Lady and gentlemen,

What will it be? One moment, we read that mineral oil and naphtha are good to use. The next, we read that oil should never be used.

Mineral oil to my knowledge is simply a medium petroleum distillate. You might as well use 3-in-1. But then we read that 3-in-1 was just a joke, and should never-ever-ever be used.

Like I wrote earlier: for my part, nothing even remotely resembling oil will ever get close to the action of my pianos.

But then, why was mineral oil advised?

I'm really wondering about this thread...

3 and 1 was a joke. The technicians got it. I thought I had clarified it enough but, I guess not. I do not use 3 and 1 oil. When I said, do not use oil, I was referring to 3 and 1.

I have seen pianos where people squirted the pedals and just about everything else with it. All it did was make one heck of a mess and then stuck worse than ever as the dirt and dust and grime were attracted to it.

On the other hand, I have used a mixture of Mineral Oil and Naphtha mixed 8:1. 8 parts Naphtha to 1 part Mineral Oil. I used it for years and it did work good.... Well in some cases, not to well in others. It was dependent upon how badly the flanges were sticking.

BDB's and Ryan's method is also very good.

However, as I stated at least twice already, in my opinion, re-pinning is best.

You should. This thread has been torpedoed by a couple of funny guys and one who just THINKS he's funny (me).

If you are uncomfortable with any product, don't use it. If you have some throw-away action parts, experiment with them until you find something that works. Don't try 3in1 oil. Leave that kind of experimenting to the professionals.

I can't see how using 3 and 1 oil is any different than mineral oil - since 3 and 1 IS basically mineral oil. It should be fine to use if used *very sparingly*. Diluting it 8:1 is probably pretty safe.

Thanks for the clarification (... I think).

Still being confused why "mineral oil" should be OK, but 3-in-1 should not, I should add this:

Here in South Africa we don't commonly use the term "mineral oil". At least not for a specific product that you buy as such. I therefore assumed that "mineral oil" means any normal (thin) oil derived from mineral stock, as opposed to synthetic oil. Something like 3-in-1 or sewing machine oil. Just like with automotive engine oils: one also gets mineral, partially synthetic and fully synthetic ones.

Hence, I couldn't understand why "mineral oil" should be OK to use, but 3-in-1 should not.

When I looked up "mineral oil", I found that it is what we would call "paraffin" or "medicinal paraffin" here. This is colorless and mostly odorless, i.e. more highly purified than normal oils.

Nevertheless, like Ry wrote, 3-in-1 is also a mineral oil. So by my understanding, if you use one, you may as well use the other. The only saving grace seems to be the dilution.

The German tech from whom I bought my first piano swears by Ballistol, a thin (mineral) gun oil. Not sure whether he or some predecessor had lubed the action, but it was not a pleasant sight...

Some German techs warn against any form of oil, because over and above the dust and sticking problems, it is absorbed into the wood of the flange. If the flange ever needs to be re-bushed, the glue wouldn't stick to the oily wood.

Mineral oil can be taken internally. It's also used externally for skin conditions, etc. I don't think either of those hold true for 3-in-1 oil. Three-in-one is a machine oil and contains other oils, citronella being one of them. So the notion that 3-in-1 and mineral oil are the same is false. They both contain "oil" in their name, but are vastly different products.

Nevertheless, I'm just trying to find an alternative to Garfield and Protek. Of course we all know that repinning is the best, but that just ain't happening on the old Packard upright or Betsy Ross spinet...