ValleyForge
Liberty Farms
It is what is being discussed….
Do you lubricate hedge trimmers? If so what do you use?
- Thread starter Bassmantweed
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Putting grease on hedge trimmers has not been brought up anywhere in this thread.....
The major component of WD-40 is Stoddard's solvent (mineral spirits, Varsol, etc), which is similar to refined kerosene, and light paraffin oils. Its no more a lubricant than diesel fuel is. It might penetrate into moving parts and remove the gunk, but its not a good lubricant.
As for the silicone mentioned in the OP, silicone is a lubricant only for plastic, rubber and other similar materials. It will eventually cause metals to gall.
Use any good petroleum lubricant. A spray can of chain and cable lube will last you a long time.
ValleyForge
Liberty Farms
Well now, we can rest assured now that you’ve checked everything…lol i Hope you haven’t put grease on them before….
anywho, saying WD-40 in not a lubricant is a myth you’d know if you read everything in this thread….
Your local community college probably has reading comprehension courses for adults......you should give it a go sometime....
ValleyForge
Liberty Farms
I’m good…I’ll take your word though, it sounds like it’s from experience….
Highly educated engineer. He knows everything and has no expectations for us simpletons to understand anything.
ValleyForge
Liberty Farms
Thanks…but seriously, a lot of people read our posts and never interact so we can’t see them. Your post alluded to grease and was very confusing so I posted to add clarity. Then I get genius dogpiled on WD-40 not being a lubricant, and that’s simply false.
sorry if I ruffled your feathers in my attempt to genericize the issue but i wanted people to know (not us here) not to put grease on the blades.
as for why, as all of us know, putting heavier oils on those blades then plunging them in the dust bowls that are hedges and shrubs attracts and holds all the dust to the blades, and the dust is what kills them.
Smitty Smithsonite
ArboristSite Operative
WD is most definitely a lubricant. Is it a good one? NO.
It used to be back in the day. I had a case of the stuff left by my grandfather in the early 90's. Case was from the early 80's I think. Had been kicking around a bit. I had a smashed up '85 Monte Carlo that made this horrendous noise whenever the driver's door was opened. I used to hose it down with WD about every 6 months. After I used that last can, I went to ADAP Auto Parts and grabbed a 3-pack of WD to replace it. The door started squawking every week after that! Must've been a substantial formulation change. Nothing changed with the door - still had the same amount of slop in the worn out and bent pins & bushings. That was my first thought, too, at the time.
I thought maybe they cheaped out because it was a 3-pack, and bought a single can elsewhere. Same deal. 1 week, and it's making noise, sometimes sooner if I encountered a heavy summer T-storm! I've used it as a plastic polisher and a cleaner ever since. It'll lubricate light things, but not car doors or anything heavy. I'd imagine it's perfect for a hedge trimmer.
It used to be back in the day. I had a case of the stuff left by my grandfather in the early 90's. Case was from the early 80's I think. Had been kicking around a bit. I had a smashed up '85 Monte Carlo that made this horrendous noise whenever the driver's door was opened. I used to hose it down with WD about every 6 months. After I used that last can, I went to ADAP Auto Parts and grabbed a 3-pack of WD to replace it. The door started squawking every week after that! Must've been a substantial formulation change. Nothing changed with the door - still had the same amount of slop in the worn out and bent pins & bushings. That was my first thought, too, at the time.
I thought maybe they cheaped out because it was a 3-pack, and bought a single can elsewhere. Same deal. 1 week, and it's making noise, sometimes sooner if I encountered a heavy summer T-storm! I've used it as a plastic polisher and a cleaner ever since. It'll lubricate light things, but not car doors or anything heavy. I'd imagine it's perfect for a hedge trimmer.
I agree that this product works very well on the cutting parts of the hedge clippers when used regularly. Greasing the mechanism under the cover once or twice a year with the recommended Stihl grease has sufficed for me.
Back to the original question, after use and cleaning I coat the cutters with 85W-90 gear lube for storage.
The cutters are hardened steel and a significant amount of riding area, so they don't need much in the way of lubrication.
Lubrication of the cutters could actually be counter productive, as it could help to gather dirt and grime from the bushes.
On the other hand if you're trimming sappy growth, the grime is going to gather anyway and the oil will help with the post use clean up.
The cutters are hardened steel and a significant amount of riding area, so they don't need much in the way of lubrication.
Lubrication of the cutters could actually be counter productive, as it could help to gather dirt and grime from the bushes.
On the other hand if you're trimming sappy growth, the grime is going to gather anyway and the oil will help with the post use clean up.
Smitty Smithsonite
ArboristSite Operative
Dry lubricant would probably be the best for trimmers to avoid everything sticking to it. Something like Hornady One Shot used on firearms as a cleaner / lubricant would work great.
https://www.hornady.com/reloading/case-care/lubes-and-cleaners/one-shot-cleaners
https://www.hornady.com/reloading/case-care/lubes-and-cleaners/one-shot-cleaners
pjwoolw
ArboristSite Operative
I service and sharpen fifty or so Stihl and Echo / Shindawa hedge trimmer blade packs a year in addition to home owner units. Fluid Film is my lubricant of choice for myself and my customers. Nothing I've seen or tried works better.
I generally use a spray can for motorcycle chain.
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I use the Stihl lubricant and cleaner in a spray can. Seems to work well and I don't even have a Stihl hedge trimmer...
fs5qc
ArboristSite Lurker
I am using Fluid Film
Always used WD40, a quick spray before and after using.
Plus great for removing tar off your car.
Plus great for removing tar off your car.
LPS no.1 Lubricant works pretty good .
I use that white lithium grease in a spray can, seems to work okay.
I'll add my 2c - I also use Stihl's Superclean, or INOX's Lanox if I can't find the Superclean. Use whatever recommended grease for the gearbox that Stihl sells in the threaded, metal squeezy tubes.
Fatherwheels
Addicted to ArboristSite
Just keep grease in the gearbox. Adding grease or oil to the cutters will
only cause every piece of dust and grit to build up on them, this will wear
and blunt the cutters and the rail / bar, and put extra pressure on the engine
in the process.
You could use a dry lube from a spray can, like silicone spray.
