# should i start using lube? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Yo-Yo\ **Created:** [August 12, 2013, 6:06am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/should-i-start-using-lube/57802 "2013-08-12T06:06:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yoyo143](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyo143/32/1384_2.png) [@yoyo143](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/yoyo143)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 6:06am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/should-i-start-using-lube/57802/1 "2013-08-12T06:06:15Z")
I NEVER have put on any lube on ever. Should I start, or is it like switching pads, or only do it if you need to? What does thin lube do, and what does think lube so? I know one slows down the bearing (im guessing thick) and one makes it responsive. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![SR1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/sr1/32/104603_2.png) [@SR1](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SR1)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 6:08am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/should-i-start-using-lube/57802/2 "2013-08-12T06:08:26Z")
I don’t know man, this is a really private and personal matter, it’s up to you though. I wouldn’t ask a yoyo forum about this. ---
**Author:** ![GregP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gregp/32/1192_2.png) [@GregP](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GregP)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 6:10am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/should-i-start-using-lube/57802/3 "2013-08-12T06:10:47Z")
The only reason I lube mine is to make them a bit quieter. They may or may not also become a bit smoother (I don’t know for sure… the silence gives me the perception that they’re smoother… but are they REALLY? Hard to say). If you like they way your bearings play thus far, why tamper? Only start lubing if you are trying to solve a problem (for me, ensuring silence). ---
**Author:** ![n01mportant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/48db29/32.png) [@n01mportant](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/n01mportant)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 6:35am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/should-i-start-using-lube/57802/4 "2013-08-12T06:35:35Z")
I only use lube for responsive loopers and quiet bearings. The rest I use dry play for. ---
**Author:** ![yoyo143](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyo143/32/1384_2.png) [@yoyo143](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/yoyo143)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 6:45am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/should-i-start-using-lube/57802/5 "2013-08-12T06:45:26Z")
> [@GregP](#): > > If you like they way your bearings play thus far, why tamper? Only start lubing if you are trying to solve a problem (for me, ensuring silence). So I can like them more 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GregP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gregp/32/1192_2.png) [@GregP](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GregP)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 6:47am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/should-i-start-using-lube/57802/6 "2013-08-12T06:47:55Z")
> [@yoyo143](#): > > So I can like them more 😃 Haha, well, yeah. :wink: I suppose! Will you like them more if they spin for a little bit less time, but are quieter? If spin time is more important, don’t lube! ---
**Author:** ![yoyo143](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yoyo143/32/1384_2.png) [@yoyo143](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/yoyo143)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 7:12am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/should-i-start-using-lube/57802/7 "2013-08-12T07:12:39Z")
> [@GregP](#): > > Haha, well, yeah. :wink: I suppose! > > Will you like them more if they spin for a little bit less time, but are quieter? If spin time is more important, don’t lube! Guess im not gonna lube then. Thanks guys! I got a new bearing partly to fix the loundness of my throw, so that’s covered. And I like looking spins :wink: ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Yoyo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/big_yoyo/32/1032_2.png) [@Big\_Yoyo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Big_Yoyo)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/should-i-start-using-lube/57802/8 "2013-08-12T18:47:58Z")
Until the fourth sentence, I didn’t know if he was talking about bearings or what… ---
**Author:** ![anonyo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@anonyo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/anonyo)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/should-i-start-using-lube/57802/9 "2013-08-12T18:57:32Z")
You can try it and if you don’t like it, just clean your bearing. ---
**Author:** ![Samad](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/samad/32/19_2.png) [@Samad](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Samad)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/should-i-start-using-lube/57802/10 "2013-08-12T19:10:04Z")
Just as GregP, I usually put lube in my bearings (I’m watching my wording now because of SR…) to quiet them down a little bit or make them smoother. I’m fairly certain that they become smoother because if I leave some of my bearings dry for too long they can get really loud and have an almost crackly sound to them. As soon as I lube them the bearing loses this sound. Now, once again just as GregP said, I don’t know if this really makes the bearing smoother, but I genuinely believe it can for some bearings (depending on how long the bearing has been dry and how much gunk might be in the bearing). I’m pretty sure that without the lube in the bearing the balls inside the bearing are rubbing up against each other more, resulting in more noise and less smoothness. As far as I know the lube reduces the friction between the balls in the bearing, but also makes the bearing a little slower, hence lower spin times. Honestly the spin time difference between lubed and not-lubed bearings really isn’t major enough for me to care. Additionally I really dislike cleaning bearings so I just throw in some lube in my bearings every once in a while so I don’t have to clean them for longer. ---
**Author:** ![MYNAMEISZen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@MYNAMEISZen](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/MYNAMEISZen)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/should-i-start-using-lube/57802/11 "2013-08-12T19:14:19Z")
> [@Big\_Yoyo](#): > > Until the fourth sentence, I didn’t know if he was talking about bearings or what… I just died. ---
**Author:** ![grolk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/grolk/32/1398_2.png) [@grolk](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/grolk)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/should-i-start-using-lube/57802/12 "2013-08-12T19:43:48Z")
Do yourself a favour and PUT LUBE IN YOUR BEARING. It makes it quieter, smoother, and increases its life. Do you want to play a yoyo screeching your head off? I think not. Get yourself a bottle of YYJ thin lube (or any thin lube) and thank me later. > [@MYNAMEISZen](#): > > I just died. I think we all died.