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PB Blaster as cable lube?

Old 02-28-11, 06:02 PM
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PB Blaster as cable lube?

I was reading about all the things you can use PB Blaster on when I was changing the bottom bracket bearings and after reading about how it both lubricates and penetrates into hard to lube spots I wondered how it would work as a cable lube. I bet I'm not the only one to wonder this, how well does it work?
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Old 02-28-11, 06:29 PM
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I would be worried that solvents in PB Blaster would damage cable lining. I don't know if that's a real concern or not because I've never tried it. I just use a drop of chain lube every once in a while.
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Old 02-28-11, 07:27 PM
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Originally Posted by no motor?
I bet I'm not the only one to wonder this, how well does it work?
PB Blaster (as seen on TV!) has many uses.
Cable lube is not one of them.

It is pretty good at freeing up stuck, rusted
assemblies, and I use it all the time for that.
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Old 02-28-11, 08:08 PM
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Originally Posted by 3alarmer
PB Blaster (as seen on TV!) has many uses.
Cable lube is not one of them.

It is pretty good at freeing up stuck, rusted
assemblies, and I use it all the time for that.
Yep. One of the reasons I wouldn't even try using it on cables is because of what a mess it would make. Even with the straw it seems to end up everywhere.
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Old 02-28-11, 10:24 PM
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Dow Chemical #41 rubbed into the cable - only where it rides in the casing - then wipe off excess such that light film only remains has done the job remarkably well f' me.
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Old 02-28-11, 10:25 PM
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41 is a grease...
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Old 02-28-11, 10:35 PM
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Plus PB Blaster smells like a very dirty car mechanic's garage. I only use it to remove stuck things, before cleaning any leftover PB off with a thorough wash and wax.
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Old 02-28-11, 10:45 PM
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41 is a grease...
but 42 is everything !
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Old 03-01-11, 01:10 AM
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PB blaster can stain paint and vinyl, so I would guess if you have light colored cable casings, mainly white, they could get discolored. I had a can of it sitting on an old white painted tool cart, it stained the enamel where the straw dribbled on the paint for years. It also takes off some decals, I've used it in a pinch to remove bumper sticker adhesive on cars, so I'd be concerned about the decals on the bike as well.
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Old 03-01-11, 01:16 AM
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PB Blaster would work BADLY as a cable lube. It's far too thin and too volatile to do any real good. For my own part I rub a film of Park grease into the cable before I thread the housing on and I've yet to have any real problems with sticking cables.

This is why you shouldn't trim your cable ends too short, because even if the ends get frayed you should be able to trim them back to a clean end for re-threading. Crimp-on caps are cheap and do more than just keep you from hurting yourself.
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Old 03-01-11, 01:17 AM
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Ok, I gotta ask. Whats wrong with OIL as a cable lubricant?
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Old 03-01-11, 04:43 AM
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Originally Posted by canopus
Ok, I gotta ask. Whats wrong with OIL as a cable lubricant?
Collects gunk.
If ya wipe it down well, you'll minimize that.
So not much, if you do it right. Dry lube (teflon based) is better in dusty environments.
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Old 03-01-11, 10:45 AM
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Originally Posted by FastJake
Yep. One of the reasons I wouldn't even try using it on cables is because of what a mess it would make. Even with the straw it seems to end up everywhere.
You can lubricate cables in place with one of these:



Slip it over the end of the housing, tighten it down, insert the aerosol straw into the port, and squirt your lube into the housing. Not completely mess free, but works pretty well.
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Old 03-01-11, 03:56 PM
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Originally Posted by MilitantPotato
Collects gunk.
If ya wipe it down well, you'll minimize that.
So not much, if you do it right. Dry lube (teflon based) is better in dusty environments.
Good grief!

Been using it for 27/28 years without any problems so far.
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Old 03-01-11, 05:55 PM
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L3 Housing

You guys know that most of the housing
on the market now is teflon lined as part
of the production process, right?

Personally I run a fingertip load of grease
along cables, and I've even been known
to use paste wax, but at this point I
think it's mostly force of habit. So
I'd hate to see this degenerate into
another lubrication thread controversy.

Not saying it will, just seems kinda
inconsequential.
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Old 03-01-11, 07:41 PM
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I think a dry lube such as Liquid Wrench beige can dry lube, or a fortified penetrating oil such as Schaeffer's Penetro 90: https://www.schaefferoil.com/specialty/190_Penetro.html or LPS 1/2/3 would work better here. I used Tri-Flow in a pinch when I was upgrading my front drivetrain. But when the time comes to relube my cables, I'm using the latter.
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Old 03-01-11, 09:18 PM
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Originally Posted by canopus
Good grief!

Been using it for 27/28 years without any problems so far.
Buggy whips are at least a hundred years old. Good stuff!
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