Cleaning a stuck aperture ring on an old Nikon lens taught me a trick

I had this F-mount 50mm f/2 where the ring wouldn't budge. My usual go-to was lighter fluid, but it just gummed up again after a week. A guy at a shop in Tacoma told me to try a tiny drop of synthetic watch oil instead. I did that six months ago and the ring is still smooth as new. Has anyone else moved away from lighter fluid for this kind of job?

2 comments

2 Comments

patricia421mo ago

Ever wonder if synthetic oil works better because it doesn't dry out like lighter fluid?

lucas_jenkins1mo ago

That's a good way to put it. Synthetics have more stable molecules, so they resist breaking down from heat and pressure much longer. It's not just about drying out, it's about staying thick enough to protect engine parts under heavy load.