Canon Housing Lubricant

[altarose]

Hello, A relative gave me an older Canon A80 with WP-DC900 housing, all are in very good condition. The o rings all seam to be okay and I will only be using it for snorkeling. I have tested it in a tub of water and so far no leaks. Having trouble finding proper o ring grease and silicone spray lubricant, in Calgary, Canada. We are going to Central America for a couple of months in a few weeks, will be stopping in Key Largo on the way down and going to Divers Direct in Key Largo, they have Olympus silicone grease and aquaseal silicone pump spray. Does anyone know if they are compatible with Canon. I have tried the major camera stores and a couple of dive shops in Calgary, the dive shops have silicone grease but they didn't know if safe for Canon.
Thanks for any help
Randy

 

[cardog]

Don't use the pump spray on your o ring. Just use the Oly branded silicone grease (sparingly).

 

[Warmwater Wank]

AltaR--To quote from Bristol Cameras, UK (Gilligan supplied this link previously): fluorosilicone grease is the preferred lubricant for silicone o-rings in underwater cameras, housings and strobes. Suitable for Canon, Olympus, Panasonic, Sea & Sea and Sony underwater camera housing o-rings Note that Canon and Oly can use the same flurosilcone grease.

Might I guess the Aquaseal spray is for the housing buttons? Be a tad careful how you apply that stuff on the button shafts, don't just go spraying it all around. (I dunk a toothpick in liquid silicone and apply a drop or two on shaft then work the button several times.) // ww

 

[altarose]

Thanks for the replies, guess I will wait till we get to Key Largo and get the Oly silicone. We are snowed in for a few days, so I have been searching & reading all these posts about housing maintenance. The experts here give far better and more reliable info than most camera & dive shops

Thanks

 

[bvanant]

Alternatively the S&S blue cap tubes are for their silicone o-rings and are fluorosilicone. Even more alternatively get some Tribolube which is good for anything.
Bill

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Alternatively the S&S blue cap tubes are for their silicone o-rings and are fluorosilicone. Even more alternatively get some Tribolube which is good for anything.

@bvanant: So one can use Tribolube on Canon o-rings? Really? Do we have confirmation on this from the Tribolube manufacturers?

I use Tribolube for doing my regulator overhauls. It would be nice to know that the stuff can do double-duty.

 

[bvanant]

@bvanant: So one can use Tribolube on Canon o-rings? Really? Do we have confirmation on this from the Tribolube manufacturers?

I use Tribolube for doing my regulator overhauls. It would be nice to know that the stuff can do double-duty.

Firstly, I am quite sure from experiments that I have done that Tribolube is safe for silicone o-rings. It is a fluorinated polyether that does not swell o-rings of any material that we have looked at.
But so you don't have to take my word for it (and why should you) here is a quote from the Tribolube team

"Thank you for your questions. I’m assuming what you are referring to as Chrisco is really Crisco. I’ve never thought of using Crisco for any o-rings, silicone or other types. The last time I saw Crisco being used is watching my wife make pie dough. Seriously, I don’t think it would last, not to mention that if your camera was left in the sun the Crisco would melt and run away, possibly all over the camera. By the way Crisco is made of a vegetable shortening.
If your are referring to ChristoLube, since there are many different types they manufacture I will refrain from commenting further.
As to the your other questions,
1. Do 02 safe greases contain silicone? No they do not contain any hydrocarbons or silicon (he means silicone) which is a hydrocarbon (not according to my chemistry teachers but we know what he meant).
2. Tribolube-71 or Tribolube-66 is safe to use on silicone o-rings.
3. Both Tribolube-71 and Tribolube-66 are safe to use on all o-ring materials that we are aware of being manufactured today.

So there you go.

Bill

 

[Bubbletrubble]

OK. Thanks, Bill. That's good enough for me.
Please tell me that you weren't using Crisco to lubricate any o-rings.

 

[fdog]

I, too, have actually tried Tribolube 71 on a variety of o-rings, and seen no swelling, softening, or generally any change at all (except making them more slippery!):

• Nitrile (Buna-N)
• Silicone
• Viton
• EPDM
• Neoprene
• Polyurethane

It's worth noting I also saw the same results with Christolube MCG-111. I prefer the Tribolube because it seems to have better body and consistency.

...Just because it says "Tribolube" or "Christolube", it isn't safe with all o-rings. Tribolube 2080 contains silicone, as does Christolube MCG-208. Both will damage some camera o-rings. Stick with oxygen-safe lubricants.


All the best, James

 

[bvanant]

OK. Thanks, Bill. That's good enough for me.
Please tell me that you weren't using Crisco to lubricate any o-rings.

No that wasn't me that asked the question originally. And yes, I meant the Tribolube 71 is safe for everything. And yes, Christolube MCG1xxx series lubes are also good for the same types of o-rings.
As for pie crusts, have lard/half butter (no Crisco) for me.
Bill