Lubricating Fresnel lights internal parts?

David G. Smith

David G. Smith

Steak Knife Member
I have a couple of 750 watt Fresnel lights that need some lubrication on the flood to spot mechanism. Can I just put some 3 in 1 oil on it, or should I look for something else? Does anyone have any suggestions?
 
A small amount of white lithium grease. Get it at Advance Auto parts. Remove the lamp first and keep any grease off the lamp and optics.
 
Under NO circumstances use 3 in 1 oil. It will works for a short while then clog up and start to burn, making it worse. Lithium grease works fine but gets very yucky when dust settles on it, making a sort of paste. Graphite lubricant is my personal preference.
 
paulears said:
Under NO circumstances use 3 in 1 oil. It will works for a short while then clog up and start to burn, making it worse. Lithium grease works fine but gets very yucky when dust settles on it, making a sort of paste. Graphite lubricant is my personal preference.
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There seems to be quit a lot of graphite lubricants out there. What should I look for?
 
I've got some fresnels that use the big projector twist-in bulbs (BTN, BTL, etc). I sprayed WD-40 into the sockets to make it less-than-impossible to swap bulbs. Sounds crazy but worked fine, no odor or smoke. I've used WD in the slider mechanisms as well, since it doesn't take much lube.

Thought of using a thin smear of brake/bearing grease for the focus mech. - it takes very high heat (and I have some) but since the WD did the job, I didn't mess with it.
 
Dry moly is pretty good. If you use WD40 and the hire company find out, there could be a cost implication. WD40 is great stuff but leave residue that become sticky, and non-conductive. The lubricant tends to burn off, and this leave the residue - which if you wipe it, is burnt and black. Short term solution. If you use it, for example, on a hired followspot to lubricate the iris - they jam very quickly, the black stuff bakes on and it's ruined.

I can't help too much with brands - because US ones seem very different. (Apart from WD40!)

Be careful about the mega spec lubricants for very special purposes, they cost a fortune and are over kill. My local DIY chain keeps an own brand product that is not too expensive.
 
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