I have a Dark Magic 2 and my dad has a Hitman Pro. We have been using mineral spirits and I believe it has been working pretty well. I have been hearing many things about acetone though, so I was wondering if I should change and why it could/ would be better.
I usually use lighter fluid. But once I use acetone, that stuff left my bearing smelling rancid. It was so potent. I like using stuff that is odor free or has a low odor.
I clean in mineral spirits, then acetone, because after I’m done cleaning, I Terrapin X treat the bearings. I’m also finding out at least in my experience that this seems to be the “magic solution” that does it for me.
Lighter fluid, mineral spirits and acetone are the recommended materials. I think for “quantity vs. Money”, acetone and mineral spirits go back on forth as to what is the better value. Each works fine.
i wash in Acetone 2-3 times, then blow out the bearing with compressed air. works fine, i have been playing a bearing that i did this to for like 4-5 months now, and it is just now starting to show signs of needing cleaned. mind you, nail polish acetone and pure acetone are very different.
nail polish version= smoother spin, but will need to be cleaned more often.
Pure version= slighty less smooth spin, but needs to be cleaned roughly 5x less.
I prefer the pure version GREATLY to the nail polish version in general, but if I am going to a contest/meet i prefer the nail polish version.
Lighter fluid works fine to, but i am getting better results with Acetone.
I myself have been cleaning a lot of dirty bearings that I’ve received in yoyos received in BST deals and in some lower priced yoyos purchased new from YYE. Once I’ve cleaned them out properly and completely, I haven’t had any further issues. Of course, I’ve only been playing about 15 months so I can’t do the “test of time” some of the rest if you have been able to do because of my lack of time in.
So, I agree with Icthus about not having to clean bearings. My position is “get them clean first” and then the problems go away.