What kind of grease for pots

General discussion area for tube amps.

Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal

Post Reply
User avatar
JoshBernstein
Posts: 289
Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2015 1:31 am
Location: Key Largo, FL USA

What kind of grease for pots

Post by JoshBernstein »

Hiya everyone,
i usually use alpha pots for my build, but they are always too loose for me, as in they don't require enough torque to turn, and they make a mechanical scratchy noise when they turn. I recently fiddled with a friedman amp and the pots just felt so good to turn. Is there any kind of grease i can put in these pots to make them feel nicer?
Thanks!
-Josh
Not really
sluckey
Posts: 3062
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 7:48 pm
Location: Mobile, AL
Contact:

Re: What kind of grease for pots

Post by sluckey »

I use a lot of 24mm Alpha pots. Every one operates smoothly and do not have any mechanical noise. Feel very nice to me.
User avatar
pompeiisneaks
Site Admin
Posts: 4222
Joined: Sat Jan 14, 2017 4:36 pm
Location: Washington State, USA
Contact:

Re: What kind of grease for pots

Post by pompeiisneaks »

I think the problem would be that any grease would potentially cause wiper contact failure, so no I wouldn't.

I too love the feel of my Alpha's, but over time they build up a bit of crud/dust and get the feel you're mentioning. Maybe the amp you're using is a bit older?

~Phil
tUber Nerd!
User avatar
xtian
Posts: 6990
Joined: Mon Apr 19, 2010 8:15 pm
Location: NorCal
Contact:

Re: What kind of grease for pots

Post by xtian »

DeOxIT Fader Lube might do the job for you, but it's not sprayable, because it's a grease, not an aerosol. You'd have to open the pots to put Fader Lube on the tracks.
I build and repair tube amps. http://amps.monkeymatic.com
pdf64
Posts: 2688
Joined: Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:23 pm
Location: Staffordshire, UK

Re: What kind of grease for pots

Post by pdf64 »

I think that the grease that affects the 'feel' of a pot is that between the shaft and bush. As such, it would be tricky to get some high viscosity grease in there, unless the pot was dismantled.
A lot simpler just to replace them with pots that you like :wink:
Though that may not end up being a cheap exercise.
User avatar
JMFahey
Posts: 252
Joined: Sun Dec 13, 2009 1:39 pm
Location: Buenos Aires - Argentina

Re: What kind of grease for pots

Post by JMFahey »

The grease lies in the narrow space between shaft and bushing.

In principle any grease can do, I have even tried common red Lithium general purpose grease with good results, but it eventually it goes away (might be years later, depending on use), and found absolute best is a greenish "ball bearing" grease, you ask for it like that to a lubricant supplier and they will know what are you talking about, which is formulated to be very sticky and not go away even under lots of movement (what happens insie a ball bearing) , that has the right feel and lasts forever.

You have to partially disassemble the pot, move the threaded bushing forward and apply some grease to the shaft with a toothpick.
When you slide bushing back into position and re crimp pot case "ears" you get the grease where you want it.
Design/Make/Service Musical stuff in Buenos Aires, Argentina, since 1969
Post Reply