Oil Caliper

My caliper died on me the other day, but a new one has just shown up. I kept my old one clean and would wipe it down after use, but I don't think I ever oiled it. Does anything on it need to be oiled? If so, where and what type oil? This is a cheap Lyman and apparently they cut some of the costs by not wasting a lot of paper or ink on an instruction booklet…

Thanks!

rack and gear (mechanical) caliper?

Sounds like the spring holding gear on the rack broke.

They are pretty rugged devices, and do not need lube around to attract grit and cause wear.

The lightest of oils for corrosion protection.

Calipers are factory lubricated. A do-it-yourself lube job could do more harm than good.

I've owned a Lyman mech. caliper for 19 years and never lube it.

Calipers are factory lubricated. A do-it-yourself lube job could do more harm than good.

I've owned a Lyman mech. caliper for 19 years and never lube it.
But I'll bet you keep it assiduously clean, as I do mine.

If one MUST lubricate, I would suggest a dry lube. Graphite used to be OK, but some of the spray silicone lubes available nowadays would probably be better.

Lost Sheep

My old Midway steel dial calipers are at least 20 years old.

And in the interum, have lived around a work bench used to grind knive blades , shape stocks, and reload everything.

Every year or so, I would hose the slide & gear teeth out with a can of WD-40 while opening & closing them, then blow them out with compressed air.
(Avoiding getting any into the dial of course.)

They are still going strong as ever!!

rc

Starrett recommends lightly oiling the rack and gear mechanisms with a high quality tool oil as well as keeping them clean. A can of air is very handy for cleaning.