Quoted from cottonm4:

Whoa. Hold on here. I read the MSDS. I will agree that the propellent/liquid/vapor is flammable. However, once dry, the graphite that is left behind is not flammable. That was my take-away from reading the MSDS. Combustible? Yes. But not flammable. Not anywhere that I can in online research that I can find, anyway.
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https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/chemical/25027
" GRAPHITE is non-flammable in bulk form, but combustible. A reducing agent. Mixtures of graphite dust and air are explosive when ignited. Reacts violently with very strong oxidizing agents such as fluorine, chlorine dioxide, and potassium peroxide. Almost inert chemically when in bulk form. Keep away from ignition sources and oxidizing agents."
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However, since I am not able to find consistently reliable information as to graphite being/or not being flammable, I liberally sprayed some of the Blaster brand on to a twisted wire brush handle and let it dry. And then I hit it with a torch type charcoal grill lighter to see what would happen. Nothing happened. It did not catch fire. After repeated attempts it did not catch fire; I seriously doubt that a pinball machine would catch fire with graphite being sprayed onto a slingshot plunger---which could be considered a non-electrical use of spray graphite.
As another poster offered, graphite is conductive. I can't argue that, but with such a small amount of graphite being sprayed on plunger is that enough to cause shorting out problem with a flipper EOS switch? What about using spray graphite on the pivot for the slingshot kicker arm? The sling pivot is a high wear-point area and all metal-to-metal contact. I have had to replace three slingshot pivots due to them being completely worn out of tolerance. I think is pivot point would be a good candidate for some spray graphite to reduce wear on this pivot. It is not like a drop of liquid oil that will absorb dirt, or any other trash a pin might produce on the under side of a play field.
Other than flammability, which I don't agree with, and conductivity that I am not sure about, what other reasons would there be to not use spray graphite at wear points inside a pinball machine?

Quoted from o-din:

WD-40 is good for freeing up crusty and rusty leg levelers and stubborn locks, but that's about it.
Super Lube is a nice substitute for the original grease used on steppers, gears, and metal to metal pivot points on pinball machines.

Quoted from cottonm4:

Yes. SERIOUSLY. Call it an argument, if you like. I asked a question. You did not answer the question.
I have never seen a stick of graphite hooked up between two battery posts so I don't know what I would see. I have, however, seen what a length of copper wire hooked between two battery posts does. Copper is also a conductive material and pinball machines are nothing if not loaded with copper wire. If a stick of graphite behaves differently than a length of copper wire as a direct short, please tell me what it does.
Graphite is also used as brushes in electric motors and if you have ever watched a commutator spinning you will see the graphite brushes throwing off lots of sparks. But yet, I don't see electric motors catching on fire. Has anybody else?
So, my question remains: What harm is there in using some spray-on dry graphite to lubricate a slingshot pivot point? It is not like you are going to be taking a tube of dry graphite and shaking graphite dust all over the insides of your pinball machine.

Quoted from xTheBlackKnightx:

I already tried to explain this, but people are not listening again.
MSDS in conjunction WITH CHEMISTRY.
Now we are discussing the elemental mineral, graphite, instead of WD-40 as a chemical compound.
Understand what is happening.
Does this latest graphite product mention anything about using it INSIDE ELECTRICAL DEVICES?
I guarantee if I called them, they would say, "really bad idea".
Understand the chemical makeup of this plumbago, or native mineral element of carbon.
Graphite is an electric conductor, consequently, useful in such applications as arc lamp electrodes.
The black carbon "gunk" found due to coil action in pinball machines is not solid dry graphite, but mixed with dirt, dust, and other tiny bits of galvanized metal which get ionized due to electromagnetic fields.
Graphite conducts electricity due to the vast electron delocalization within the carbon layers, which in this case is called aromaticity, a cyclic (ring-shaped), planar (flat) molecule with a ring of resonance bonds that exhibits more stability than other geometric or connective arrangements with the same set of atoms. These valence electrons are free to move, so are able to conduct electricity. However, the electricity is primarily conducted within the plane of the layers meaning in one direction. The conductive properties of powdered graphite are commonly used in industrial purposes for lubrication. There are actually several different types of graphite found in nature, but all exhibit similar properties, but have different molecular strengths of the bonds.
However, graphite is more than just a conductor, it BURNS, if provided sufficient contained electrical current.
It does not need an oxidizing agent, except for oxygen based atmospheres (air).
This is beyond the chemical residue concerns based on the pressurized dry canister.
So in this case a person is asking if it is a good idea put a spray of pressurized hydrocarbons containing electro conductive graphite and chemical compound flammable residues inside of pinball machines including around coil lugs, stepper assemblies, and other sparking electrical components??? Does this make any sense yet? Do people understand I am trying to help? Please do not this for your personal safety.
Here is base graphite in action, in the simplest possible way I could find for a visual example.
This is using a 12V car battery, not the even higher voltages found in pinball machines.
Best of fortune.
» YouTube video

Quoted from beelzeboob:

Wait...I'm fascinated. What happens?
EDIT: Never mind. Just saw!

Quoted from cottonm4:

Well, I could not call them. There is no phone number on the website. There was a question and answer page but i could not get it to work. However, there is a contact page with email addresses. So I emailed the tech support guy, Ted Smith.
http://blastercorp.com/Blaster_corporation_contact_information
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My question to the tech support was whether the spray graphite was a flammable substance.
Me:
Hello, I am asking you a question via email because I cannot get your question and answer page to work.
My question:
Can the spray graphite dry lubricant be used on a shaft pivot point inside a pinball machine where electricity is used and there is electrical arching at opening/closing switch points? Is there a risk of the dry graphite catching fire in this situation?
Please advise.
Thank you.
xxxx
His reply:
Mr. XXXX,
Thank you for your interest in our product. The flammability warning on the can refers to the propellant rather than the graphite itself. If the product is sprayed on de-energized equipment and a few minutes are allowed for the volatiles to evaporate, the product poses no danger of catching fire.
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So, there you have it. From the "horse's mouth" so to speak. Graphite is not flammable
I suppose I could email the engineer for a definitive answer but I figure the tech support knows his company's product. The spray graphite, once it is dry, is not going to catch fire.
I liked that Youtube vid with the guy shorting out the graphite and causing a fire. But how do you know it is not just the graphite getting super hot and the pencil wood catching fire? I could lay a pencil on my electric stove burner and it would catch fire there, too. And I would be willing to bet that if I shorted a piece of 12 gauge wire between two battery posts that it would get red hot and catch fire to a piece of wood laid across just as the graphite in the movie did. ( I speak somewhat from experience as I had a car catch fire under the hood. All the wiring harness was red hot and the insulation burned off. The insulation melted away and did not catch fire, but the magnesium cam cover sure did. Magnesium sure burns pretty).
So, per the tech support guy's reply, once the "volatiles...evaporate", graphite is not going to catch fire. With that being the case, what would be the problem with using spray type graphite, as opposed to powdered graphite, in a pinball machine slingshot kicker pivot point in an effort to reduce wear at a metal-to-metal wear point?
Well, it is conductive. We all agree that graphite is conductive. OK. So it is. So is copper wire. So is every piece of metal inside a pin cab. So what? Unlike powered graphite that can get all over everything, the spray type graphite stays put where you spray it. So why is graphite being conductive a problem and copper wire being conductive not a problem? I don't understand the distinction.
Are there any other reasons to not use spray graphite as a dry lube for metal-to-metal contact parts?
Thanks

Quoted from terryb:

While I wouldn't personally wouldn't use graphite spray since I'm happy with Super Lube, and know it is safe, I don't see why we can't have a discussion about it. There's been a lot of misinformation in this thread and cottonm4 just clarified that graphite spray is not flammable after being applied, and allowed to dry. Ditto for quality contact cleaners.
You do raise a good point about the conductivity of graphite spray, although the attitude isn't really necessary.
My personal concern would be about the graphite getting onto the circuit boards. I'm really not concerned about switches since they are low voltage and it would take a huge amount of graphite to gap across a switch (I'm talking modern games here, not EM's since they do require extra precautions). Even if somehow that happened you would just get a false switch indication, not a fire.
If cottonm4 is interested I would ask the tech support people if it is ok to use the product in an environment with circuit boards. I would also ask about this point that the graphite spray stays put where you spray it. This would require explaining a little more about the environment since metal grit from the solenoid mech's goes everywhere and I would think the graphite could be the same.
As in most technical issues the devil is in the details and I think it's worthwhile to explore those details and gain understanding. Again, in my case it's not going to change what I use, but I do find it interesting and it provides a good example of how you research a product before using it.

Quoted from SUPERBEE:

I use this when needed, but usually only about once a month as i am married and apply liberally and only when needed. No fires yet !

Quoted from pacmanretro:

I still prefer the teflon gel lube...she hasn't complained yet.

Quoted from SUPERBEE:

I called the company...sounds like with enough friction...you could set her pussy on fire !!

Quoted from SUPERBEE:

Actually i did. Here is the actual conversation....
Me.. Hi guy, need some kick ass lube that wont blow up....
Guy.. Whats it for ?
Me.. I need to lubricate two parts that move against each other for a very short period of time that wont ignite .
Guy.. Is it metal on metal ?
Me..No but really feels like it most of the time.
Guy..How hot does it get ?
Me..not very hot at all.
Guy..Then you should be fine. You just might have to scrape out the gunk every once in a while to keep it clean.
Me..Thats what i keep telling her !!

Quoted from Travish:

With syncolon, hmmm where you going with that stuff?