I have an original OD Burnside with the original bearing from like 12 years ago. Played (somewhat) often and still good as new. You are correct.
On your comment about Mineraloil (Sorry, yesterday I was swept away by the string and bearing talk).
When I talk about Mineraloil, i mean brake-fluide for Shimano hydraulic brakes. It’s thin as water, if not thinner, thinner than sweing-machine oil or fine mechanics oil. And it lubricates like a mot*erf**er. A small drop will make a man fall, as I witnessed in said bike-shop.
So no mineral motoroil, if you thought about that. 
Edit: I would not use Shram or Magura DOT fluids, they are hydrophilic.
Sorry, brother… late reply… by 3 months. I went a bit crazy on the lube when I first started, I bought a bunch of starter kits from YoTricks, so I use their lube and it’s the only lube I’ve tried. What are you using? I’m up for trying a different brand.
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Uh just like yyf thin lube. i guess v4m might be slightly thinner but idk like dont lube if you dont wanna. I prefer it bc then the bearings are quieter and smoother. I just do like a half drop and play the yoyo semi responsive until it doesn’t respond anymore
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I lube my bearings to make them quieter. Attracts less attention at home and out and about because of the noise of the bearings. I add a little on the head of a taken apart paperclip, and spin them by hand for a minute or 2, then put the bearing into a yoyo and pinwheel it, throw brain twisters, Mach 5, and other tricks than add a small load to the bearing and usually makes them louder when they’re swung. I think it helps to break in and distribute the lube. I like to think that it does, and I’ve had good results. But yeah, I will play with them as a semi responsive yoyo, but they almost always need a bind to bring up. After a few days they’re quiet and completely unresponsive. As far as spin time, yes lube slows them down, but I’m not looking to do a prelim 1 minute routine with one throw. I’m having fun over here.
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spin time is useful outside the context of competition
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You’re right. Wasn’t throwing shade or criticizing, just giving my process and perspective. I’m not as worried about spintime. I don’t lube because I think it will make my bearings last longer or spin longer, I just do it so they’re quieter.
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I personally use a little grafite and then work it in for a couple of minutes then I clean the bearing with carburetor cleaner to get it all out. ends up nice and polished and clean. gives it fantastic spin time. I’ve had one or two that have spun for 20 seconds on the end of a pencil.
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So in the most basic way I can think to put it, lube will reduce friction when under load (spinning on the end of the string, being flung around), but when you give it a tug and the YoYo floats, that lube will put drag on the balls, slowing the outer race, and start feeding the string into the gap which interacts with the pads and up it goes.
The more lube coating the ball bearings, or flooding the races, the more drag you will get, and vice versa.
This was probably already explained better, but I felt compelled to share my experience
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I like this idear, I’m going to give this a try. Thanks!
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ha drag on balls …I’m sorry
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