[TowerTalk] Aluminum Boom Lubricant: Yes or Nope?

Sun Aug 17 16:42:16 EDT 2025

Thanks just passing on other's info. Whether its applicable for the tubing question I don't know. Just tossing it out there for consideration. It's fantastic on SS fasteners and aluminum.

It's not dissimilar to the auto parts stuff. About the same viscosity as the typical silicone grease.

Regarding using this stuff. or any other on fasteners...

One of the programs I worked on at Boeing was the PHM (Patrol Hydrofoil Missile) ship. I was the lead tech on the underway flight test crew. The ships were all aluminum and every fastener was stainless. All the trades, electronic techs, mechanics, plumbers, etc. went to a training session conducted by engineers specializing in corrosion prevention to learn the proper methods of SS to aluminum assembly. Since these vessels were, as John Paul Jones said, meant "...to go in harm's way" it was important.

The key takeaway applicable here, is that while putting the goop of choice on the outside threads is nice, getting it on the inside threads is much better. The problem with outside only is that it extrudes out as the fastener is threaded in and that is exacerbated in the finer threaded fasteners with tighter tolerances. Gotta get it on the inside threads and just pushing a dab into the hole doesn't cut it.

How? What works for me was courtesy of my dentist when he was lecturing me on my flossing technique or perhaps lack thereof. He introduced me to what one vender calls a PROXABRUSH. They come in several formats. The ones I use are linked below. They are available in several different sizes in the dental care section of US drug stores and are designed to fit between the teeth. They have a tapered tip; the bristles are dense and held in a twisted wire that is ductile enough that it withstands generous bending before it work-hardens and breaks off. This vendor's come with a plastic handle and a cover so you can toss it in the toolbox/bag without making a mess or damaging the brush tip. The smallest size will work down to a #4 machine screw and the largest is good up to a #10 or 12. Larger than that there are readily available brushes from other sources. BTW, these brushes work great on the inside threads of coax shells.

https://www.sunstargum.com/us-en/products/interdental-cleaners/gum-proxabrush.html

Usual disclaimer no vender affiliation etc.

GL
Patrick, W7TMT

-----Original Message-----
From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Richard (Rick) Karlquist
Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2025 10:13
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Aluminum Boom Lubricant: Yes or Nope?

What a great posting, Patrick.  TT proves its worth again.
I think this may be the winner.  I would like to ask if it is less messy to use on SS bolts than the anti-seize they sell at auto stores.  That stuff works well in my experience, but makes a big mess.

73
Rick N6RK

On 8/17/2025 8:18 AM, W7TMT - Patrick wrote:
> A product that is the mainstay in the marine world for preventing dissimilar corrosion and binding is TefGel. On sailboats the masts are mostly aluminum and all the hardware attached is stainless steel and affixed with stainless fasteners. The aluminum to SS corrosion issue is well known. Here in the saltwater environment the parts live 24/7 in a saltwater fog.
> 
> I just removed the base of a winch that I last installed 12 years ago. Its location is such that in heavy weather it has on many occasions been washed with saltwater coming over the bow. It came apart effortlessly with no more torque required than if it had been stored in a garage for that time. I also saw this compound used in the aerospace/defense industry where I worked for 35 years. In addition to applications that are certain to see saltwater exposure, I use it on all SS bolt/nuts to prevent galling.
> 
> Might be worth a look to see if it meets your needs. It is a mainstay for dissimilar metal protection in the marine world. Not cheap but amazing effective.
> 
> 
> https://ultratef-gel.com/
> 
> 
> 73
> Patrick, W7TMT
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: TowerTalk <towertalk-bounces at contesting.com> On Behalf Of Steve 
> Harrison
> Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2025 07:34
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Aluminum Boom Lubricant: Yes or Nope?
> 
> What is the collective Wisdom concerning the use of an aluminum-to-aluminum lubricant (such as Penetrox) between boom pieces, one of which is swaged? I am reassembling several older monobanders but using OWA dimensions here in the desert (no salt water corrosion). We have nearly-continuous mild-to-heavy winds, 10 - 15 to 45 - 60 mph, nearly year round, so the boom pieces must be solidly bolted together; yet, I'd like the option of being able to take them apart again at some time in the future.
> 
> TNX,
> 
> Steve K0XP
> 
> 
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