Lubrication for Inova X5?

D

drjones

Joined
Sep 6, 2000
Messages
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Hi. Have the "old" style X5. Is it necessary or helpful at all to lubricate the threads? I was thinking some Militec-1 that I have, or gun oil.

What do you use?

Drjones
 
I don't have an Inova, but if it has a rubber O-ring, I would suggest silicone grease since other lubricants may eat up the O-ring.
 
Originally posted by drjones
THANKS for your reply! Would petroleum jelly be ok?
Click to expand...

Well, Doc...it says petroleum jelly in the instructions on the Inova, but if you go to this review at the LED Museum it says that petroleum jelly should suffice if you have nothing else but that it probably isn't good in the long run. Unfortunately the site does not give any recommendations on what should be used. I haven't done anything to mine yet, but trust that the LED Museum knows what it's talking about--it's the best site on flashlights out there.

-Z
 
Plain silicone greese from any dive shop should work well. Petroleum jelly can make some orings / rubber seals degrade over time.
 
I got some silicone grease (Plumbmaster) at the local Home Depot. It was in the plumbing section. It goes for two or three dollars. Should last me twenty or thirty years.;)
 
Thanks guys! BUT, how 'bout Militec-1?

Will that harm the rubber? I already have it, and it works well...

drjones
 
drjones: Silicone grease definitely does work well, better than petroleum jelly. I'm not sure you'll get a definitive answer on Militec-1. You can try it, and if your rubber O-ring corrodes away, we'll know the answer :)
 
I use Sentry Solutions' Tuf-Glide on all my Sure Fires and the original Inova X5. The dry film lubricating properties that this lube has is long lasting and I find that it makes the head of the Inova rotate more easily especially since there are no traction notches on the head to facilitate easy one hand operation.
 
It's already been mentioned, but I use Silicone grease from a Dive shop on all my flashlights. (I used to work in a dive shop and I'd repair Regs all the time)

A little dab'll do ya'. A tiny container of Silicone will last you forever.

John
 
Originally posted by Dexter Ewing
I use Sentry Solutions' Tuf-Glide on all my Sure Fires and the original Inova X5. The dry film lubricating properties that this lube has is long lasting and I find that it makes the head of the Inova rotate more easily especially since there are no traction notches on the head to facilitate easy one hand operation.
Click to expand...
Cool, I've got some Tuff-Glide sitting around here somewhere.

As a side-note, I had a blackout tonight and so I finally needed the X5 for something and it worked great. Testing it/playing with it's one thing, but to have it when you need it and for it to work just like you want/expect it to is a great thing. I'm going to pick up a blue one and probably every color of the new tacs. Man I love flashlights almost as much as I love knives...
 
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