Alternative food safe lube to Dow Corning 111

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Dink0617
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#1: Post by Dink0617 »

Was wondering if faucet grease would be an alternative to Dow-111, it is heat resistant to 350f and is food safe. Having a tough time locating Dow, my local hardware store carries it but of course they are out of stock. I need it for a La Peppina I just acquired.

Thanks

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HB
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#2: Post by HB »

Common faucet grease is surely safe for incidental contact, but I doubt it's heat temperature resistant. Lubricating a lever espresso machine suggests several sources of Dow Corning 111. Tim mentions Taylor HP lube in Cremina 67 Piston Seal Jiffy Lube, which may be easier to source locally from restaurant supply stores, with the caveat that Olympia only recommends Dow Corning 111 for their equipment.
Dan Kehn

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Levergirl
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#3: Post by Levergirl »

Not to advertise for anyone, but I got Dow 111 from Amazon.com. It came quick and shipping was minimal.
Carolyn
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caeffe
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#4: Post by caeffe »

try orphanespresso.com :D
i hear the owner(s) are certified lever geeks
and guitar players...
LMWDP #162

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orphanespresso
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#5: Post by orphanespresso »

Somebody mention GUITARS?! Maybe it's Guitar Geeks and Lever Players....you know...we can make Beautiful music together!

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mrgnomer
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#6: Post by mrgnomer »

I just posted my experience with lubes other than Dow 111.

I did a bit of research about a year ago into food safe lubes. It's a relatively new field. Big demand for food safe lubes in the food manufacturing/distribution sector.

There a several rating categories from no contact with food, incidental food contact to direct food contact. So far Dow 111 is the only readily available direct contact lube I know of. There are other lubes I found but they were rated for either incidental or no food contract. For lubing piston seals and walls the Dow 111 would be safest.

I couldn't find Dow111 either so I thought trying other lubes would work just as good. Incidental food contact rating was a compromise for availability. I don't know what your Peppina's like by my Cremina is a brass cylinder, brass piston and fit with new stock seals. I've tried only 3 other lubricants- olive oil, a mineral oil lube and a teflon zinc oxide lube- and none other than the Dow 111 lubricates as well, sticks as well or resists washing out on my Cremina. So, not only is Dow111 rated higher for food contact it also works better than anything else I've tried. Personally I would do what I could to find some Dow111. It shouldn't be that hard to find.
Kirk
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professionals do it for the pay, amateurs do it for the love

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stefano65
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#7: Post by stefano65 »

here is a "small quantity" solution for it
http://espressocare.com/Qstore/Qstore.c ... orning+111
Stefano Cremonesi
Stefano's Espresso Care
Repairs & sales from Oregon.

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mrgnomer
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#8: Post by mrgnomer »

Hi Stefano,

I got about 4 little tubes like the one you carry. A little goes a long way I found. To completely lube up a Cremina I only used less than 1/2 of the small tube. I don't plan on freshening up the lube for another 6 months at least.
Kirk
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professionals do it for the pay, amateurs do it for the love

ira
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#9: Post by ira »

I just ordered a tube from http://www.drillspot.com which was drop shipped from Grainger. $17 delivered.

Ira

caeffe
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#10: Post by caeffe replying to ira »

That's not bad for a large tube of the stuff, 150 g. But....

I just finished 'refeathering my peacock' (europiccola gasket refurb) and find that like mrgnomer, I used less than a quarter of what looks like a small sampler tube of the stuff (6 grams). Both espressocare & orphanespresso carry the small tubes. A 150 g tube can do a lot of lever machines that's for sure.
LMWDP #162

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