Rusted rotator!!

[dmoh7]

The other day i took the vase off my rotator and noticed a small puddle at the bottom where all the rotating happens, next thing i kno, my rotator rotates soooo horribly... its dperessing, anything i can do to make it slick n smooth again?!

[yashman19]

Hmm...I know that people use sand paper to get out rust for
automobiles, but I'm not 100% sure that it will work here. Hopefully
someone here might have some experience with this and give you a for
sure answer, but for now thats all I got.

[cypress]

You might try a little olive oil to lubricate it a little.  Dont
put too much to drench it but enough to get the squeek out. 

[mushrat]

Ah...they joys of advanced technology...
If it moves it will break.
I like the KISS principle. Keep It Simple Stupid.
 
$.02

[uselessdreamer1]

i would use WD-40. But not too much. maybe the smell would be too over bearing?

[cypress]

Thats why i suggested olive oil. You can injest olive oil and it not be
that bad for u. WD-40 on the other hand well i would stay away from
that. Now they do make a foode grade lubricant but that would be an
overkill for this application. 

[John Deere]

The only problem with olive oil, is that vegetable oils gum up over
time. I used to be a baker, and the baking equipment would get gobs of
gummy stuff on it from the olive oil. Maybe mineral oil? Thats also
safe for consumption. (if you need a laxative)

[cypress]

I guess if the mineral oil doesnt work you might need to research a
food grade lubricant. If not maybe buy another hookah or take it to a
place where it can be restored. 

[John Deere]

I know we used to use vasoline as lubricant for the frozen margarita machine, maybe that will work?

[brother812]

i don't have a rotator but from what i can see from pictures your not going to be getting the bearing area anywhere near your mouth so any oil should do. you can get a small can of 3 in one oil at any hardware store and just put a few drops in the bearing area every few weeks and that should stop the rust from reforming. as for getting rid of the rust you already have i would suggest while your at the hardware store pick up some steel wool that will clean the rust off without gouging the surface so your rotator should work smooth after your done.

[yashman19]

[quote name='brother812']i don't have a rotator but from what i can see from
pictures your not going to be getting the bearing area anywhere near
your mouth so any oil should do. you can get a small can of 3 in one
oil at any hardware store and just put a few drops in the bearing area
every few weeks and that should stop the rust from reforming. as for
getting rid of the rust you already have i would suggest while your at
the hardware store pick up some steel wool that will clean the rust off
without gouging the surface so your rotator should work smooth after
your done.[/quote]

The only thing I can see bad happening with that is that although his
mouth may not come in any contact with the oil, but the fumes from the
oil (if any?) will get to his lungs. That might kill the flavor of the
smoke.

[dmoh7]

sh*t thanx so mcuh for your help guys.. but hey, i heard somewhere that cocacola or pepsi, or either removes rust... anyone know anythin bout this?

[mushrat]

ah yes..coke will eat ANYTHING. Including the metal of the threads. A little very fine steel wool should work. A very thin very fine file if you are very careful may also work.
Could always contact whoever you bought it from and mention it to them...they may have an idea. But i think between all the advice here you should be ok.

[dmoh7]

yea, im just tryin to figure how im gonna get a peice of steal wool in that lil area, and scrub it

[MR Bubble]

Don"t use coke or anything like that unless you can remove each bearing and completely wash it afterward (then lube it back up). The coke will get it all sticky. As mentioned above, the best bet is to use the steel wool to remove the corrosion, then treat it with a preventative/lubricant. That is if you can remove the balls.
Then again mushrat had the best response: K.I.S.S. Just a regular, 1-hose solid traditional Egyptian model, with lots of GE clear silicone to compensate for Egyptian quality failures.
MR Bubble

[brother812]

[quote name='Yashman19']The only thing I can see bad happening with that is that although his mouth may not come in any contact with the oil, but the fumes from the oil (if any?) will get to his lungs. That might kill the flavor of the smoke.[/quote]
the way i understand it the rotator is like a regular hookah but with a smaller glass base that sits in another base that has bearings in it so it rotates. you could put axle grease in their and their is no way it is going to get into your smoke. the glass base does not heat up nor allow anything on the outside of it to get to the inside trough osmosis. i am willing to bet when they are made they put some kind of petroleum based lubricant in their.
as far as using coke to clean the rust out well i wouldn't do it. coke is very acidic it will dissolve a 3 inch nail in hours. steel wool will work good to clean it up but you still need to put something in their to stop the rust from coming back. once steel has rusted it will rust faster if you don't use some kind of inhibitor. the 3 in one oil i mentioned has almost no sent and will keep the rust from coming back as long as you put a few drops in their every few weeks.

[Sariél]

A few years ago, I started using silicon lubricant (in an aerosol can)
for lubricating all the stuff I use to use WD-40 for. Less fumes,
longer lasting, and the excess wipes off easier and doesn't stain. It
works great on all my wire crimpers and wire strippers et al.

Coke will eat through the rust and keep going into the metal.