Why are cheap chinese metal goods sometimes have a 'greasy' feeling?

[amddude]

I got a flashlight from dealextreme and, as I've noticed with some cheap metal goods before, it has a very slight oily/greasy feeling to it. Why is this?

 

[OCGuy]

Greasy fleshlight?

 

[Saint Nick]

I think it is to stop the crappy-quality metal from oxidizing.

 

[amddude]

Greasy fleshlight?

Those are made in america I believe.

 

[amddude]

I think it is to stop the crappy-quality metal from oxidizing.

If that is the case, what exactly is it?

 

[OCGuy]

Yea I bought an AMD processor once...so I know what you mean

 

[Platypus]

it's the sweat of the little boys and girls who put that together for you for 2 cents a day.

 

[Matthiasa]

In your case you just got a fleshlight that had gone through testing to make sure it works effectively.
You should feel lucky that they took such an effort, since normally they don't.

 

[boomerang]

it's the sweat of the little boys and girls who put that together for you for 2 cents a day.

The ones that haven't jumped out a window to their deaths.

 

[TwiceOver]

Since it has to sit on a boat for 6 weeks, I'm guessing a lubricant to prevent rusting.

 

[OCGuy]

Since it has to sit on a boat for 6 weeks, I'm guessing a lubricant to prevent rusting.

I think they do this with immigrants in the shipping containers as well.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

why are have feeling

excellent

 

[Saint Nick]

I think it is some sort of generic oil that is put on the product. Because it is mass produced, it may sit in a warehouse for a long period of time before it is sent to a retailer.

I have no idea what kind of oil it is.

I bought some feeler gauges for working on guitars and setting the point gap on motorcycles. Those were really, really greasy when I bought them. In fact, so greasy that they slipped out of my hand while trying to use them!

 

[Train]

They made it from recycled woks

 

[zinfamous]

Greasy fleshlight?

yes. I think OP misread the label.

 

[highland145]

It's a dual purpose flashlight/vibrator.

 

[OCGuy]

The same reason my stool has a greasy feeling after cheap chinese food.

 

[WelshBloke]

Greasy fleshlight?

Second hand?

 

[Colt45]

tool oil... from machining, or to prevent rust, or whatnot.. from various stage of manufacture..

 

[shortylickens]

I think it is to stop the crappy-quality metal from oxidizing.

/thread

 

[Leros]

tool oil... from machining, or to prevent rust, or whatnot.. from various stage of manufacture..

This is my guess. They probably just didn't spend the money to clean off the oil after manufacture.

 

[shortylickens]

This is my guess. They probably just didn't spend the money to clean off the oil after manufacture.

Dont forget it probably spent months on a boat in salty sea air, and maybe up to a year in a warehouse before it was purchased. They maybe left it on knowing it would need protection.

 

[dainthomas]

If that is the case, what exactly is it?

What does it taste like?

 

[Modelworks]

If it is pressed metal it could be a lubricant that lets the metal release easily from the press, usually mineral oil.

 

[Dankk]

This is my guess. They probably just didn't spend the money to clean off the oil after manufacture.

Is it possible to clean off on your own?