bulb grease

[FLOOB]

I went to the hardware store to buy new bulbs for the brake lamp on my motorcar and the person working the till tried to sell me this product called bulb grease. I toejam you not.

[Copprhed]

If you've never had a bulb break off of it's base, and then had a hell of a time getting the base out of the socket, you haven't lived. I also thought plumber's grease was a waste of time.

[SIK1]

A light film of dielectric grease is a good idea on the base of light bulbs, and is actually a good idea on all your electrical connections. It helps prevent corrosion in the socket and will make removing the bulb easier in the future. Try and find a tube of dielectric grease (those that have worked on breaker point ignitions know what I'm talking about.) it will be about the same cost as the little packet of bulb grease, you get more and the tube has a cap on it so you can seal it up for future use. Just remember that a little goes a long way.
Make sure that you get dielectric grease though. I had a guy try and sell me lithium grease once because he didn't have a clue what dielectric grease was.

[pembquist]

I also thought plumber's grease was a waste of time.

Has kept slip joint P traps from driving me to insane for 20 years now

[Aspen]

Its not a scam.  On a normal vehicle its not necessary but might save a minor headache down the road.  I use it on snowmobiles, dirt bikes & atvs.  Over time electrical connections and water/mud aren't a good mix.

[DubiousKB]

Floob you noob!  Just dip the whole bulb in the grease and you'll have a 300% brightness increase!!!   

[DaveBB]

You can get the same effect from just buying a big jar of regular machine grease.  We have a can of machine grease in our barn that costs $7 back in the 90s.  We still use it on vehicle light bulbs.  Those tiny 1 dollar packets of bulb grease are a marketing ploy.  Basically what I am trying to say is that the tiny packets are a huge rip-off, and you can save a ton of money just buying a tub of grease.

[SIM]

There are different types of grease/dope/alnox/monkey sh#t used for electrical connections. Anytime you are making a connection it is a good idea to use the appropriate grease for the specific applications. Some have metal shavings/grit embedded in the grease to ensure a solid connection. Others are specifically formulated for connections where two flat surfaces are bolted together. The grease helps to keep the connection from arcing which can cause the items to weld together. It also helps to prevent corrosion of steal and oxidation of aluminum connections. Using the correct grease can be critical to keeping any sort of connection from burning up over time.

[DaveBB]

That is what they tell you to sell you super expensive packets of grease.  Someone above mentioned dielectric grease, now you are talking about a grease embedded with metal shavings.

A fool and their money are soon to part.

[SIK1]

That is what they tell you to sell you super expensive packets of grease.  Someone above mentioned dielectric grease, now you are talking about a grease embedded with metal shavings.

A fool and their money are soon to part.

Actually dielectric grease is non-conductive and is used to protect electrical connections.

Now a lithium based grease does contain a metal "lithium" which would lead to all sorts of problems if used in an electrical connection.

[DaveBB]

I know that dielectric grease doesn't conduct electricity.  That is why it inhibits corrosion.

[ROC]

DaveBB, Sim talking about grease with metal embedded was an example of why not to just use any grease as it may not be formulated for the intended use, in case you might have misunderstood what he was saying.
He's a long time lineman, his life depends on the right application of grease especially in an electrical environment

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Elbow grease is the best grease. All purpose!