Identifying Oring Materials from different Manufacturers

Has anyone put together a definitive list of what oring materials are used from various manufacturers?

I'm thinking of a simple 3-column excel sheet.

Column 1 - Manufacturer.

Column 2 - Oring Material type.

Column 3 - Lubricant that is 'ok' to use.

I've been researching trying to find out what type of oring materials several manufacturers and not surprisingly, it's difficult to find the info. So far, I've got:

Subal - Rubber Orings - Silicone Lubricant

The black ones are typically buna n. Good quality silicone grease is fine with here. This is very common material for o-rings.

Red/orange ones are typically silicone. Spit works fine, or a "special" specified grease. Actually these do not require grease as such but need to be lubricated for installation. Spit is a good lub for this.

Gucci colored o-rings - service no purpose from engineering standpoint. I immediately replace mine with buna n. (Like the blue rings on S&S strobes.)

All our photo gear works just fine with buna. I try not to confuse the issue.

I'm sorry for being a neophyte but what is Gucci color?

Thanks for the response jcclink, but just saying that 'buna-n' works for all housings, is not what I was asking. There are people like myself that perhaps would like to purchase lubricant for their different housings without having to replace the orings. And the price for the manufacturers lubricant and sometimes their poor packaging are not sufficient for my needs. Most of the manufacturers websites are not clear on the type of orings they use which Im' sure is a business ploy to keep you coming back for their lubricant. And to simply saying that it is probably Buna-n simply because it's black is not good enough for me.

I think it would be nice to just put together a definitive list for every one. I know there are many different types of oring materials out there and some require different types of lubricant than others.

And yes, what are Gucci colored orings? I too an unfamilar with that color. Thanks.

 

There are people like myself that perhaps would like to purchase lubricant for their different housings without having to replace the orings.

 

I can not figure out, why you need different lubricants for all your o-rings, when only one can do the job.

I can not figure out, why you need different lubricants for all your o-rings, when only one can do the job.

If that is so, why, for example, do Sea & Sea insist that only their lubricant in a yellow tube with a blue cap, and not their older lubricant in a tube with a white or black cap, should be used with their blue o-rings?

The problem with the different "Gucci" (colored) o-rings is that if you do not use their proprietary lubricant the o-rings can swell.

There are two ways to get around this, one exchange all your o-rings for black buna o-rings or two use a lubricant that is compatible with the different o-ring materials. I have gone the second route. I use Tribolube 71, but Cristolube 111 also works. I have used this lubricant going on five years with my black, blue, yellow and red o-rings and have found it works well. Please note that only a light coating of lube is all you need so your o-ring seats properly. Also, these lubes are used to rebuild your regs.

Elmer

 

If that is so, why, for example, do Sea & Sea insist that only their lubricant in a yellow tube with a blue cap, and not their older lubricant in a tube with a white or black cap, should be used with their blue o-rings?

 

I do not know the reason behind this, but as Elmer said, one only needs Tribolube 71 or Christo-lube for all o-rings, buna n or silicone.

I have been using Christo- lube 129 for years on all my o-rings; Subal housing, Sea&Sea strobes, Nikonos strobes and all the scuba equipment I have without any trouble.

 

I can not figure out, why you need different lubricants for all your o-rings, when only one can do the job.

It is very important to use the proper lubricant for the type of o-ring you have. The wrong lubricant will swell or dry out the elastomer and the o-ring might not seal anymore. Swelling is not that bad usually, though it will weaken the material. Drying out the o-ring will make them brittle like an old rubber band.

I personally play it safe and use the proposed grease from the Manufacturer, for the non-black O-rings..

Those little Tubes lasts for ages and hardly costs anything. I never found it worth the potential risk to play around there!

I have to admit to that I am packing quite afew different O-ring greases.

/Erik

Some info to consider.....

The orange silicone o-rings used by Gates require no lubrication, including installation. Using silicone lubricant can not only attract dirt, but the o-ring will swell and could lead to other issues.

Black o-rings are usually, but not always BUNA.

The blue ones from Sea & Sea are, I think, flourosilicone. The lube they provide is compatible, while others in general use may not be.

So....You should always follow manufacturers instructions for lubrication. Deviations might not be pretty (and we've seen them).

J-