with Prolink, they say
that it is not a lubricant, but an anti friction formula.

Although I use Prolink sometimes, as I was able to buy a big jug of it two years ago at a ridiculously low price, I smell bulls**t from the anti-friction crap.

Homebrew lubes work fine. My formula was three-part mineral spirits and one-part Mobil Synthetic 10W-30. Any motor oil will do, but I already buy and use Mobil Syn 1 on my cars.

However upon talking with Prolink, they say
that it is not a lubricant, but an anti friction formula.

That's what a lubricant is, something to reduce friction. When ProLink was new I tried it on 4 different road bikes and in each case it caused the chain to make a slight buzzing noise so I threw it in the trash. I know it's very popular now so I'm thinking they must have improved the formula.


Anyone remember the commercial for STP motor oil treatment many decades ago? It was impossible for the person to hold a flat bladed screwdriver, handle down,

Back when I was a poor college student I would use STP in my 406 Ford because it would quieten down the solid lifters on a cold morning start.

I use automatic transmission fluid as my lubricant. It holds small parts in suspension, which I suspect might reduce wear.

Thanks for the eyedropper and hair-color applicator ideas! Amazon sells the applicator bottles!

Thanks all. Now I have a new project.

Reusing one of those 3-in-1 oil bottles. The tip is perfectly sized to lube droplets.
I do want the newer version of the bottles that has extension hose for getting into tight awkward areas.

I just found a FREE local source (http://www.southorangevillage.com/vc/comments.php?DiscussionID=49198&page=22#Item_32) for those bottles. But only for me. ;)

Tom

The chain lube I buy comes in an applicator bottle. I put grease into an old medical syringe (the ones without a needle).

I use automatic transmission fluid as my lubricant.

I had a bad experience with trying to use ATF as a protective lubricant. I put it on a custom built carbon steel hunting knife and left for two weeks. When I returned I found that the knife was badly rust pitted. I've never used it again for anything outside of an automatic transmission.

1 part oil (I use sytnthetic) and 3 parts mineral spirits or WD40... in warmer weather I will mix it 50:50 to make it a little thicker.

Some contact lens cleaning and saline solutions come in bottles with a tip which works great.

1 part oil (I use sytnthetic) and 3 parts mineral spirits or WD40... in warmer weather I will mix it 50:50 to make it a little thicker.

How did you come upon this formula?

I learned of ATF here on bikeforums. It's worked out great for me, and it's something like $6 per liter. Al1943's story is scary. What could account for our different experiences? I know nothing of chemistry.