Vaseline Syringes

It is a good lubricant for zippers, can be used to make leather stuff (bike saddles, boots, motorcycle clothing, ...) smooth and waterproof, and it is a decent solvent for removing stickers.

Vaseline is one of my favorite things in the shop. I keep a syringe with Vaseline in it with a large gauge needle with the tip ground blunt. Use it to inject some Vaseline where you need it (set it in the sun for a while to soften things up). I use it on fastener threads and when tapping. It's dynamite for kitchen drawer rollers -- and lasts for years. It's just the thing for door hinges -- lasts a lot longer than mineral oil based oils that gum up after a while.

Smear it on where you don't want paint, epoxy, or solder to stick.

Every woman in the world knows to put Vaseline on the bottle threads of nail polish to keep things from sticking. This works great in the shop too -- I think my favorite use is on the threads of those cans of PVC cement that seem to be designed to dry out and stick. Use it to stop sticking and put enough on to make a good seal. I've got a can of cement I've opened and sealed many times over the past couple of years.

When you're done with a tube of caulking, silicone sealant, etc., suck the material back into the tube a ways then put a dab of Vaseline on your finger and plug up the hole or the caulk tip. When you need to use that tube a year from now, just squeeze out the Vaseline onto a paper towel and you're back where you started. I wish I had thought of this decades ago so I didn't have to throw out so many dried tubes...

By the way, to get the Vaseline into the syringe, pack it in with a Popsicle stick. Then heat it in the steam from a teapot to melt it -- this lets you squeeze out the excess air.

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly is that trusty tub of gooey goodness that has been a staple in households around the world for over a century. It is a multipurpose ointment that is made from a mixture of mineral oils and waxes, resulting in its thick and jelly-like consistency.

Rust Prevention and Metal Protection

Who likes dealing with rusty tools and corroded metal? Nobody. That’s why Vaseline Petroleum Jelly can be a DIY enthusiast’s best friend. By applying a thin layer on metal surfaces, you can help prevent rust and protect your precious belongings from the elements. It’s like armor for your metal!

Sealant and Gasket Applications

Whether it’s sealing a leak or preventing moisture infiltration, Vaseline Petroleum Jelly can work wonders as a sealant. It forms a barrier that helps to keep out unwanted substances, protecting delicate components from corrosion and damage. So, the next time you need to seal a joint or gasket, reach for the jelly instead of your toolbox.

Probably would not use it anywhere on a vehicle, but use it all the time on plumbing, not on NPT fittings where a sealant is needed, but any mating surface where a lubricant will help future disassembly. Case in point, last week I had to remove a sink/cabinet and toilet from a bathroom for a remodel. I originally hooked up the fixtures in the '80s. I doubt if it took any more then 10 minutes to crack the drain/water lines or hold down nuts with a wrench, remove by hand and have everything out.

Petroleum jelly is commonly used as a grease for antique Singer sewing machine motors. The original factory grease is no longer made, and petroleum jelly is a practical substitute.

Vaseline Syringes

https://sites.google.com/brandeis.edu/marder-lab/experimental-resources/vaseline-syringes

Recipes

Tweak the ratio of mineral oil to Vaseline for desired consistency. Lower ratios will be harder to push out of the syringe (will take longer to melt at high temperatures) and higher ratios will be easier (melt easier at higher temperatures).

Calculated the masses using densities:

• Density of Vaseline = 0.865 g/mL
• Density of Mineral Oil = 0.838 g/mL):

10% Vaseline Syringe:

• 52 g Vaseline
• 6 g mineral oil

Note: same as 45 mL liquified Vaseline & 5 mL mineral oil

15% Vaseline Syringe:

• 49 g Vaseline
• 9 g mineral oil

Note: same as 42.5 mL liquified Vaseline & 7.5 mL mineral oil

Yield: approximately a dozen 10-mL syringes filled halfway.

Procedure

• Weigh solid Vaseline in a 100-mL beaker.
• Tare the balance and carefully add mineral oil with a transfer pipet, taking care not to overshoot your target mass of mineral oil.
• Set the beaker on a hot plate at 170℃ and stir with a spatula.
• Label syringes with label tape indicating the volumetric percentage of mineral oil in your recipe.
• Monitor the progress of melting Vaseline. If necessary, use a spatula to push solid Vaseline to the bottom of the beaker, taking care to scrape as much Vaseline off of the spatula back into the beaker when done.
• When the mixture is completely liquefied, stir for 20-30 seconds to ensure thorough mixing of the components. Let the mixture rest until there are no air bubbles visible.
• Submerge the tip of a 10-mL syringe with a needle attached into the Vaseline mixture WHILE STILL ON THE HOTPLATE AT 170℃. Very, very slowly pull up on the plunger to fill the syringe. The goal is to minimize the introduction of air bubbles, thus steady your hand at this stage and until you set the syringe down. It is critical to minimize any unnecessary jerking movements which will create many tiny air bubbles.
• Do not fill the syringe with more than 6 mL of liquid (anywhere between 4-6 mL is ideal).
• Once the syringe is filled, keep the tip submerged for 3 seconds before carefully removing it from the beaker.
• Very carefully reorient the syringe so the tip faces the ceiling. Push the plunger up to push out any air bubbles but avoid expelling any Vaseline.
• Blot the tip of the syringe with a Kimwipe to mop up any escaped Vaseline which will solidify into a mess.
• Put the syringe vertically into a bucket of ice to cool down.
• Repeat with the remaining Vaseline mixture and syringes. Stop once it is impossible to draw up Vaseline without introducing a ton of air bubbles.
• Syringes with lots of micro air bubbles will be unusable, so it is better to discard any remaining mixture than to prepare a useless syringe.
• Once the syringes have cooled down and solidified place them into the container on the dissection bench.

Related

• Microfluidics — the small-scale analog
• Pumps — positive displacement in miniature
• O-rings — syringe sealing
• Vacuum — degassing the grease