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Lab Tip: Mineral Oil Source

video Lab Tip: Mineral Oil Source

Mineral oil or Paraffin oil is a useful oil for making oil baths and storing reactive metals. It also has a huge number of uses for the DIY community such as an odorless fuel for certain lamps, rust protection, sealant, lubricant, an inert coolant and many more. It is composed of high boiling inert hydrocarbons distilled from commercial crude oil.

While it is VERY cheap to obtain, sometimes the random DIYer might not find a convenient source. Luckily a very pervasive source available almost everywhere is baby oil. Baby oil is mostly composed of highly purified paraffin oil. It's best to use oil that is unscented and hypoallergenic as that oil is purest and has no reactive additives.

8 comments

Dec 22, 2011. 5:42 AMroccopeterbilt says:

I can second the pharmacy and box stores as a great source for mineral oil. It's great for wooden cutting boards and utensils and should be applied often.

Nov 23, 2011. 3:04 PMnadav says:

Just curious, but you don't happen to be from Montreal do you?

Nov 23, 2011. 1:13 AM

electfire says:

Thanks for the tip! One question would this be a ok source of mineral oil for cooling a PC? Would you a have to dilute it (and how would you dilute it)? Anyways I have been a subscriber to your folk's Youtube channel, but I didn't know you have an Instructables! Do you have most of the stuff you show in your Youtube videos here also in 'Ible format? Cause for me following a (well-written that is!) 'Ible is ,at times, easier than trying to follow a Youtube video.

Nov 22, 2011. 3:53 PM

rimar2000 says:

Thanks for sharing, and thanks for the captions!

Nov 22, 2011. 12:15 AMfagnelli says:

You can still find some in Pharmacy stores (...in the laxatives section...). It's paraffin oil USP, probably cleaner and as cheap as baby oil.

Nov 22, 2011. 12:22 AM

NurdRage (author) says:

Absolutely!

Although most people probably don't want to be seen buying large quantities of laxatives ;)

One time i bought two boxes and i got a funny look from the cashier.

Nov 22, 2011. 10:40 AMTANZMEISTER says:

I bought a case of it with 10 lbs of epsom salt from a drug store to teach some kids about how to make oil lamps (oil) and to fertilize my tomatoes (epsom salt). The lady at the cash register was worried I was making a bomb or something.