Wood Lubricant

[All Thumbs]

You guys have mentioned paste wax (JPW) and that is fine, but I have to ask if it has any advantages over hard parafin wax, other than easier to apply.

No real difference. The JPW has solvents that soften it. The solvents evaporate, leaving the wax behind.

Sometimes the softer wax is easier to apply (think table tops). Other times the paraffin wax is easier (think drawer runners).

Bot both will get accomplish the same task.

I don't like graphite, it scatters everywhere.

[annunaki]

Would dry bar of plain hand soap work ?

[leehljp]

Would dry bar of plain hand soap work ?

I grew up with people recommending this when there was no wax around. However, soap is more water based or at least contributes to the absorption of humidity, which worsens the problem by making wood swell; and it also contributes to the rusting of any nails, screws or other metallic objects.

[cabinetman]

Hank

JPW was one of two brands of paste wax, that was used on the hard wood floors, long before how they are done now. The other brand (can't remember at the moment, something like Treewax) was a harder wax, that didn't go on as easily, but would last longer, buff to a shine (where JPW, was dull), and cause the floors to be slicker underfoot.

Maybe Simonize.

.

[phrog]

It's probably too late for your lift... but I'd consider some UHMW plastic strips (you can buy UHMW "tape" too; I don't know how permanently it sticks though) in the tracks that support the moving assembly. Or you can make shallow rabbets in that moving assembly plate - and trim a little off the top & bottom edges too - and attach the UHMW to that instead.

mpc

UHMW?

[leehljp]

UHMW?

UHMW = UltraHigh Molecular Weight polyethylene, a nylon-plastic sort of material that is used for many purposes such as cutting boards, saw/router fence faces and even available in tape form. Provides a slick type of surface for things to slide easily.

A similar form of material is used in the glides that we see advertised on TV and in stores for putting under heavy furniture - so that the furniture can easily be pushed around.

The later material is more recent, but UHMW was probably the first to be readily available in commercial form years ago.

[LinuxRandal]

Maybe Simonize.

.

Found the old can, it was Treewax.
AFAIK Simonize was only car waxes. 10 years ago, I still knew some people who waxed their old floors (never been refinished).

[Denco]

Follow-up:

Well, quite a bit of good advice, Guys. Thanks. In the end, I waxed the rails with some paste wax I had from Doctor Woodshop (Northwest turning oil/wax maker here in the North West). I worked out very well. However, I've always been kind of interested in Slip-It, so I ordered some just to satisfy my curiosity. I'll have it for future projects (and there are many coming up).

[phrog]

UHMW = UltraHigh Molecular Weight polyethylene, a nylon-plastic sort of material that is used for many purposes such as cutting boards, saw/router fence faces and even available in tape form. Provides a slick type of surface for things to slide easily.

A similar form of material is used in the glides that we see advertised on TV and in stores for putting under heavy furniture - so that the furniture can easily be pushed around.

The later material is more recent, but UHMW was probably the first to be readily available in commercial form years ago.

Thanks, Hank.

[JSUPreston]

Maybe Simonize.

Good thing I didn't have coffee in my mouth. This is the first thing I thought of:
http://www.flickstongue.com/pics/022_acs_044_gifts.jpg

[gsmittle]

Good thing I didn't have coffee in my mouth. This is the first thing I thought of:
http://www.flickstongue.com/pics/022_acs_044_gifts.jpg

Me too!

g.

[LCHIEN]

http://www.flickstongue.com/pics/022_acs_044_gifts.jpg

ok share the joke, i recognize that as a scene from A Christmas Story about Ralphie and the red ryder BB Gun. There were a number of funny subplots but I don't recognize the simonize wax joke.

Oh, I looked it up. I guess that was the funny part - the dad getting a can of wax from Santa. I was thinking between the hyperlink here and the thread on the electric flyswatter that some kind of tongue action was involved.