Sticky digital crown permafix

[Shinigami301]

TLDR: one, tiny drop of Slip 2000 extreme weapons lube.

I had this issue a few days into using the watch. Tried the Apple approved fix two days in a row, without positive results.

Dropped a tiny droplet of the indicated, nontoxic, inert lube into the gap between watch body and crown. One week later, no issues. I use this lube in my AR rifles and 1911 pistols, you can run hundreds of rounds and clean up with a shop rag because it keeps fouling from sticking to the metal, doesn't attract dust, and stays put.

Ymmv, not responsible for screwing up your watch, but it's working for me.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

I wouldn't do it. You have no idea what this does to any rubber gaskets used to seal the watch and make it water resistant.

If it isn't specified by Apple, don't use it.

 

[Shinigami301]

Well, actually, I do know exactly what this particular lube does and does not do to a wide variety of organic and inorganic materials. In fact a variant of this is an approved dive watch O-ring lube for several well known makers.

But as I said, ymmv. My problem is solved.

 

[LoveToMacRumors]

TLDR: one, tiny drop of Slip 2000 extreme weapons lube.

I had this issue a few days into using the watch. Tried the Apple approved fix two days in a row, without positive results.

Dropped a tiny droplet of the indicated, nontoxic, inert lube into the gap between watch body and crown. One week later, no issues. I use this lube in my AR rifles and 1911 pistols, you can run hundreds of rounds and clean up with a shop rag because it keeps fouling from sticking to the metal, doesn't attract dust, and stays put.

Ymmv, not responsible for screwing up your watch, but it's working for me.

You have guns??? O_O

 

[Shinigami301]

You have guns??? O_O

Why, yes. Bwahaha.

Seriously, though, this solution works well.

 

[Julien]

Why, yes. And motorcycles! Powered parachutes! And an apple watch!!! Bwahaha.

Seriously, though, this solution works well.

I bet 'Sticky Crown' is 99% caused by food (sugars) and/or other 'foreign' material, though I have never had it (shower every day with mine). So plan old frequent washing would be a better long term option than just adding lubrication on top of the contamination.

 

[Shinigami301]

While that sounds plausible, it's certainly not the case for me. The stickiness returned no matter how much water cleaning I tried. The solution I outlined has worked for eight straight days now.

For the few people who read this thread and are familiar with the lube I mention, I expect this will be helpful. For the vast majority of readers I expect a reaction like the first reply. No matter, so long as a few are helped.

It's notable that Rolex uses Fomblin lubricant for their watch crown o-rings. This is similar to the slip2000 lube, which is widely used as an O-ring lube as well, for competition air rifles and air pistols as well as other applications. If anything it will preserve and enhance whatever seals are used on a watch.

 

[Shinigami301]

Day 10. 320 miles on motorcycle in dusty sweaty conditions. No sticky crown.

 

[Hakiroto]

"Weapons lube".

I had a slightly sticky digital crown a week or so ago so I followed Apple's instructions (washing with warm water) and it's been perfect since.

 

[Shinigami301]

12 days now, still silky smooth.

 

[Hakiroto]

12 days now, still silky smooth.

Yeah, it's been around that long for me, too.

 

[Newtons Apple]

You have guns??? O_O

I thought everyone did!

 

[Steve686]

The silicone grease for the O-rings on my Aeris Atmos watch might work, too.

Also, there is a tiny tube of lube that came with my Sig P220 that is very good in small amounts and I think is silicone based.

 

[Gjwilly]

Seems like the one thing not checked in all of these lube tests is electrical conductivity.
In a gun it doesn't matter but in the Apple Watch it's critical.

 

[Archer1440]

Well, no one here suggested a copper flake lube. Now coming up on two weeks since application of the lube, and the digital crown still acts like it just came out of the box.

 

[MaulRx]

I don't even use the crown. What are you people doing with it that puts so much wear? Haha

 

[Shinigami301]

Now into four weeks, still going perfectly.

 

[kdarling]

Seems like the one thing not checked in all of these lube tests is electrical conductivity.
In a gun it doesn't matter but in the Apple Watch it's critical.

There's nothing about the crown that requires electrical conductivity.

Even internally, past the seals, it uses Hall Effect magnetic field sensors to count rotations.

 

[Shinigami301]

Six weeks now. And still going without a hitch.

 

[Bigdog9586]

Six weeks now. And still going without a hitch.

Since day one without a hitch too. But no lube.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I love this place. Even the most simple thing can turn into an argument.

It is so human!

 

[Switchback666]

Since launch no lube no water, raw use going strong

 

[Arran]

I love this place. Even the most simple thing can turn into an argument.

No it can't!

 

[Gjwilly]

There's nothing about the crown that requires electrical conductivity.

Even internally, past the seals, it uses Hall Effect magnetic field sensors to count rotations.

I know that.
My point was that you don't want to be putting a conductive lube in your Apple Watch and no one here has confirmed that the lube being recommended is safe in that respect.
It might be but I was shocked when I found out how many lubricants we're actually conductive.
One of my other forums is for custom flashlights and many a design has gone poof from the wrong lube being used.
Would be a shame if someone's watch went poof.

 

[cazhpfan]

I have a 42mm Apple Watch Sport in Space Grey that's developed a sticky crown intractable to Apple's official solution (rinsing under running water).

To the OP (and to whomever else attempted adding a drop of lubricant to the digital crown), how has the solution held up over the months?

Any particular reason for choosing Slip 2000 over, say, a polydimethylsiloxane (silicone-based) lubricant (e.g. Dow Corning Molykote 111)? I've used 111 in many sensitive applications before (though it is greasy and somewhat hard to apply into tight crevasses).

Thanks in advance for the help!