# Recommend me a dry lubricant **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 24, 2021, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-dry-lubricant/938607 "2021-03-24T19:27:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-dry-lubricant/938607/1 "2021-03-24T19:27:19Z")
I have an internal frame backpack made up of coated waterproof fabric tightly stretched over a wire frame. When loaded, the frame flexes and the coated side of the fabric rubs on the frame and itself and squeaks. This becomes maddening over several hours. I have blown some talc into the small access spot that I can get to that opens into the right space in the pack, and that seems to help. I am wondering about what other sorts of dry lube I can puff in there that might work better. I am reluctant to use graphite because I imagine the pack leaking black dust forever more, and the contents getting stained. I can’t apply this stuff precisely, I have to sort of dump it in and tumble it around. I’m also reluctant to use spray lubricants because I don’t know how the propellant/solvent will affect the pack fabric. So what dry lubricants in powder form am I unaware of? ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-dry-lubricant/938607/2 "2021-03-24T19:28:52Z")
Do a search for “micropowdered teflon”. Surprisingly enough, it is used for pianos. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-dry-lubricant/938607/3 "2021-03-24T21:45:58Z")
Soap? It might make it a little more slick. If you can get between the wire and fabric when unloaded, you might be able to slip a non-squeaky bit of material bewteen them. Something like denim or a cut up soft drink or laundry detergent bottle? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-dry-lubricant/938607/4 "2021-03-24T22:24:26Z")
> [@Bonum\_Legatum](#): > > Do a search for “micropowdered teflon”. Or silicone sprays, some of which contain teflon and will not leave oily residue. ---
**Author:** ![DaveUnknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@DaveUnknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveUnknown)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-dry-lubricant/938607/5 "2021-03-24T22:35:27Z")
UHMW tape? Perhaps unsightly, I don’t know in your situation. ---
**Author:** ![brossa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brossa/32/3040_2.png) [@brossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brossa)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-dry-lubricant/938607/6 "2021-03-25T13:23:57Z")
Thank you for the teflon recommendation; I’ll look into that. The geometry of the pack is such that I can’t directly access the spots where the fabric rubs on the frame. I can apply stuff to the outside and hope it penetrates the waterproof coated fabric, or pour it into a small potential space and try to distribute it by shaking. Imagine a Tyvek envelope heat-shrunk over a wire hoop, with just a small slit in the Tyvek at the center of the hoop. The sqeaking bits are a couple of inches away from the access opening, with only a small gap between the front and back surfaces. So I can’t get any tape in there, or rub the inner fabric with paraffin, or slide anything between the wire and fabric. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-dry-lubricant/938607/7 "2021-03-25T13:55:49Z")
[Labelle 134 Micro-Fine Teflon Dry Lubricant | ModelTrainStuff](https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Labelle-134-Micro-Fine-Teflon-Dry-Lubricant/) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2021, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-dry-lubricant/938607/8 "2021-03-25T14:18:55Z")
The classic dry lubricant is graphite powder – the grtaphite is in fine sheets, which slide over each other > **[Blaster 5.5 oz. Industrial Graphite Dry Lubricant Spray 8-GS - The Home Depot](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Blaster-5-5-oz-Industrial-Graphite-Dry-Lubricant-Spray-8-GS/202597501)** > > Blaster Graphite Dry Lubricant is an excellent for extending equipment life and reducing wear. The graphite spray creates a quick drying black film that provides long-lasting lubrication. It's recommended > **[CRC Dry Graphite Lube 03094 – 10 Wt. Oz, Dry Film Lubricant: Power Tool...](https://www.amazon.com/CRC-Dry-Graphite-Lube/dp/B09XRJ4VQ2)** > > CRC Dry Graphite Lube 03094 – 10 Wt. Oz, Dry Film Lubricant: Power Tool Lubricants: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific Molybdenum disulfide is another dry lubricant that has been used for a long time > **[CRC 3084 Dry Moly Lube, (Net Weight: 11 oz.) 16 oz Aerosol Can, Dark Gray (Pack...](https://www.amazon.com/CRC-3084-Moly-Lube-Weight/dp/B09YDTKHY5)** > > CRC 3084 Dry Moly Lube, (Net Weight: 11 oz.) 16 oz Aerosol Can, Dark Gray (Pack of 3): Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific Articles on dry lubricants – [Dry lubricant - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_lubricant) [Solid Film Lubricants: A Practical Guide](https://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/861/solid-film-lubricants)