Lubricants & Compounds

The compounds and fluids that make a connection last or a job go easier. Oxide inhibiting compound is the one that is not optional: aluminum grows an insulating oxide film the moment it is cut, and a joint compound such as Burndy's Penetrox breaks through that film and seals the connection against it re-forming. Skip it on an aluminum termination and the joint runs hot. Wire pulling lubricants do a different job entirely, cutting the friction of a long conduit run so the pull takes less tension and the jacket arrives undamaged; foam clings to the cable and is easiest to apply in a vertical or overhead run, while gel and polymer concentrates suit the long horizontal pulls where volume matters and a five gallon pail is cheaper per foot. Cutting fluid belongs with taps, dies and hole saws rather than with cable: it carries heat away from the cutting edge and flushes the chip, which is the difference between a tap that lasts and one that snaps in the hole. Premixed two-stroke fuel keeps the ratio right for engine equipment that is used intermittently. Check compatibility with the cable jacket before pulling.