2026From a Facebook group: Steadicam operators group
Lubricating gimbal bearings after cleaning when Tri-Flow PTFE is unavailable for months.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- Tri-Flow with PTFE is the established standard, applied very sparingly at 0.25 to 1 drop; widely available in the US at bicycle shops, auto parts stores, and builders' merchants.
- Alternatives discussed include light machine oil, sewing machine oil, watch oil, Mobil Velocite No. 6 (offered by dealers specifically for gimbals), GPI Pro bearing oil, and oil supplied directly by Tiffen.
- Super Lube ISO 22 (synthetic) has been used successfully for years without varnishing, sheds dust and water, and protects against corrosion.
- One operator specifically seeks very thin oil with ISO viscosity grade VG 3 to 5, noting that most market products are VG 10 or higher; viscosity is strongly temperature-dependent.
- Watch oils are seasonal: type 9010 in winter, type 9415 in summer; for Etsyntha Clock 992 (also known as ARRI oil, by Dr. Tillwich), manufacturer specifications contradict each other on the lower temperature limit (−35 °C versus −10 °C).
- Needle-tip dispenser bottles allow application of only a fraction of a drop.
Depends on
- Whether gimbal bearings should be lubricated at all was questioned by one operator.
- Disagreement between using simple machine oil versus deliberately low-viscosity watch or specialty oils.
- Temperature range and seasonal variation affect oil selection.