Mobile 1 for hand rubbed finish

J

JasonByers

Joined
Feb 10, 2010
Messages
106
I read a thread on another forum about using Mobile 1 synthetic motor oil for a hand rubbed finish. For the most part people acted like it was the cat’s meow. I tried this with some Amsoil synthetic oil left over from a motorcycle oil change and I really didn't see much of a difference in final product than using WD-40 or Windex. It actually seemed like it took away from the grit a little to me, 400 seemed like 600 and 800 and up may as well been 2000 after a few swipes. Is there something special about the Mobile 1 brand? The weight of the Amsoil I used is 20w-50, is this just too heavy to compare to the Mobile 1 people are using? Thanks
 
Personally I like baby oil. It seems to keep the sandpaper clean and help cut a little bit.
 
WD40 is my pick. With hand finishing, the point of lubrication isn't so much "lubricating", but rather "washing". It keeps debris from clogging the sandpaper and causing streaks/ slow cutting action. WD40 works great since it's cheap, sprays (convenient!), prevents flash rusting, and works very well at flushing away swarf from the sandpaper.

The only advantage to using a thick motor oil type fluid is that it will form a high viscosity barrier between the abrasive and the steel, which is why you noticed it cutting finer. This has everything to do with the actual room temperature thickness of the oil (which is only loosely related to the cold pumping and operating weights on the bottle), and little to do with the brand. Whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is entirely a matter of opinion.
 
I use 409. Same results, just not as toxic as WD40 over the long run. Either works well.
 
. . . and I use Simple Green or Honing Oil. Usually, Simple Green though.

Mike L.
 
Thicker oils don't work so well for me. I use (in order of most to least frequently) water (sometimes w/a titch of detergent and usually with a titch of baking soda) windex, wd-40 or kerosene.

I am nothing if not inconsistent.
 
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