Well, That Explains It

[db5]

IT is the reason I have trouble moving the headstock. Wax on – wax off causes buildup of wax and sawdust preventing the headstock from moving easily. So, after years of this buildup what is the easiest way to remove it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7yRjr06_Z0

[Chad]

Great video db5

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7yRjr06_Z0[/youtube]

[thedovetailjoint]

There isn’t really an easy way, but the way to remove the build-up is to remove the headstock and the quill (because there’s a build-up there as well) and clean the headstock casting holes with a rag and paint thinner.

[john_001]

When I pulled my headstock to replace the locking wedges, I found the way tube sockets lined with a kind of varnish - I assume it was the result of decades of wax and sawdust (it's a 1958 machine). It took some work to remove it.

[db5]

Oh great! Just what I wanted to hear. Sort of like, "you can't get there from here."
Thanks

[Ed in Tampa]

I think this was discussed many times in the past. It was proven then that a wax build up is not possible. The chemical carrier in wax dissolves preceding coat of wax and combines it with the new wax. So after you buff the dried wax you are left with one coat of wax. That said I guess you could cram wax in around the headstock and allow it to dry into a clump but that is a problem of lousy waxing not wax build up.

Almost all wax is dissolved by mineral spirits if you think you have a build up soak a rag in mineral spirits and pull it though the way tube head stock sockets like a rifle barrel and it will remove it. Also you could just wet the way tube with mineral spirits and slide the head stock back and forth over the wet spot. Be sure to wipe the leading edge of the headstock after doing this.

[rpd]

I think this was discussed many times in the past. It was proven then that a wax build up is not possible. The chemical carrier in wax dissolves preceding coat of wax and combines it with the new wax. So after you buff the dried wax you are left with one coat of wax. That said I guess you could cram wax in around the headstock and allow it to dry into a clump but that is a problem of lousy waxing not wax build up.

Almost all wax is dissolved by mineral spirits if you think you have a build up soak a rag in mineral spirits and pull it though the way tube head stock sockets like a rifle barrel and it will remove it. Also you could just wet the way tube with mineral spirits and slide the head stock back and forth over the wet spot. Be sure to wipe the leading edge of the headstock after doing this.

It won't build up on the way tubes for that reason, but if it isn't buffed off it will transfer to and build up inside the bores on the headstock and carriage, where it will never get buffed.

[db5]

I think this was discussed many times in the past. It was proven then that a wax build up is not possible. The chemical carrier in wax dissolves preceding coat of wax and combines it with the new wax. So after you buff the dried wax you are left with one coat of wax. That said I guess you could cram wax in around the headstock and allow it to dry into a clump but that is a problem of lousy waxing not wax build up.

Almost all wax is dissolved by mineral spirits if you think you have a build up soak a rag in mineral spirits and pull it though the way tube head stock sockets like a rifle barrel and it will remove it. Also you could just wet the way tube with mineral spirits and slide the head stock back and forth over the wet spot. Be sure to wipe the leading edge of the headstock after doing this.

It won't build up on the way tubes for that reason, but if it isn't buffed off it will transfer to and build up inside the bores on the headstock and carriage, where it will never get buffed.

Okay, since there is no buildup of wax and my headstock has gotten more difficult to move over time how do I fix it?

[JPG]

I think this was discussed many times in the past. It was proven then that a wax build up is not possible. The chemical carrier in wax dissolves preceding coat of wax and combines it with the new wax. So after you buff the dried wax you are left with one coat of wax. That said I guess you could cram wax in around the headstock and allow it to dry into a clump but that is a problem of lousy waxing not wax build up.

Almost all wax is dissolved by mineral spirits if you think you have a build up soak a rag in mineral spirits and pull it though the way tube head stock sockets like a rifle barrel and it will remove it. Also you could just wet the way tube with mineral spirits and slide the head stock back and forth over the wet spot. Be sure to wipe the leading edge of the headstock after doing this.

It won't build up on the way tubes for that reason, but if it isn't buffed off it will transfer to and build up inside the bores on the headstock and carriage, where it will never get buffed.

locks releasing fully???
Okay, since there is no buildup of wax and my headstock has gotten more difficult to move over time how do I fix it?

[rpd]

Okay, since there is no buildup of wax and my headstock has gotten more difficult to move over time how do I fix it?

I would remove the headstock from the way tubes, and clean out the holes that contact the way tubes.

Also the way tubes will have a slight curve to them, caused by the weld during manufacture. You want those curves to both go up (or down), so the distance between the way tubes remains constant along the length.