Lube for Lugs

What do you guys use when lugs need grease? My snare lugs are preventing me from tuning it properly at the moment. Will something house-hold like WD40 work?

Note: I think it was CEM who I saw awhile back comment about using it on his lugs, although Im not entirely sure.

That will do it mate, but don't put too much on and give them a light wipe down with a lint free cloth.

Clean the inserts and screws first. Remove the lugs and inserts. You can twirl a paper towel until you have enough diameter to screw into the insert.

Sorry for not having a constructive response.I guess my mind is in the gutter this morning.

White lithium grease will do the trick. I believe WD40 is a cleaner, not a lubricant, so if it's really dirty spray with WD40 and let it sit for a bit, then clean with a paper towel, then a dab of the lithium grease.

Sorry for not having a constructive response.I guess my mind is in the gutter this morning.

May I refer you to the street drummer thread?

You'll find it.

do not use wd40....it is a lubricant, but it also attracts moisture. Lithium grease is ok, but will collect dust, dirtt and anything else, not top mention it can be messy. I use a good quality silicone spray on all my gear....Just to verify, Ive seen some hardware that no amount of lube will help the screws turn easier......just the difference between cheap gear and expensive gear.

this has been asked before and it's a really good question. We very rarely talk about how to care and feed for our babies

I use either a lug lube that are made by LP, Tama and others. I also use a bike chain jube. It's basically the same thing. I went to my local bike shop and bought one there. The bike lube is nice because it's thin and repels dirt. Tell the person there what your using it for because there are different kinds of lube and let them help decide.

You got it, rayboomboom--what you want is a paraffin-based bicycle chain lube.

Being an old rider myself, I used to lube my chains with paraffin itself, melted on a stove top. My chains stayed perfectly clean because paraffin is dry.

One smidge of warning: for John's snare he's probably okay, but be wary of lubing the tension rods of your toms and BD, particularly if you tune low. You'll be tuning every five minutes.

Do not ask me how I know this.

Can I not ask how you don't know this?

I really don't have a problem with my kick tension rods loosening. And it's pretty loose. And everything is lubed.

My BD lugs are smooth as could be. My toms have 1-2 lugs total I think out of all 3 that give me problems. The snare is the worst. I think 4-5 total lugs 'wrong' if you get what Im saying. Theres actually a hardware store about a 10 minute walk from my house. Do you think they would have it?

They're more likely to have anything but. You want a bike shop.

This is correct, to much lube is big time tuning trouble

Just a drop of white grease does the job here. Just a drop though, too much and they might slip.

I agree w/ the thoughts of not using WD-40. Also, do not use petroleum jelly. Bike chain lube works great, or so I've been told. I usually use a bar of Dial soap. . . impress the (already cleaned) threads in it, then wipe them of the excess.

being dry could you use something like graphite powder?

or what about like nickel anti seize?

just curious

Take all the inserts and rods out and soak them in hot water with Dawn.

Get a toothbrush you don't care about (or from someone you don't like), and scrub all the threads.

Dry completely.

Reassemble.

Don't put yucky nasty grease in your lugs man!

I've never lubed a lug in my life , never had a need.

the need doesn't happen until something strips. then it's too late. moving, metal parts = need to be lubed.

that said, if there isn't enough tension on the thread to cause stripping then you have a case. but if you get a cross thread then you have more of a chance to do more damage. but my believe is that lube means longer life; the parts are just going to last longer. again, moving, metal parts = need to be lubed.

my lugs only move when I tell em' to.

+1 I use bearing grease, works great and keeps them rust free and turning for years...just don't use too much.