I'm basically a noob when it comes to flashlights, but I'm learning a lot reading this forum. My cheap non-anodized aluminum threads are starting to get grey gunk on them. I have been using vaseline, I know it's not the best but I figure it's water resistant and it keeps the o-rings (which aren't rubber) moist. But there is grey gunk forming after a while on the threads. Is there anything that will prevent this or is this just something you live with by having non-anodized cheap threads? Is the grey gunk bits of aluminum that have sheared off? Does having higher quality anodized threads prevent this?
Absolutely! Well I don’t know if a petroleum based lubricant like Vaseline harm orings but if your threads aren’t anodized you’ll definitely get that gray look eventually. With good lubrication and a cleaning prior to this can reduce aluminum wear.
Nyogel is a good lubricant, others say Super Lube is the best value for money. Even these can darken in time, by exposure to air and electricity, so color shouldn’t matter much for you. Still, I regularly clean them with alcohol and cotton, and lube them with enough, not overly applied lube. They seem to wear less after a slight bedding in period.
Bare threads are required to make a circuit in the flashlight. Anodised threads prevent an electrical circuit in case that is needed.
Vasoline is not good for most o rings but is OK for metal.
If the electrical circuit needs to pass through the threads, the threads must be bare metal.
the best way to reduce the build up of (new) grey gunk is the removal of the existing grey gunk
if the threads are clean, less grey gunk will build up than if you leave the threads with the pre-built grey gunk.
on non-anodized soft aluminum threads there is no lube which will prevent the build up of grey gunk: not even superlube, nyogel or nano-oil.com
even on titanium threads (which is supposed to be wear-resistant, better than aluminum or stainless steel) i get the grey gunk (e.g. with superlube).
it's physics. and i am a troll today :D
