My new old oil can

**RknRusty** Sat Jul 19, 2014 9:30 pm

While at my Mother-in-law's house today, I was sent on the task of locating some WD40. I knew they needed oil but didn't bother to debate the subject and if I'd seen WD40 first, I would have just retrieved it. No 3-in-1, WD or anything in the house. So I got the keys to my F-I-L's workshop, dormant since he died in 2001 but still full of treasures. Bingo, an old fashioned oilcan with the spring popper bottom. I haven't seen one in years. There were two.

Now the back story is I've been wanting a good oiler for ages and all I've found are crappy Zoom oilers that leak. So I took one of the ones i found home and started to clean it up. Looks like ATF in it. And rust. I emptied and blew it out with brake parts cleaner and now it's sitting full of alcohol. I don't know it it will ever be clean enough for after run oil or not, but I hope so. That's what I want it for.

I hit it with the wire brush on my grinder to see what was under the rust in a couple of spots. Looks good. This thing is probably early 20th century vintage.
My new old oil can WP_20140719_001_zpsc77c6fe8

My new old oil can WP_20140719_001_zpsc77c6fe8

**Cribbs74** Sat Jul 19, 2014 9:36 pm

Those things were everywhere when I was younger and like you I wish I had one now. I know of an old shed in Arkansas...

Good find Rusty, hope it pans out.

pkrankow Sat Jul 19, 2014 10:10 pm

Modern oilers are not quite the same as the old ones. Good was today's best! I am not terribly fond of spring bottom oilers, they tend to have poor flow control.

The problem with the contents of your antique can and mere denatured alcohol is congealed petroleum products will not dissolve in alcohol. If the oil is still "fresh" then the can will come nice and clean. If it is "varnished" then you will need to pull out something more potent. I recommend lacquer thinner, and something to agitate with such as BB's. Chemically lacquer thinner is pretty close to your typical carburetor cleaner, so after a couple days of soak with regular agitation any congealed contents will flush right out!

Since it is a small oiler counting of the BB's is not really necessary like on an outboard motor fuel tank...

Phil

**RknRusty** Sat Jul 19, 2014 10:20 pm

I have some spirits and a tube of Daisy BBs in the shop. I'll try that. Ol Sparky used it so it probably isn't too badly coated. The oil in it looked good before I washed it out. I also have some Goof Off and some Goo Gone, maybe that's more like lacquer thinner. Thanks for the tips.
Rusty

**Admin** Sat Jul 19, 2014 10:39 pm

Several years ago, the local surplus store had 100s of these for 50¢ each. I bought a few, still have them stashed in the garage somewhere. I've been using the one in the pic for oiling almost everything. I have non-detergent 10wt motor oil in it, I use it for oiling electric motors, engines... I could see if I can find my other ones. I have some old ones around here somewhere too. You see them often at flea markets. I actually looked all over for the company that made these oilers since they appeared to be a promotional item. I thought about having them made for the forum. Never did find the supplier. Come to think of it, I think the hardware store still has some like this for sale.

**RknRusty** Sat Jul 19, 2014 10:49 pm

Jacob, yours is a smaller one and would dispense a more manageable drop for my purpose. If you could get me one, I would gladly compensate you for your expenses plus a finders fee. If that's a possibility.
Rusty

roddie Sat Jul 19, 2014 11:06 pm

I'd like to find more of these pin-point oilers. I've had this one for years.. and it's my favorite. I keep it on my drill-press table.

My new old oil can Oiler-10

**Admin** Sat Jul 19, 2014 11:07 pm

RknRusty wrote:Jacob, yours is a smaller one and would dispense a more manageable drop for my purpose. If you could get me one, I would gladly compensate you for your expenses plus a finders fee. If that's a possibility.
Rusty

Well, I ran out to the garage and dug around where I thought they were and found one! Its as clean as a whistle, shiny and dry inside, never been used. Its yours Rusty! PM me your address. I thought I had more, maybe I do somewhere else around here, would have liked to give them to all the mods. I'll take one back to the surplus store one of these days and ask them if they don't happen to have more maybe in the back or basement (I notice they tend to put stuff away and take things back out after a few years).

I thought about having these made up with the forum logo as well, wasn't sure what the quality of them were though.
My new old oil can 13717-z

**RknRusty** Sat Jul 19, 2014 11:19 pm

Thanks man, I'd love it. I have some small CEF logo decals and can make nore, it's really easy .
PM Sent.

This is the decals I made in small sizes:
My new old oil can Cox_en10

batjac Sun Jul 20, 2014 2:07 am

[quote="Admin"]

RknRusty wrote:
I thought about having these made up with the forum logo as well, wasn't sure what the quality of them were though.

I have one of these I used to use all the time. But I find I prefer to use sewing machine oil in my engines. The stuff I have in these oil tubes is a little heavier than I like for model engines.

The Oily Mark

**RknRusty** Sun Jul 20, 2014 3:10 am

Singer oil looks to me like about 10w and crystal clear which is about right for ARO. I use air tool oil and it looks the same. My old metal squirt can is too big to put tiny drops in but I think it's pretty cool anyway. Kind of bulky for the flight box. Jacobs is perfect for what I need.

**Admin** Mon Jul 21, 2014 6:32 pm

I took a oiler to the surplus store yesterday and asked if they had anymore. They said they haven't seen them in a long time and weren't aware of any left. I looked around anyway but didn't find any. Keep your eyes on the mail Rusty, I shipped it out today.

roddie Sun Oct 19, 2014 8:52 pm

Here's a cool oiler that I got today. My wife's widowed mom moved into an assisted living complex over a year ago.. and we went to her vacant home on Cape Cod this weekend, to check on things and do some cleaning. This oil can belonged to my wife's dad. He passed away about a year before I met her. He had a descent assortment of tools.. and several times where I've looked through his workshop.. I almost feel like I knew the man.

My new old oil can Dsc02110

**Cribbs74** Sun Oct 19, 2014 10:33 pm

Eagle brand oil can, with the wick that's quick to keep things slick!

Cool find Roddie

pkrankow Sun Oct 19, 2014 10:35 pm

Wives take pride in husbands using late family member's tools. Use it well.

Phil

roddie Mon Oct 20, 2014 6:04 am

Thanks Ron and Phil. My wife has offered her dad's tools to me several times over the years.. but I feel strange about it. My wife has a brother (and a sister) who also may want some of the tools. The house will be seasonally-rented and then sold eventually.. so I feel that the tools should stay there for now, for doing any maintenance that may be needed.

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