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Greasing a lazy Susan?

 
steward & bricolagier
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I have used lazy Susans for years. I had a random one show up the other day, a good metal one, cleaned up nice. Last time I installed one of those was in New Mexico. I'm now in Missouri. In NM we did NOT grease them, quite a bit due to dust. If I'm doing it in the way more humid climate here, do I need to grease it before installing? And if so, what can I use? I have White Lithium spray, amongst a lot of other options.

Thanks!
:D
 
pollinator
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White lithium is a good choice.

It is a toss-up whether to grease or not. If you do you’ll probably have a dust problem. If you don’t it will probably rust and squeak. Either way it will be more maintenance than NM.  I personally would grease it with something like white lithium or dry plate that doesn’t attract too much dirt. Easier to clean dirt than rust
 
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Pearl,

The white lithium would be fine.  Not the best option, but will be adequate.  That being said, is this an in cabinet lazy suzan?  What is the bearing surface?  Is it metal ball bearing, a plastic/hdpe babbit type bearing?  What two surfaces interact and is one a roller or ball type bearing?

If it were me and the bearing surface was not plastic to plastic, I would just use sewing machine oil.  A drop or two on the contact surfaces.  It may run or drip a bit but that can be wiped up a few minutes after applying.  A liquid oil will collect some dust, but not enough to cause bearing wear.  A spray is easy and a bit cleaner, but may need to get a fresh squirt every so often for best rotation.    The nice thing about the spray lithium is it can be wiped clear if you are not happy with results and and a liquid oil applied over it easily.
 
Pearl Sutton
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Metal on metal, with metal ball bearings.
I won't be able to remove the grease easily if it doesn't work. It's possible, but would be a minor PITA, but would have to be taken apart, and washed under hot water. It's not getting put up in a high cabinet with lots of things on it or anything like that. Call it more... Hm... words for it. On a tabletop. That's the best words I can use. More complex than that though.

It's very possible you don't ever grease the metal on metal with balls type, I really don't know, as I never have done so before. I just hate to get it together and have to take it apart because it needed to be done and I simply didn't know it. I have used lots of them over the years, it's the ambient climate difference that I question. I went from average of 7% humidity to an average of 70%.

And white lithium was just my first guess, if there's something better, I quite possibly have it, I stock all kind of greases. Everything from WD40 and sewing machine oil to heavy black lubricant for my tractor. I have an extensive collection.

Edit: Looked at the collection. Easiest are Dry Lube with Teflon, White Lithium, and industrial strength Silicone lubricant. All Blaster brand. That's by no means all, just the ones in the front I have used lately.
 
Jack Edmondson
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I think any of the lubricants in your edit will work fine.  Ball bearings are pretty efficient at minimizing wear in low speed applications.  
 
Pearl Sutton
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Do I need a lubricant at all?
 
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How about graphite?
 
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