bearing cleaning

What Can I Clean My Skate Bearings With?

Bearing Fundamentals, Cleaning

A list of bearing cleaning solvents

Here are some options for solvents to clean your bearings. We’ve added more details for some of them including how to use them safely, compatibility with materials found in bearings and pros and cons of the solvent, so click the links if you want more details.

Do you have a favorite solvent for cleaning your bearings that we have not listed. Leave a comment below to tell us about it and have it added to the list.

Water For Cleaning Skate Bearings

Bearing Fundamentals, Cleaning

Water to clean bearings, really? Well yes, some people do opt for water to clean their bearings. But won’t that just rust them? If you are careful and work with it appropriately, water should not have any immediate adverse affects on your skate bearings.

General comments on water for bearing cleaning

The Good

  • Reasonably safe if you handle it appropriately.
  • Environmentally friendly
  • Cheap

The Bad

  • Water will promote corrosion and rust in your bearings if used inappropriately. Do not leave your bearings in water for extended periods
  • Safety concerns are a factor when using water to clean your bearings since you need to boil and bake them. The water, your bearings and the equipment you use for this will be hot with the potential to severely burn you.

Safety

In using water to clean you are going to be working with heat sources, hot equipment, boiling water and hot bearings. These all have the potential to cause major burns to humans and animals. Be very careful handling bearings, equipment and hot water.

Also consider that the whatever is cleaned out of you bearings could be hazardous to humans. Do not use cookware that will also be used for food. Use pots/pans/trays that will never be used for food preparation.

Ideally you should also use equipment (stove/oven) that is not going to be used for food prep either. Having a workshop toaster oven and portable electric stove is a good option for this. Please also consider the fire hazard this could cause if you do have one in your workshop. If you opt for a camping or portable gas stove you must use it outdoors only.

Using Water To Clean Your Skate Bearings

Here are some typical steps for cleaning your bearings using water:

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Alcohol (Rubbing Alcohol) For Cleaning Skate Bearings

Bearing Fundamentals, Cleaning

Isopropyl Alcohol, sometimes known as rubbing alcohol, is similar to petroleum based products and is good at breaking down oils and greases. When using it with bearings some caution should be taken as it may be incompatible with components of some bearings such as nylon cages.

General comments on Isopropyl Alcohol

The Good

  • Good at breaking down and removing oils and greases
  • Reasonably safe as it is used in medical environments, however please read the safety section below and the MSDS of the product you are using.

The Bad

  • Pure Isopropyl Alcohol can attract water vapor from the atmosphere so bearings should not left to soak should be dried quickly or it may promote premature corrosion of your bearings
  • Non pure Isopropyl Alcohol (eg 70% Rubbing Alcohol) is typically diluted with distilled water so bearings should not be left to soak and should be dried quickly or it may promote premature corrosion of your bearings
  • It is has poor compatibility with nylon so should not be used on bearings with nylon cages
  • It has poor compatibility with polyurethane so keep it away from you wheels when cleaning
  • It can have an affect on Nitrile rubber so it may have a slight affect, such as discoloration, of rubber shields on some bearings

Safety

You should always consult the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the specific product before you use it and be familiar with the safety measures stated. General precautions for Isopropyl Alcohol:

  • It is flammable so keep it away from ignition sources and use in an area with good ventilation
  • Causes eye irritation
  • May be harmful if swallowed
  • May be harmful in contact with skin or may cause an allergic skin reaction

Using Isopropyl Alcohol To Clean Your Skate Bearings

Here are some typical steps for cleaning your bearings using Isopropyl Alcohol:

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Mineral Spirits For Cleaning Skate Bearings

Bearing Fundamentals, Cleaning

Mineral Spirits, sometimes known as petroleum White Spirits, is made of intermediate hydrocarbons that are typically drawn from the oil refining process. This makes it ideal for thinning oil and grease to remove it from your skate bearings along with dirt and particulates. It is a close cousin to Naphtha.

General comments on Mineral Spirits

The Good

  • Compatible with all typical materials used in bearings
  • Good at thinning out and breaking down grease and oil

The Bad

  • Need to consider many safety measures. you should consult the MSDS for the specific product you choose.
  • Not environmentally friendly or easy to dispose of

Safety

You should always consult the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the specific product before you use it and be familiar with the safety measures stated. General precautions for Mineral Spirits:

  • It is flammable. Keep it away from flames, sparks or other ignition sources.
  • You don’t want to breath too much in. Work with it outdoors or at least in a well ventilated space.
  • Contact with the eyes is bad. Wear eye protection when using it to clean your bearings and be aware of what to do if you do get it in your eyes.
  • Ingestion (swallowing it) is not god for you. Consults the MSDS if this accidently happens.
  • It can be a skin irritant, especially with prolonged exposure or even limited exposure for some people. It you spill it on clothing it’s best to remove the clothing it was spilled on (on put one something else of course). Nitrile or PVA gloves are sufficient for handling it and limiting skin exposure.

Using Mineral Spirits To Clean Your Skate Bearings

Here are some typical steps for cleaning your bearings using Mineral Spirits:

Continue reading →

Naphtha For Skate Bearing Cleaning

Bearing Fundamentals, Cleaning

Naphtha, sometimes known as petroleum Naphtha, Shellite or white gas, is made of intermediate hydrocarbons that are typically drawn from the oil refining process. This makes it ideal for thinning oil and grease to remove it from your skate bearings along with dirt and particulates. It is also more volatile than it cousin Mineral Spirits so dries faster.

General comments on Naphtha

The Good

  • Compatible with all typical materials used in bearings
  • Good at thinning out and breaking down grease and oil

The Bad

  • Need to consider many safety measures. you should consult the MSDS for the specific product you choose.
  • Not environmentally friendly or easy to dispose of

Safety

You should always consult the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the specific product before you use it and be familiar with the safety measures stated. General precautions for Naphtha:

  • It is flammable. Keep it away from flames, sparks or other ignition sources.
  • You don’t want to breath too much in. Work with it outdoors or at least in a well ventilated space.
  • Contact with the eyes is bad. Wear eye protection when using it to clean your bearings and be aware of what to do if you do get it in your eyes.
  • Ingestion (swallowing it) is not god for you. Consults the MSDS if this accidently happens.
  • It can be a skin irritant, especially with prolonged exposure or even limited exposure for some people. It you spill it on clothing it’s best to remove the clothing it was spilled on (on put one something else of course). Nitrile or PVA gloves are sufficient for handling it and limiting skin exposure.

Using Naphtha To Clean Your Skate Bearings

Here are some typical steps for cleaning your bearings using Naphtha:

Continue reading →