reviving white lightning



M

M. Chandler

Guest
I use WL on my Speedplay Frog cleats. I came across a nearly-new bottle
of WL that was hiding in the back of the garage. It's the consistency
of Elmer's Glue, which makes it a little too thick for my cleats. I
poked around Google, and there was mention of using naphtha (lighter
fluid) or toluene to revive WL. I'm wondering if (A) anyone's
successfully done this, and/or (B) if I'll spend more on the
aforementioned solvents than on a fresh bottle of WL.

Thanks,

--mc
--
Mark Chandler
Superior, CO
http://www.MileHighSkates.com
 
M. Chandler wrote:
> I poked around Google, and there was mention of using naphtha
> (lighter fluid) or toluene to revive WL. I'm wondering if (A)
> anyone's successfully done this, and/or (B) if I'll spend more
> on the aforementioned solvents than on a fresh bottle of WL.


Don't use toluene. It's nasty.

Petroleum naphtha is available very cheaply as "low odor paint thinner"
at your local hardware store. It costs more as "Zippo lighter fuel" at
the grocery store, but not as much as White Lightning.

I can't tell you whether it works to reconstitute the dried-up
lubricant, but it's clear from the smell that WL does contain naphtha
in its formula.

Chalo Colina
 
On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 18:33:06 -0700, "M. Chandler"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I use WL on my Speedplay Frog cleats. I came across a nearly-new bottle
>of WL that was hiding in the back of the garage. It's the consistency
>of Elmer's Glue, which makes it a little too thick for my cleats. I
>poked around Google, and there was mention of using naphtha (lighter
>fluid) or toluene to revive WL. I'm wondering if (A) anyone's
>successfully done this, and/or (B) if I'll spend more on the
>aforementioned solvents than on a fresh bottle of WL.
>

C) Send it back to the manufacturer for an exchange.
 
Paul Kopit wrote:
> On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 18:33:06 -0700, "M. Chandler"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>I use WL on my Speedplay Frog cleats. I came across a nearly-new bottle
>>of WL that was hiding in the back of the garage. It's the consistency
>>of Elmer's Glue, which makes it a little too thick for my cleats. I
>>poked around Google, and there was mention of using naphtha (lighter
>>fluid) or toluene to revive WL. I'm wondering if (A) anyone's
>>successfully done this, and/or (B) if I'll spend more on the
>>aforementioned solvents than on a fresh bottle of WL.
>>

>
> C) Send it back to the manufacturer for an exchange.


It's at least five years old (probably six or seven). I kind of doubt
they'd replace it.


--
Mark Chandler
Superior, CO
http://www.MileHighSkates.com
 
On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 21:11:58 -0700, "M. Chandler"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>It's at least five years old (probably six or seven). I kind of doubt
>they'd replace it.


You might be pleasantly surprised.
 
Paul Kopit wrote:
> On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 21:11:58 -0700, "M. Chandler"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>It's at least five years old (probably six or seven). I kind of doubt
>>they'd replace it.

>
> You might be pleasantly surprised.


I shot them an e-mail via their website, so we'll see.


--
Mark Chandler
Superior, CO
http://www.MileHighSkates.com
 
M. Chandler wrote:
> Paul Kopit wrote:
>> On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 21:11:58 -0700, "M. Chandler"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> It's at least five years old (probably six or seven). I kind of
>>> doubt they'd replace it.

>>
>> You might be pleasantly surprised.

>
> I shot them an e-mail via their website, so we'll see.


FWIW, WL had a rather large "bad batch" years ago, so maybe yours is one of
those. (I recall LBSs exchanging bottles back then; maybe now they'll just
send you a new one or tell you how to "revitalize the potion".)
 
M. Chandler wrote:
> Paul Kopit wrote:
>> On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 21:11:58 -0700, "M. Chandler"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>> It's at least five years old (probably six or seven). I kind of
>>> doubt they'd replace it.

>>
>> You might be pleasantly surprised.

>
> I shot them an e-mail via their website, so we'll see.


FWIW, WL had a rather large "bad batch" years ago, so maybe yours is one of
those. (I recall LBSs exchanging bottles back then; maybe now they'll just
send you a new one or tell you how to "revitalize the potion".)
 
M. Chandler wrote:
> Paul Kopit wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 18:33:06 -0700, "M. Chandler"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> I use WL on my Speedplay Frog cleats. I came across a nearly-new
>>> bottle of WL that was hiding in the back of the garage. It's the
>>> consistency of Elmer's Glue, which makes it a little too thick for my
>>> cleats. I poked around Google, and there was mention of using
>>> naphtha (lighter fluid) or toluene to revive WL. I'm wondering if
>>> (A) anyone's successfully done this, and/or (B) if I'll spend more on
>>> the aforementioned solvents than on a fresh bottle of WL.

>>
>> C) Send it back to the manufacturer for an exchange.

>
> It's at least five years old (probably six or seven). I kind of doubt
> they'd replace it.


From the WL folks:

"That bottle is probably about 3 or even 4 years old. The product only
has a shelf life of about 2.5 years, at best."

It's the Generation 4 formula, and if memory serves, that was a
problematic batch/formula. Interestingly enough, the ancient Pedro's
Syn Lube that I found in the same box worked just fine.

I'm not opposed to buying another bottle of WL, but since I use it only
on my cleats, I doubt I'll use it up before it "expires."

--
Mark Chandler
Superior, CO
http://www.MileHighSkates.com
 
> I'm not opposed to buying another bottle of WL, but since I use it
only
> on my cleats, I doubt I'll use it up before it "expires."

i use "IceWax" for this & it has an acceptable shelf life.
 

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