Food Grade Silicone Lube

[mobiledynamics]

Order up a -food grade- Superlube Silicone Lube for the O rings - going to do my 1st propress fitting and just want to add a touch to the o-ring just for hail mary longevity..



Anyhow, for those in the trades, what silicon lube do you guys use in the world of -food grade- for o rings and such

 

[nadogail]

I am not familiar with food grade lubes or pro press, but after checking Google, I see no reason not to use it.

As always, my advice is guaranteed to be worth exactly what you have paid me for it.

 

[Jim greengo]

I use plumbers grease on o rings,I've never used a pro press on anything though.

 

[mattblast]

I use Perto-Gel when I need food grade lubricant. It’s commonly used for lubrications of orings in the beverage industry.

http://www.petrolgel.com/

You can buy it from Amazon or any local brewing supply.

 

[rlitman]

I use plumbers grease on o rings,I've never used a pro press on anything though.

I use Perto-Gel when I need food grade lubricant. It’s commonly used for lubrications of orings in the beverage industry.

http://www.petrolgel.com/

You can buy it from Amazon or any local brewing supply.

Both of these contain petroleum based compounds that can swell o-rings. I would not trust either on a ring that's being pressed, because it WILL shorten the connection's lifetime. That's why the OP is asking about silicone grease, which is absolutely o-ring safe.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Rlit summed up - was scratching my head on the last few responses. I've always used silicone as it's inert on o rings. Lube us lube I suppose and if you can remove and replace the o-ring, then I guess the latter options being discussed ?

 

[My Old Tools]

I use the same silicone lube I use on my SCUBA equipment.

 

[mobiledynamics]

That should work MOT. Cant say for all, but I have used something similar that was -food grade-. Only saying food grade since the line I'm pressing is potable water

 

[cstmg8]

I carry this in my elevator van. Has always worked well for me.

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[mobiledynamics]

thx cst. Aerosol not for me, just due to how infrequently I will be using it for specific application. Bottle best. Just curious though. How is the viscosity of it . Runny, gel, thick ? it can't be too thick since it needs to atomize through a nozzle ?

 

[brewchief]

All the propress fittings I have used have had some lube already on the o ring, I slide them on and press them and move on.
The only times I can think of that I possibly would need to add more lube is the very rare occasion that I have had to pop an o ring out and solder the other end of the fitting, I have done it with a street 90 once or twice when working in a very tight place.

What I'm saying is don't overthink it, propress was designed to be used in questionable conditions by questionable users at times.

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[mobiledynamics]

BC....coming from a world of sweat, I'm not 100% onboard with the press and o ring system, although I'm sure it may very last my lifetime.

I can only imagine how many -new greenhorn plumbers- are not taught to sweat as these new practice is a moneymaker, press and on to the next job. Will they debur and chamfer each cut end. This is more suspect to abrading that o-ring than a bad sweat job no.

I will say this. For where I plan to do these press fittings, it is a godsend of a tool for sure!

 

[Crazyjake8493]

We use SuperLube as well on all of the kitchen equipment we maintain at work. It's what the boss orders so we use it, but it seems like good stuff to me.

 

[Jim greengo]

That should work MOT. Cant say for all, but I have used something similar that was -food grade-. Only saying food grade since the line I'm pressing is potable water

Plumbers grease is made for use on potable water.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

In the "old days" the only "acceptable" lube for o-rings was Parker OLube.
Now I use Dow Corning 111 for everything- plumbing & valve o rings, spark plug boots, automotive signal bulbs, aquarium canister filter seals... Doesn't taste too bad either.


Tommy

 

[AP514]

This is great stuff...

https://www.zoro.com/lps-food-grade-silicone-lubricant-wdetex-10-oz-01716/i/G4474425/feature-product?utm_source=google&utm_medium=surfaces&utm_campaign=shopping%20feed&utm_content=free%20google%20shopping%20clicks&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5bz-BRD-ARIsABjT4nh3jNZ8_

But they have a lot of other stuff out there in Way Smaller sizes...Google is your friend

 

[rlitman]

I carry this in my elevator van. Has always worked well for me...

thx cst. Aerosol not for me, just due to how infrequently I will be using it for specific application. Bottle best. Just curious though. How is the viscosity of it . Runny, gel, thick ? it can't be too thick since it needs to atomize through a nozzle ?

Very thin. When it comes to aerosol silicone, CRC has the market cornered. Everything else I've used is ****, and that green can is their very best (I usually cheap out and buy their red can). But the aerosol product is a thin silicone oil, not a grease, so it's probably not what you want.

Plumbers grease is made for use on potable water.

Correct, but it still contains petroleum products. Mineral Oil USP is also potable (heck, it's a laxative), but can still damage o-rings over time. Plumber's grease is probably just fine on moving parts with a limited lifetime, but I still think I'd forego using it on press or sharkbite fittings.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Circling Back as I just called Nibco and proposed the same question I proposed to Viega. The tech on the line actually pulled up the official tech sheet and read in verbatim - do not put anything except for water on them...

I dunno if it's to CYA as I'm sure if they are concerned someone along the lines read lube is fine, etc, etc...

The Nibco press fittng - their O Rings are dry as a bone compared to the Viega, in which you can clearly see there is grease on them from the factory

 

[03ranger]

Have always used Haynes Silicone Grease, for the food equipment and water filter housings.

 

[rlitman]

Circling Back as I just called Nibco and proposed the same question I proposed to Viega. The tech on the line actually pulled up the official tech sheet and read in verbatim - do not put anything except for water on them...

I dunno if it's to CYA as I'm sure if they are concerned someone along the lines read lube is fine, etc, etc...

The Nibco press fittng - their O Rings are dry as a bone compared to the Viega, in which you can clearly see there is grease on them from the factory

The messaging is probably is a CYA, but the dry seal also shows a serious lack of engineering on Nibco's part, and some real thought on Viega's. Here, I'll note that Viega makes the same statement about never lubricating the EPDM seal with anything other than water in the field, but goes on to say this:
Q What is the lubricant used on the sealing elements?
A The sealing elements are lubricated with an
NSF-61 approved silicone oil. If it is necessary to
lubricate the seals in the field, use water only. Do not
use other lubricants, especially any petroleum-based
lubricants, as petroleum and EPDM are incompatible

Here, I'll note that Viega offers an HNBR propress fitting that is even designed to carry things like fuel and lubricant oil, yet the documentation still makes the same comments about seal lubrication.

Along those lines, I've got some $1000+ SquareD circuit breakers at work that came with instructions to not remove the special factory applied grease from the connections, but they offer no way to apply your own grease. Mega CYA.

 

[mobiledynamics]

Fellow GJ tradesman posted this in the other thread
"i use nibco as that is what the supply house i use carries but if I'm stuck and have to go to ferguson they carry viega and theyre about 30% more with no advantage from what i see other than lightning my pocket."

Just a Joe and not a pro, but I'm more inline to pay the premium price for what seems like a more premium product. After all, it is the O ring that is making that seal in this type (press) of a connection vs. a mechanically soldered joint..