Silicon Grease is it special for Camera Housing?

[DandyDon]

I got a device for my birthday (not sayin which one) that allows me to download pictures wirelessly.

Eyefi SD card? I got one. Haven't used it much.

 

[farsidefan1]

Yup, If you haven't used it much that is more than me. My son in law is an electronics geek e itr works and he got it for me. I hope it works as well as advertised. It seems like it might minimize the opening and closing of the case.

 

[Couv]

Bubbletrubble and Bvanant are right on target with their answers:

...snip here and there.....If one uses a grease that is incompatible with a particular o-ring, it can cause the o-ring to swell/stretch and will prevent the o-ring from sealing like it should. The result is a housing leak and possibly destruction of your digital camera...... I have found that Tribolube 71 (an oxygen-compatible grease that I use on my regs) will work with my Canon UW housing o-rings. I've heard that Tribolube 71 can also be used on Ikelite o-rings. I'm not sure whether Tribolube 71 is safe to use on other camera housing o-rings........

The whole concept of lubrication of o-rings with silicone is fraught with trouble. Some manufacturers of grease put fluorosilicone in the tube and label it silicone and others just say grease. Tribolube and Christolube are both non-silicone lubes that are OK for ALL types of o-rings. Otherwise you should use what the manufacturers sell you. On my camera system, I have nitrile, silicone and fluorosilicone o-rings from a variety of manufacturers. I put some Tribolube 77 and Tribolube 66 in a contact lens case (the screwcap kind) and use them for all o-rings. As was mentioned before, the purpose of the grease is to keep the o-ring supple and not let it dry out and crack. It is the compression of the o-ring that does the sealing.
Bill

I asked this question to a tribologist in this thread. Please ignore my failed attempt at humor when I referred to Christo-lube as Chrisco.

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/tribolube/264133-good-silicone.html