NavList:

Geoffrey asked:

Are there any views on the specification of oil to be used for
lubricating a
traditional metal sextant?
I have a Hughes 'Husun' instrument made in the 50s. Its original wooden
case
has space for a small bottle of oil - now missing - and a printed
instruction only to use that!
A couple of years ago I cleaned and lubricated the sextant with 'light
machine oil' which seemed to become viscous (oxidised?) quite quickly,
making the instrument less easy to use smoothly.
Would thin synthetic oil be more appropriate?

My reply:
I've used and still have a bottle of a fine oil used for sextant
lubrication. It goes under the brand name of "Nye Oil". It has many of
the properties of Sperm Whale oil. It is really just Jojoba bean
extract, or jojoba oil, sold under many name brands and is easily
procured all over the world. I recommend this type of light, fine oil to
lubricate your sextant. I also use a very light coating of this oil as a
preservative for all the metal parts/surfaces on my sextants.

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