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Old 09-28-15, 10:46 AM
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Homemade Grease?

Instinctively I would like to use something like castor oil but I also think I might need to add something like glue. Anyone to recommend something such as that?
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Old 09-28-15, 10:59 AM
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Originally Posted by eric044
Instinctively I would like to use something like castor oil but I also think I might need to add something like glue. Anyone to recommend something such as that?
Wow! Thanks for that.
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Old 09-28-15, 11:10 AM
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I believe if you add a two-part epoxy to the castor oil and apply it before it sets up, you will have a nice, permanent grease where applied.

Maybe looking up grease online would be a great way to start...
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Old 09-28-15, 11:16 AM
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I'd Add a Masters Degree in Chemistry ..
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Old 09-28-15, 11:17 AM
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Read about the properties and composition of grease here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_%28lubricant%29

If you're trying to economize, "bike-specific" grease from a bike shop can be quite expensive for the quantity; many people use auto greases which are much less so.
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Old 09-28-15, 11:27 AM
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No, just add flour to make a paste, cook until light brown and veggies, oh wait, wrong forum. Looking for what application on the bike? Grease for bearings, oil for chain? As said, car stuff will work.
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Old 09-28-15, 11:28 AM
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Originally Posted by eric044
Instinctively I would like to use something like castor oil but I also think I might need to add something like glue. Anyone to recommend something such as that?
Why?
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Old 09-28-15, 11:29 AM
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Originally Posted by eric044
Instinctively I would like to use something like castor oil but I also think I might need to add something like glue. Anyone to recommend something such as that?
Huh? . . . Wha? . . . Why? . . .

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that this isn't a troll and you are genuinely interested in making your own grease. The first big question is "Why?". There are numerous greases on the market that will do the job and I can't imagine any homemade concoction that would be any better. Park Grease, SuperLube, and many other better greases run $12-$15 per pound can (enough to service several bicycles for years). Many general purpose greases can be had at any big box, automotive, hardware or home improvement store for as little as $5 a pound.

Even at $6 a 4oz tube, Park grease would cost you about $1 per year, per bike if you did full servicings including BB and headset (most of which are sealed bearings on newer bikes).

Last edited by GravelMN; 09-28-15 at 11:34 AM.
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Old 09-28-15, 11:31 AM
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Full moon.
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Old 09-28-15, 02:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Earl Grey
Read about the properties and composition of grease here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_%28lubricant%29

If you're trying to economize, "bike-specific" grease from a bike shop can be quite expensive for the quantity; many people use auto greases which are much less so.
Manual greases are even less
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Old 09-28-15, 02:41 PM
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Since I started cycling over 40 years ago I think that I may have gone through 4 or 5 1 pound containers of grease.The first one was a container of Campagnolo grease, very expensive at the time. The point is that I may have spent no more than $40-$50 over the course of 45 years of cycling. Hardly makes it seem worthwhile to make your own
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Old 09-28-15, 03:18 PM
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Old 09-28-15, 04:31 PM
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I'm going to start making my own tires. Where do I find a rubber tree?
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Old 09-28-15, 06:16 PM
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Old 09-28-15, 08:27 PM
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I just mix J-B Weld with used motor oil & pump that stuff all up in the bike until it's oozing from every hole. Increases speed & performance. Oh yeah!
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Old 09-28-15, 09:05 PM
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Try whale blubber.

Or dumpster diving at the liposuction clinic.
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Old 09-28-15, 09:26 PM
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The farce is strong in this one.
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Old 09-29-15, 12:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Homebrew01
Try whale blubber.

Or dumpster diving at the liposuction clinic.
I heard they only work with FAT bikes though.
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Old 09-29-15, 05:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Homebrew01
Try whale blubber.

Or dumpster diving at the liposuction clinic.
I tried this. People smelled my bike before they saw it coming.
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Old 09-29-15, 10:09 AM
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All kidding aside, I used to work at a metal forming shop, one of the 'greases' we used was graphite powder(nasty stuff) mixed with oil to make a paste. And 100% lanolin.
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Old 09-29-15, 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by leob1
All kidding aside, I used to work at a metal forming shop, one of the 'greases' we used was graphite powder(nasty stuff) mixed with oil to make a paste. And 100% lanolin.
I used to frequent a motorcycle shop where they used graphite mixed with motor oil to lube control cables, pivot points, etc. It wasn't used as a substitute for bearing grease, though. My advice to the OP: Use regular automotive bearing grease. If it's good enough for auto wheel bearings that spin at hundreds of RPMs, it's more than good enough for bicycles.

Last edited by habilis; 09-29-15 at 11:14 AM.
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Old 09-29-15, 01:46 PM
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Better yet, just look behind whatever fast food place you are near. Just scoop out some of that used fryolator grease. Yum, french fries, fish or taco smell.
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Old 09-29-15, 01:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Leebo
Better yet, just look behind whatever fast food place you are near. Just scoop out some of that used fryolator grease. Yum, french fries, fish or taco smell.
Just don't ride near dogs.
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Old 09-29-15, 02:19 PM
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Originally Posted by Leebo
Better yet, just look behind whatever fast food place you are near. Just scoop out some of that used fryolator grease. Yum, french fries, fish or taco smell.
They actually use it as bio-diesel fuel. I do wonder about the smell, though.
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Old 09-29-15, 04:45 PM
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Thank you for your devotion to the rules.
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