Silicone lubricant has many forms, and even more uses to its name! As such, understanding when to use a silicone lubricant vs. when you should be using a dry lubricant for example is important in the effectiveness of the overall lubrication task.
Silicone lubricant can be used in the forms of an oil, which is non-reactive to most substances, maintains it’s greasiness in extreme temperature conditions and does not oxidize, or a silicone spray which is not only water resistant, but also allows you to lubricate those hard to reach places like mechanisms or bearings.
This article will explore when to use Silicone lubricants specifically, the main uses of a silicone lubricant, knowing what materials to use a silicone lubricant on as well as how to waterproof using a silicone lubricant.
The main uses for silicone spray lubricant
As we mentioned earlier, silicone lubricant spray uses are plentiful. Whether you’re a professional tradesman, handy man, or someone who uses tools in your day-to-day life, you understand how important it is to keep your tools and equipment working in top condition. Part of that means keeping your tools well lubricated and clean.
A silicone lubricant spray is an excellent product to use on tools because it of course lubricates, but also reduces friction and helps to drive out moisture. In fact, silicone lubricants are especially handy for wooden tools by preventing the wood from drying out and splintering.
On the other hand, silicone lubricant sprays can also be used on a wide range of home applications that you may not have thought of! Try lubricating the sliding door track with silicone spray to keep it moving, or extent the life of zippers on clothing, backpacks, sleeping bags, etc. and keep everything moving smoothly.
When to use silicone spray on rubber parts
The many uses of silicone spray don’t stop there! In fact, the question isn’t “what is silicone grease used for?” but rather “what isn’t silicone grease used for?”. Silicone grease is especially effective at sealing rubber parts, but what’s the best silicone spray for rubber? We’ll get to that later.
Have you ever considered how many rubber parts are in your car? Or perhaps your dishwasher? Many day-to-day items that we’ve all come to rely on are comprised of thousands of rubber parts in varying shapes and sizes.
Rubber is everywhere!
Due to rubbers naturally slip resistant nature making it difficult to install, it’s not unusual for rubber parts to slip during assembly where an o-ring may get twisted, a heater hose may not be fully inserted, or a gap appears in a waterproof seam. Coating rubber parts prior to assembly helps to avoid some of the aforementioned problems.
One of the most common uses of silicone spray on rubber parts is that of replacing car window rubber seals. To do so, simply remove the rubber with a flathead screwdriver, scrub the glue with a solvent and sand the metal.
How often should you use silicone lubricant?
We’ve answered the question of “what is silicone grease used for”, but how often should you use it?
Truthfully, the frequency at which you should lubricate your equipment depends on the equipment itself.
A high quality silicone lubricant will displace moisture, provide excellent lubrication for rubber, protect and extend the life of your equipment, doesn’t allow dust, dirt, oil and grime to stick, as well as prevent parts from sticking and binding.
For optimal lubrication, most manufacturers will recommend that you keep on top of lubricating your tools and equipment and treating them before they become sticky, or worse – stuck! In fact, silicone is the most slippery of all lubricants, so it’s a great choice for items that slide against one another.
A silicone lubricant can be used to lubricant metal, wood, rubber and plastic – however, dirt and dust tent to stick to the silicone lubricant, so make sure you use it sparingly or use a “dry” version in dirty environments.
Waterproofing parts with Silicone Lubricant
Now that we’ve discussed when to use silicone lubricant, the best lubricant for plastic parts, let’s talk about waterproofing using Silicone lubricant.
Silicone lubricant is a great product for lubricating rubber surfaces, protecting and extending the life of your tools and equipment, does not allow dust, dirt, oil and grime to stick and of course prevents parts from sticking and binding. Further to this, silicone lubricant also displaces moisture to not only help prevent tools and machines from corrosion, but also helps to waterproof parts.
WD-40 Specialist High Performance Silicone is your go-to silicone based lubricant spray that works well on all tools, rubber pipes, window seals, linkages, valves, locks, doors, plumbing fittings and belts.
With just one coat of Silicone Lubricant, you can be sure that your tools and machinery remain clean and conditioned, and functioning smoother for longer. Because it works in all kinds of challenging conditions, you can be sure WD-40 Specialist Silicone Lubricant will perform in most types of weather, all year round.
It also comes with a smart straw applicator – simply flip the flip straw up for hard to reach areas, then flip it down to use the wide angle spray for wider coverage. Whichever way you spray, you can count on the clever 360o valve to work efficiently, even when the can is turned upside down.
Prevent your parts from sticking with WD-40 Specialist range
There you have it – silicone lubricant really does have seemingly endless uses!
Staying ahead of the curve and ensuring you’re on top of your maintenance is essential for successful running of your machinery. And because your tools and machinery are so important, they demand high quality products to keep them working smoothly.
For those more demanding jobs that just need to be done right, add WD-40 Specialist to your toolbox. For a high quality lubricant that works well on all high-pressured equipment like tools, rubber pipes, window seals, linkages, valves, locks, doors, plumbing fittings and belts, reach for WD-40 Specialist High Performance Lubricant.
No matter which specialist product you reach for, the decades of science behind WD-40 products and formulas deliver the superior performance you need.