Originally posted by stevebrot MicroLubrol Helimax-XP comes highly recommended. I have a small tub but have not yet gotten to actually using it. On deck for a relube are my 2007 J-8 (yes, overly-stiff straight from the factory), Helios 44M, 1962 J-8 (Contax/Kiev) and a couple Carl Zeiss Jena lenses in Exakta mount.
I've been using a good marine-grade white lithium / zinc-oxide grease which is great for deeper helicoids, but not so good for shallower, multiple threads - no hysteresis, but a bit too much resistance.
Funnily enough, I recently took delivery of a decent quantity of Helimax-XP, but haven't got round to decanting it into small tubs - because I haven't actually bought the small tubs yet
Like you, I have a bunch of lenses waiting to be serviced - several M39 and M42 Helios 44-2 variants, several Industar-50 and 50-2's, a lovely old M39 Jupiter-9, a Telear-H 3.5/200, an MTO-1000 and... I can't remember now, but a few. All Soviet, all victims of Soviet congealed "ear-wax" grease
I may do one of the Industar-50's with XP tomorrow
Originally posted by stevebrot Yes, I am a glutton for punishment.
I can relate to that. Oh, how I can relate...