<p><strong>Don't use grease</strong>, it is better to use a <strong>light oil</strong> to lubricate the rods.  A light oil will help flush out any dust and filament debris, grease will trap it.</p>

<p>I've used both light machine oil (like used for sewing machines) and PTFE based spray (Teflon). Grease is thick and will collect and trap dust and particles more easily than light machine oil.</p>

<hr>

<p><em>Even high-end consumer printers use light machine oil, e.g. the Ultimaker 3 Extended I got came with a bottle of light machine oil for the linear guide rails. Their advice is to regularly add a drop of oil on each shaft once in a while (how frequent depends on how much your printer prints).</em></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-11T14:08:04.460Z
And even with light oil or PTFE or silicone sprays, always wipe off excess.
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-11T14:10:42.380Z
@CarlWitthoft Indeed, good to mention not to overdo the lubrication!
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-11T16:08:33.617Z
So the [valve oil for my trumpet](https://www.amazon.com/Giardinelli-PP-TR1FRIEND-Trumpet-Lube-Pre-pack/dp/B003MNF7V4/) ought to work great.
Joel Coehoorn
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-11T17:07:05.037Z
A lot of machines are heavily lubed on the bearings, I'll admit I haven't actually ever lubed my machines and rarely have issues. Take a bearing apart and it will be heavy grease. But I also agree on the Valve oil.
MakerModder
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-18T15:02:22.070Z
@JoelCoehoorn That oil may be designed for brass and so not contain the anti-corrosion additives for steel that some light machine oils might.
Andrew Morton
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-06-05T14:00:32.097Z
Thin grease should be fine, also because linear rails have the bearings on the underside of the bar, so that collecting dirt is less likely. It has to be thin grease, however, not thick.
FarO
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-11T11:44:51.160Z
2019-06-12T13:08:29.567Z
2019-06-12T13:08:29.567Z
0scar
<p>I have (what I thought was Silicon) spray that was given to me by the garage door installer to lube the rollers for my garage doors. I spray some on a paper towel and wipe the X, Y and Z bars with that. It is called Zep 70.  </p>

<p><a href="https://www.zep.com/product/zepcorporate/zep-70" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.zep.com/product/zepcorporate/zep-70</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Zep 70 is a soy-based penetrating lubricant that utilizes a renewable soy solvent. It provides excellent long-lasting lubrication, and superior water displacement properties. Zep 70 will penetrate quickly and clean dirt and grease. It will also protect against rust and corrosion. Zep 70 is packaged in a 24 oz. can with a net weight of 18 ounces. 
  Utilizing a soy-based solvent, a renewable source, helps to conserve nonrenewable resources such as petroleum.
  Non-evaporative solvent extends life of the lubricant.
  Quickly penetrates parts frozen from rust or corrosion.
  Displaces moisture and condensation which can cause corrosion.
  Treated surfaces are protected from rust.
  Helps clean dirt and grease from metal surfaces.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Reading the can contents, the Lubricant part seems to be TSRN-80100428-5003
The guides seem to slide on the bars with this stuff. Can't find a google hit on it.</p>

<p>I also made a polycarbonate enclosure around my printer to keep dust from settling on everything.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-29T11:02:18.697Z
This sounds like it is pretty much WD40
Trish
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-03-30T12:33:50.563Z
Part of it does, yes. Really slippery stuff on the track bars.
CrossRoads
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-06-12T13:25:43.267Z
2019-06-12T13:31:34.930Z
2019-06-12T13:31:34.930Z
CrossRoads
<p>What grease to use on linear rails to make them stick as little as possible? I've tried so far: </p>

<ul>
<li>WD40 (let’s not start a discussion about that please), </li>
<li>silicon spray and </li>
<li>some bearing grease called ‘motorex’, </li>
</ul>

<p>but with all of them the rails stick quite much and don’t slide as easily as I’d hope.</p>

<p>Can someone recommend some good grease for linear rails (specifically the hiwin type, 12-15mm)?</p>

<linear-motion>
What grease to use for linear rails?
matthias_buehlmann
# What grease to use for linear rails?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-06-11)

What grease to use on linear rails to make them stick as little as possible? I've tried so far:

* WD40 (let’s not start a discussion about that please),
* silicon spray and
* some bearing grease called ‘motorex’,

but with all of them the rails stick quite much and don’t slide as easily as I’d hope.

Can someone recommend some good grease for linear rails (specifically the hiwin type, 12-15mm)?

**Tags:** linear-motion


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-06-11. Score: 9

**Don't use grease**, it is better to use a **light oil** to lubricate the rods. A light oil will help flush out any dust and filament debris, grease will trap it.

I've used both light machine oil (like used for sewing machines) and PTFE based spray (Teflon). Grease is thick and will collect and trap dust and particles more easily than light machine oil.

---

*Even high-end consumer printers use light machine oil, e.g. the Ultimaker 3 Extended I got came with a bottle of light machine oil for the linear guide rails. Their advice is to regularly add a drop of oil on each shaft once in a while (how frequent depends on how much your printer prints).*

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: And even with light oil or PTFE or silicone sprays, always wipe off excess.  
> **username_1**: @username_2 Indeed, good to mention not to overdo the lubrication!  
> **username_3**: So the [valve oil for my trumpet](https://www.amazon.com/Giardinelli-PP-TR1FRIEND-Trumpet-Lube-Pre-pack/dp/B003MNF7V4/) ought to work great.  
> **username_4**: A lot of machines are heavily lubed on the bearings, I'll admit I haven't actually ever lubed my machines and rarely have issues. Take a bearing apart and it will be heavy grease. But I also agree on the Valve oil.  
> **username_5**: @username_3 That oil may be designed for brass and so not contain the anti-corrosion additives for steel that some light machine oils might.  
> **username_6**: Thin grease should be fine, also because linear rails have the bearings on the underside of the bar, so that collecting dirt is less likely. It has to be thin grease, however, not thick.  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2019-06-12. Score: 0

I have (what I thought was Silicon) spray that was given to me by the garage door installer to lube the rollers for my garage doors. I spray some on a paper towel and wipe the X, Y and Z bars with that. It is called Zep 70.

<https://www.zep.com/product/zepcorporate/zep-70>

> Zep 70 is a soy-based penetrating lubricant that utilizes a renewable soy solvent. It provides excellent long-lasting lubrication, and superior water displacement properties. Zep 70 will penetrate quickly and clean dirt and grease. It will also protect against rust and corrosion. Zep 70 is packaged in a 24 oz. can with a net weight of 18 ounces.
> Utilizing a soy-based solvent, a renewable source, helps to conserve nonrenewable resources such as petroleum.
> Non-evaporative solvent extends life of the lubricant.
> Quickly penetrates parts frozen from rust or corrosion.
> Displaces moisture and condensation which can cause corrosion.
> Treated surfaces are protected from rust.
> Helps clean dirt and grease from metal surfaces.

Reading the can contents, the Lubricant part seems to be TSRN-80100428-5003
The guides seem to slide on the bars with this stuff. Can't find a google hit on it.

I also made a polycarbonate enclosure around my printer to keep dust from settling on everything.

> **Comments:**
> **username_8**: This sounds like it is pretty much WD40  
> **username_7**: Part of it does, yes. Really slippery stuff on the track bars.  

---

