Thread: What's a good, celluloid friendly, rust preventative?

Baby oil is quite a bit more expensive than sewing machine oil, and is not made to protect metal.

20 fl oz of Johnson's baby oil on Amazon is over $15.00.
32 fl oz of Sew-Rite sewing machine oil is $9.95.

Some mineral oils are as low as i $4.00 for 16 oz, so a little cheaper than sewing machine oil, but neither mineral oil or baby oil are formulated for protecting metal, as sewing machine oil is.

The trouble with oils made for use on the human skin is that they are often low pH (=acid). I am not sure what acid does to celluloid but I do know acid is big trouble on carbon steel. That's why we have acid free vaseline in this country as a lubricant for bicycles.

Originally Posted by toolarts

Baby oil is quite a bit more expensive than sewing machine oil, and is not made to protect metal.

20 fl oz of Johnson's baby oil on Amazon is over $15.00.
32 fl oz of Sew-Rite sewing machine oil is $9.95.

Some mineral oils are as low as i $4.00 for 16 oz, so a little cheaper than sewing machine oil, but neither mineral oil or baby oil are formulated for protecting metal, as sewing machine oil is.

Originally Posted by toolarts

Baby oil is quite a bit more expensive than sewing machine oil, and is not made to protect metal.

20 fl oz of Johnson's baby oil on Amazon is over $15.00.
32 fl oz of Sew-Rite sewing machine oil is $9.95.

Some mineral oils are as low as i $4.00 for 16 oz, so a little cheaper than sewing machine oil, but neither mineral oil or baby oil are formulated for protecting metal, as sewing machine oil is.

Actully, when I was able to work , I ran a computerized paper shear. I was the 2nd operator as the previous shear operator had a hissy and quit. To make a long story short, the manufacturer of the shear recommended using baby oil or mineral oil on the table (all carbon steel). I ran that machine for 2 or 3 years before I was laid off, only oiling the table down on weekends. We didn't have a bit of rust on it, however, after I was called back to work (9 years later) the table was completely rusty red color. I asked the Production Manager about it and was told that they had quit oiling it down, didn't think it was neccesary. That's why I use baby oil on my razors, just a thin coat, plus I think of my razors as my kids anyway, so they may as well smell like it.