Carabiner maintenance

[Mark_Skyland]

Just spotted this on the DMM web site

 

Inspection & Maintenance of Auto-locking Gates - News & Articles - DMM Professional

[Pbtaylor2014]

So don't use graphite powder?

Looks like alot do and will have to change

[Steve Bullman]

be nice if they said why not to use graphite powder

[T14EES T14UNK]

It's good to show the loler inspector that your carabiners work perfectly well.... Thank you very much. 🤔

[scotspine1]

be nice if they said why not to use graphite powder

 

you can use graphite powder, just don't use too much or you could clog the mechanism. This will be why DMM are saying this, they wrongly assume everyone who is using graphite powder is so stupid that they'll put too much in the mechanism and clog it up.

 

WD40 is good for biners.

[Mark_Skyland]

you can use graphite powder, just don't use too much or you could clog the mechanism. This will be why DMM are saying this, they wrongly assume everyone who is using graphite powder is so stupid that they'll put too much in the mechanism and clog it up.

 

WD40 is good for biners.

 

Unfortunately they and other manufactures rightly assume that a lot of people do tip the bottle upside down and pour the powder in, then claim the carabiner is garbage.

[Al Cormack]

you can use graphite powder, just don't use too much or you could clog the mechanism. This will be why DMM are saying this, they wrongly assume everyone who is using graphite powder is so stupid that they'll put too much in the mechanism and clog it up.

 

WD40 is good for biners.

 

 

I wouldn't use wd40. Too oily and will attract dirt and grit to make a nice grinding paste!

 

Carb cleaner works well as it evaporates.

[Darrin Turnbull]

Taken from Treetools blog

http://treetools.co.nz/_blog/Treetools_Blog/post/Liquid_carabiner_lubrication_surpasses_graphite_powder/

 

Graphite powder was commonly used by New Zealand tree climbers for re-lubricating the barrel on sticky carabiners. Until the visit to NZ by Treemagineers Chris Cowell and Mark Bridge back in August 2011 graphite powder was the only option available.

 

Chris and Mark introduced the use of Duck Oil in the 'Carabiner Workshop' held at Treetools during their August visit. They gave away free Duck Oil samples, in a natty dispenser, as part of the show.

 

Since that time, the demand for Karatol Duck Oil has escalated to the point it is now part of the Treetools carabiner maintenance line-up.

 

Duck Oil displaces water and keeps the barrel running smoothly. Application of a small drop will usually bring even the most stubborn carabiner barrel mechanism back to life.

 

In contrast, graphite powder does have a tendency to clog up and harden when a little bit of moisture is introduced to the equation. The more graphite you apply, the worse the problem becomes.

 

Karatol Duck Oil overcomes the clogging issue and keeps the carabiner barrel mechanism running smoothly - well worth having a small bottle in your kit for carabiner rejuvenation!

[treequip]

There is nothing wrong with graphite powder per se but it has to me used sparingly.

 

The disadvantage with lightweight oils is exactly that, light oils don't endure, that's fine in regular use but not so good for storage

 

Neither is perfect neither is right or wrong

 

Its worth bearing in mind that the treetools blog essentially says, some blokes we paid to run a course for us recon this "new" lube is the way to go, and by the way we stock it.

 

It also says that graphite was previously the only option, NZ has had light spray type oils for a while now

[gooseflight]

I wouldn't use wd40. Too oily and will attract dirt and grit to make a nice grinding paste!

I would. WD40 is part solvent and not a very good or persistent lubricant. The manufacturers state: "It does not attract dirt or moisture to metal surfaces."