8mm Forum: Vintage projector oil... a no-no?

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Topic: Vintage projector oil... a no-no?

John Pierson
Junior
Posts: 30
From: Manchester, NH, USA
Registered: Oct 2018

posted October 21, 2018 09:49 AM

Hey Team! Question, I've seen attractive new-old-stock boxes of old projector oil that would be cool to display. Is it also ok to use the older oil on vintage projectors? Or does it have a shelf-life and it's not recommended? It would be cool to get a old box of Keystone, Dejur, etc. oil to display but also if I could use it, more bang for the buck lol. Any recommendations, like, dude, don't do it! Or, Dude, go for it! Thanks!

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

posted October 21, 2018 10:14 AM

Not all old projectors used the same type oil. Some just needed lubricating and others had a gearbox. Most instruction manuals will refer to the recommended oil.
Stick to display.

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Maurice

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John Pierson
Junior
Posts: 30
From: Manchester, NH, USA
Registered: Oct 2018

posted October 21, 2018 10:19 AM

Whew...thanks!

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Adrian Winchester
Film God

Posts: 2941
From: Croydon, London, UK
Registered: Aug 2004

posted October 22, 2018 08:44 PM

I've never heard of old getting too old to use - I have a bottle of fine projector oil from around the 1960s that seems perfectly 'normal' - but if any oil experts think it has a limited life, please let us know.

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Adrian Winchester

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Nantawat Kittiwarakul
Master Film Handler

Posts: 280
From: Rajburana, Bangkok, Thailand
Registered: Aug 2017

posted October 23, 2018 02:15 AM

Not a 100% scientific answer,but chemical do have its useful life for sure. [Roll Eyes]

My wild guess is that new synthetic oil should have longer shelf life,while older non-synthetic oil might had aged up beyond its useful life.

If it's me,I would choose newer high quality oil over half a century old non-synthetic oil,no doubt. [Wink]

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Just a lone collector from a faraway land...

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Simon Wyss
Film Handler

Posts: 78
From: Äsch, Switzerland
Registered: Apr 2009

posted October 23, 2018 02:26 AM

As a trained professional polymechanic I can only advise to use fresh lubricants, be it oil or grease. Only synthetic lubricants withstand oxidation and there are fellows in the trade who declare that all lubricants deteriorate, synthetic ones, too.

Have an oil bottle on display and keep in mind that the content can be okay. Oxigen and light are the enemies. On the other hand, sulphur contained in most of the traditional petrochemical lubricants can react with copper contained in brass and bronze together with the oxigen of the air. The product is copper sulphate, that green-blue sticky substance known to many collectors and users of motion-picture equipment. Synthetic lubricants do not contain any sulphur.

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