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Discussion Forum

Lube for drawer slides?

JFink | Posted in General Discussion on June 11, 2006 05:37am

I’ve got some drawer slides that run decently, but not at smooth as I would like. They are high-quality slides, but I was wondering if there is a lube that’s appropriate for metal drawer slides?

WD-40 or equivalent?

Graphite or something?

Justin Fink – FHB Editorial

Your Friendly Neighborhood Moderator

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Replies

  1. User avater
    BillHartmann | Jun 11, 2006 05:48am | #1

    Wax

    Candle wax, paste wax.

    You can use a spray Dry Lube.

    Anything but WD-40 or a silcone spray.

    "They are high-quality slides, but I was wondering if there is a lube that's appropriate for metal drawer slides?"

    I was thinking wood, sorry.

    But the spray dry lubes would be good.

  2. User avater
    Sphere | Jun 11, 2006 07:23am | #2

    KV slides are lubed with white lithium grease IIRC

    Blum or such I'd opt for Tri-flow  cuz the tolerances are tighter and the bearing balls are already pretty clean.

    Keep in mind that dust is attracted to the grease option and so feeds the possibilty of an unwanted insect problem.

    While WD-40 is a solvent, it is NOT a true lube.

    Wood slides? wax away with anything, soap is a good choice..Ivory bar, or Murphy oil liquid.

    Edit: I just remembered...MICA powder is slick as can be, I have a tub ( about a LB.) ..I can send ya some...awesome stuff, used for reloading shells...think similar to mother of pearl dust or similar graphites with out the black.

    Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

    There is no cure for stupid. R. White.



    Edited 6/11/2006 12:30 am ET by Sphere

  3. User avater
    IMERC | Jun 11, 2006 07:38am | #3

    any thing but WD....

    wax...

    soap...

    white lithium...

    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

    WOW!!! What a Ride!

    Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

  4. Piffin | Jun 11, 2006 12:36pm | #4

    Boesheild - it stays clean - it's a wax type spray

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

  5. User avater
    rjw | Jun 11, 2006 04:18pm | #5

    I'd try a very light dab of good old vaseline.

    I'm told it works wonders on those old aluminum casement windows, too.


    Fighting Ignorance since 1967

    It's taking way longer than we thought



    Edited 6/11/2006 9:18 am ET by rjw

  6. User avater
    hammer1 | Jun 11, 2006 04:50pm | #6

    The high tech bicycle chain lubricants are not oily or greasy. I've been using Krytech on things like clamp screws, Yankee screw drivers and other places where I don't want a messy residue. Some metal slides are effected by slight problems with side spacing or out of square drawers. The slides have to be parallel in both dimensions. One that is higher than the other side or closer together at the front or back, will cause some binding. I've also used some heavier duty full extension slides that work a little stiff just by their nature. You can also use something like "Slipit", Starrett's "M1" as well as some silicone lubricants. I'd stay away from things like WD, graphite and other potentially messy products.

    Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

  7. User avater
    zachariah | Jun 11, 2006 05:08pm | #7

    powdered graphite.

  8. User avater
    PeterJ | Jun 11, 2006 06:14pm | #8

    Not sure what kind of slides you're talking about. Full extension ball bearing slides are smooth but don't glide like Blum 230s or the like...too much bearing contact area and tight tolerance.

    For anything but wood or lineal ball bearing slides, I've found this to work really well. Shake well!

    View Image

     

    PJ

    Everything will be okay in the end.  If it's not okay, it's not the end. 

  9. User avater
    basswood | Jun 11, 2006 06:18pm | #9

    I use Teflon Dry Lube. In a spray can with yellow, white, and black graphics/lettering.

  10. notDusty | Jun 11, 2006 06:35pm | #10

      Hi Justin ,    Out of curiosity and the desire to help you with a solution , what type of high quality slides are we talking about and are they side mounted ? Are they ball bearing full extension ? What brand and # are they ?

    Also are these brand new drawers that have just been built ? The reason I ask is some ball bearing slides have little tolerance for the drawer box being either a bit too wide or too narrow and can cause much friction or otherwise prevent the drawers from sliding smoothly .

    The main reason for all the questions is in my own experience I have used literally thousands of pairs of slides in the last 30 years and have NEVER had to lube any other than wood . That is what tipped me that there may be a clearance problem or it is also possible that the drawers are say 46" wide and the slides are rated for not more than 22" wide (just an example ) tell me more .

                             regards       dusty

  11. User avater
    jazzdogg | Jun 11, 2006 09:37pm | #11

    Have you checked the physical installation of your slides? If the two sides aren't parallel, they can bind and run rough.

    I've seen misaligned slides self destruct in less than a decade.

    By the way, WD-40 isn't a lube; it's a solvent.

    Good luck,

     

    -Jazzdogg-

    "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

    1. FHB Editor
      JFink | Jun 12, 2006 05:04pm | #12

      Wow, thanks for all the replies everybody...

      To answer some of your questions: It's a new installation, Lee Valley side-mount, full extension, ball-bearing slides rated for 150#.

      The "stickiness" of a few of the slides could be slight misalignment, but it's extremely minor and I'm worried that if I start to fuss with it the problem might get worse before it gets better. I was hoping to try the lube before moving the slides around - the Lee Valley variety don't have elongated holes for adjusting the slides up and down - you have to remove the screw, reposition the slide, then pre-drill and re-fasten - lots of room for error.

      ...I hate drawer slides - they always give me problems.Justin Fink - FHB Editorial

      Your Friendly Neighborhood Moderator

      1. User avater
        CapnMac | Jun 12, 2006 06:29pm | #14

        don't have elongated holes for adjusting the slides

        Ah, yes, worth a few extra bucks for those ovals, in the end.

        Sometimes (and only sometimes), you can get a "fix" by taking 1/2 or 3/4 or 1 "turn" off one of the screws on one side only (either case or drawer--just don't mix the two).

        Taking a tiny bit of the "fully tight" out of one end can "re-align" the geometry enough sometimes, to get smooth running.  If you are using a face-framed cabinet, sometimes a very tiny shim (business card) will help, too.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

      2. User avater
        LEMONJELLO | Jun 12, 2006 11:53pm | #15

        White lightning bicycle chain lube. It's a suspended wax lube and works great. When dries, it leaves the wax, It was designed to spray a bike chain, dry and not collect to much dirt. Great for planes and is somewhat rust repelant.__________________________
        Judo Chop!

        1. DanH | Jun 13, 2006 12:40am | #16

          Right, that's why I suggested chain lube.
          If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison

  12. DanH | Jun 12, 2006 06:07pm | #13

    Bicycle chain oil.

    Actually (assuming metal slides), any sort of white grease is OK. You want a solid grease that will stay put, but also something that won't collect dirt too badly. Teflon-based is a plus, but not absolutely necessary.

    WD40 is a fair cleaner for them, if they're really gunked up, but not a good lube. Spray lubes generally don't have enough body to stay in place.

    If there are plastic parts in the slide, be sure that the lube used is safe for plastics, and avoid petroleum solvents (like WD40) when cleaning.

    For wood slides wax is the way to go.

    If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison
  13. MisterT | Jun 14, 2006 03:54am | #17

    Astro Glide

    War is hell, Shrub Lied to get us into war, so he is the devil. 

  14. User avater
    SamT | Jun 14, 2006 01:36pm | #18

    Tri-Flo. Lo pressure, hi pressure, it's that good. Doesn't attract dirt, penetrates completely thru a 1/2" rusted nut on a bolt. Best leather protection around, I've got a 20 yo set of leathers that are still soft and usable.

    Practice slowly pushing the valve until you can get 1 drop at a time.

    Put 2 drops at the top of the ball zone of a bearing. Work the slide several times after each bearing. Wipe off excess.

    Repeat every coupl'a years.

    SamT

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