Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I had no idea I was surrounded by so many fellow workshop geeks! After the massive response to the last video regarding throwing away tools, I’m doubling down. Today, we are clearing up the confusion around assembly grease, copper slip, and the actual science of why bolts get stuck.
We dive deep into the mechanism of Galvanic Corrosion (the battery effect) and explain why, honestly, you probably don't need heavy metal pastes like Copper Slip or Nickel in your home workshop anymore. We also look at the difference between chemical corrosion and mechanical Thread Galling, and walk through the specific use cases on a modern bike where choice of grease actually matters.
In this video:
00:00 - Throwing away worn tools (why I don't give them away)
02:15 - Calcium Sulfonate vs. Lithium & Multi-purpose Grease
03:40 - The problem with Copper Slip (Heavy Metals)
04:22 - What is Galvanic Corrosion?
05:40 - Do Titanium & Steel frames really need special paste?
06:55 - What is Thread Galling? (The mechanical nightmare)
08:50 - Cold Welding explained
11:41 - Practical Examples: Bottom Brackets & Cranks
14:30 - Seatposts: Carbon Paste vs. Grease
18:11 - Headsets: The "Sweat Test"
22:04 - Pedals: The best use case for Anti-Seize?
22:54 - The struggle with Micrometers & Filming
Key Takeaway: If you have a modern bike, a high-quality Calcium Sulfonate grease is likely the only assembly lubricant you need to prevent rust and galling. You don't need to introduce messy heavy metals into your workshop unless you are working on extreme load, high heat applications like ship engines.
I had no idea I was surrounded by so many fellow workshop geeks! After the massive response to the last video regarding throwing away tools, I’m doubling down. Today, we are clearing up the confusion around assembly grease, copper slip, and the actual science of why bolts get stuck.
We dive deep into the mechanism of Galvanic Corrosion (the battery effect) and explain why, honestly, you probably don't need heavy metal pastes like Copper Slip or Nickel in your home workshop anymore. We also look at the difference between chemical corrosion and mechanical Thread Galling, and walk through the specific use cases on a modern bike where choice of grease actually matters.
In this video:
00:00 - Throwing away worn tools (why I don't give them away)
02:15 - Calcium Sulfonate vs. Lithium & Multi-purpose Grease
03:40 - The problem with Copper Slip (Heavy Metals)
04:22 - What is Galvanic Corrosion?
05:40 - Do Titanium & Steel frames really need special paste?
06:55 - What is Thread Galling? (The mechanical nightmare)
08:50 - Cold Welding explained
11:41 - Practical Examples: Bottom Brackets & Cranks
14:30 - Seatposts: Carbon Paste vs. Grease
18:11 - Headsets: The "Sweat Test"
22:04 - Pedals: The best use case for Anti-Seize?
22:54 - The struggle with Micrometers & Filming
Key Takeaway: If you have a modern bike, a high-quality Calcium Sulfonate grease is likely the only assembly lubricant you need to prevent rust and galling. You don't need to introduce messy heavy metals into your workshop unless you are working on extreme load, high heat applications like ship engines.
