Clock Oils

[The_Fixer]

All:

I haven't been here in a few months and discovered the new format for this web site. Want some feedback?? I found it arcane and very difficult to use and I spent over 30 years working with computers and web sites. Not sure why this is the way it is - perhaps someone could enlighten me. Thank you!!

I've always found the members here to be responsive and very helpful with answers to questions and advice in teh past which is the reason I've returned now. I need some help.

I just got off the telephone with Merritt's and learned that La Perle clock oil is no longer available because that company went out of business. A sign of the times??

I've been using La Perle clock oil for many years as a general purpose clock lubricant for all applications that didn't require the ETSYNTHA # 859 synthetic oil. So now that La Perle is no longer available, I like to know what oil other members have been using as a general purpose lubricant.

Merritt's shows the availability of the following clock oils - Moebius, SuperLube, Nye, and J. D. Windles. I've had no experience with any of these and wonder what others here would recommend.

As always, thank you for your help.

Bob - the former "fixer_123" here but couldn't log on as fixer_123 today!!

 

[clockdaddy]

Bob,
I've used about all the oils and settled on the Nye oil. These new oild are, in some ways better than some of the oils we used to use. They're definitely a lot less expensive!!

The Nye oil has good capilary action. It is a little thinner than I'd like but if it's not applied excessively, it stays put and has a long liquid life.

CD

 

[Scottie-TX]

Previously a Moebus user, LAB turned me on to LaPerle and that's been it for me since. I did manage to wrest a bottle of LaPerle from seller FINDINGKING on eBay after some idle threats.
Keep looking. You'll find it. No longer available but I'm certain there's a cache here and there. Meanwhile, many other products are good.

 

[LaBounty]

Hey Scottie-

I'm sorry I got you addicted to something only to have it taken away . For most applications, Moebus is a good substitute for LaPerle. It is a bit thick for use on your Vienna's or on French movements but works just fine in American movements. I'm not familiar enough with the Nye oils to know how they will perform.

Here's what I'm using...

Etsyntha - All modern movements which have plated steels. Cuckoos, grandfather mvts, Hermle, Jauch, Keininger, etc...

Moebus - Pre- 1950's heavy movements. English longcase mvts, Mobier, Morez, and American movements once my LaPerle runs out.

LaPerle - Pre- 1950's light movements. French, Vienna, Chelsea, American. I'll be looking into Harold's suggestion of Nye oil since its viscosity may be just right for these.

Hope that helps!

 

[Tony Ambruso]

I've used Moebius, LaPerle and Nye. All good oils, I think. Currently, I am using a bottle of Nye synthetic. It does the job.

 

[John Webb]

I recently switched to Nye, but like Harold said, it's a bit thin. It seems to perform nicely but I don't know how it will go in the long run. Maybe some others know.

 

[fixer_123]

All:

I finally got my log in ID and password straightened out here and I'm now able to log on the way I always have.

I've been monitoring the replies since I posted this thread and, as always, there's lots of good insight and helpful suggestions.

Thank you all for your remarks and your help.

Bob

 

[Jeff C]

How come some oils are darker than others? Is one better than the other. I say this because I got one of those oilers from one of the supply houses the other day and the oil looks darker than most. I really just wanted the oiler but there is no name for the oil contained in it.

 

[Grandpa]

I buy my oil from Empire bulk. The oil seems to be of a high quality.
The oilers I bought in the past with oil in them did not hold up( in about a month or two. 10 to 20 clocks) and soon split. I bought the oilers from Empire and they have held up well for the past 6 months. I've oiled about 60 clocks. They sell them for about a buck and a half.

Bill