Thursday, April 10, 2008
NanoLube™ - Remarkable Mechanical Nanolubricant
Last Sunday, April 6th 2008, I went to the Pioneer Valley Sportsman's Association Gun Show at the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton, Illinois. Since the giant Lake County Gun Show was killed in 2000 by Grayslake Communist Mayor Pat Carey, it's been the only gun show that's within a reasonable distance from me. It's a modest little gun show with a very laid-back and friendly attitude (a lot of old-timers and hunters, without any super-macho showboat attitude), that features a fair variety of firearms, tools, books, hunting & fishing equipment, memorabilia, and accessories. At the show, I ran into Chris Arnold, who was demonstrating his product - NanoLube™.
I'm generally very skeptical of any product, and particularly dubious of any "miracle products." I've seen demonstrations of other supposed "nanolubricants" (mechanical lubricants depending on nanoid particles to reduce friction, instead of traditional liquid chemical lubricants) and wasn't very impressed. They operated as well as any commercial oil I've used. One product I tested at a MedTrade show actually increased friction on a scooter I tested it on (the wheel moved like mud, and it scoured the bearings).
As such, I've depended on the usual lubricating products - WD40 for penetration and water displacement, silicone spray for water protection and use on some high-density plastic parts, PTFE spray for plastics and rubber, graphite for high or low temperature equipment, and medium-to-high viscosity oil for general lubrication. That's how it's been for generations, on both sides of my family.
Chris had noticed I was carrying a pocket knife, and offered a free demonstration of NanoLube™ on it. I daily carry a really nice spring-assisted liner lock folding knife, that my roommate, Crystal, bought for me at the last show. With minimal effort, it quickly snaps open with authority. I've tweaked the action on the knife, and I clean it daily, regularly treating it with good ol' Hoppe's Lubricating Oil - and it performs marvelously. Chris casually described how his NanoLube™ features 4nm spherical synthetic diamonds, which his literature calls Non Detonation NanoDiamond™ (or NDN™), suspended in natural or synthetic oils. I figured I'd let him give it a shot... I figured, if it worked as well as any other oil, that's fine. And if it doesn't work, I could remove it the next time I cleaned my knife.
Initially, the action on the knife felt as good as it ever has. It's always had an almost-imperceptible catch right upon release, that you can just barely feel and hear. After the first 5-or-so flips, though, it actually went away. I slowly cammed the knife, and the little catch was definitely gone. Throughout the day, I kept checking it, and the knife's action genuinely felt improved. Today, a full week later, it continues to move silky-smooth. Upon inspection (yeah, I inspect my knives weekly... I'm crazy like that) there wasn't ANY debris in the suspension. Normally, after a weeks usage, there's going to be at least some debris in the oil (generally, that's how oil works, it lubricates until it becomes saturated with particles, and needs replacement). It looks like NanoLube™ is the real deal!
My boss, and a few of my clients, are real gearheads. I've passed on the literature to them, and they seem genuinely interested (mainly because I never get excited about a product, unless it really works). I'd like to see how NanoLube™ performs on my boss' model trains, cars and scooters. If he likes it, I wouldn't be surprised if he stocks up on the stuff for treating some of the medical products we sell (which will be nice, because I'll have access to it).
I bet this stuff will be great for a wheelchair, or an assistive lift.
I'm generally very skeptical of any product, and particularly dubious of any "miracle products." I've seen demonstrations of other supposed "nanolubricants" (mechanical lubricants depending on nanoid particles to reduce friction, instead of traditional liquid chemical lubricants) and wasn't very impressed. They operated as well as any commercial oil I've used. One product I tested at a MedTrade show actually increased friction on a scooter I tested it on (the wheel moved like mud, and it scoured the bearings).
As such, I've depended on the usual lubricating products - WD40 for penetration and water displacement, silicone spray for water protection and use on some high-density plastic parts, PTFE spray for plastics and rubber, graphite for high or low temperature equipment, and medium-to-high viscosity oil for general lubrication. That's how it's been for generations, on both sides of my family.Chris had noticed I was carrying a pocket knife, and offered a free demonstration of NanoLube™ on it. I daily carry a really nice spring-assisted liner lock folding knife, that my roommate, Crystal, bought for me at the last show. With minimal effort, it quickly snaps open with authority. I've tweaked the action on the knife, and I clean it daily, regularly treating it with good ol' Hoppe's Lubricating Oil - and it performs marvelously. Chris casually described how his NanoLube™ features 4nm spherical synthetic diamonds, which his literature calls Non Detonation NanoDiamond™ (or NDN™), suspended in natural or synthetic oils. I figured I'd let him give it a shot... I figured, if it worked as well as any other oil, that's fine. And if it doesn't work, I could remove it the next time I cleaned my knife.
Initially, the action on the knife felt as good as it ever has. It's always had an almost-imperceptible catch right upon release, that you can just barely feel and hear. After the first 5-or-so flips, though, it actually went away. I slowly cammed the knife, and the little catch was definitely gone. Throughout the day, I kept checking it, and the knife's action genuinely felt improved. Today, a full week later, it continues to move silky-smooth. Upon inspection (yeah, I inspect my knives weekly... I'm crazy like that) there wasn't ANY debris in the suspension. Normally, after a weeks usage, there's going to be at least some debris in the oil (generally, that's how oil works, it lubricates until it becomes saturated with particles, and needs replacement). It looks like NanoLube™ is the real deal!
My boss, and a few of my clients, are real gearheads. I've passed on the literature to them, and they seem genuinely interested (mainly because I never get excited about a product, unless it really works). I'd like to see how NanoLube™ performs on my boss' model trains, cars and scooters. If he likes it, I wouldn't be surprised if he stocks up on the stuff for treating some of the medical products we sell (which will be nice, because I'll have access to it).
I bet this stuff will be great for a wheelchair, or an assistive lift.
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