Shopsmith Forums

According to the Maintenance and Lubrication instructions that I got with the 500 it says to apply a light coat of grease to the rack teeth. That must mean the teeth on the bottom of the quill. Wouldn't that attract dust. I do put a light coat of oil on the quill though.

The other think they say regarding the Headrest Lock Handle. Please a light coating of vaseline or grease on the cam surfact. Where is the cam surface they are talking about. All I see is a Handle and some threads.

rwilabee wrote:According to the Maintenance and Lubrication instructions that I got with the 500 it says to apply a light coat of grease to the rack teeth. That must mean the teeth on the bottom of the quill. Wouldn't that attract dust. I do put a light coat of oil on the quill though.

The other think they say regarding the Headrest Lock Handle. Please a light coating of vaseline or grease on the cam surfact. Where is the cam surface they are talking about. All I see is a Handle and some threads.

I don't grease anything on my Shopsmith because of its attraction to dust. I use a lot of Johnson's Paste Wax and buff it out well. I also use Bostik Topcoat on the porkchop and speed control.

Keep it clean and wax when in doubt.

dusty wrote:I don't grease anything on my Shopsmith because of its attraction to dust. I use a lot of Johnson's Paste Wax and buff it out well. I also use Bostik Topcoat on the porkchop and speed control.

Keep it clean and wax when in doubt.

You know I went to four grocery stores including Wal-Mart looking for Johnson's paste wax before searching online and finding it at my local Home Depot. You should have seen the blank stares and stupid looks I got when trying to explain to them what Johnson's paste wax was. I guess there are not to many people who use this product in their home anymore. Who knows maybe us SS owners are keeping the brand alive.

I actually use minwax paste wax. I wonder if it is similiar to Johnson's.

tgamel wrote:You know I went to four grocery stores including Wal-Mart looking for Johnson's paste wax before searching online and finding it at my local Home Depot. You should have seen the blank stares and stupid looks I got when trying to explain to them what Johnson's paste wax was. I guess there are not to many people who use this product in their home anymore. Who knows maybe us SS owners are keeping the brand alive.

In 1956, as a teenager, I bought a can of Johnson's Paste Wax and used the last of it about 10 years ago. I doesn't take much to do a great job. When I couldn't find it I bought two cans of Carnuba auto wax on a closeout for $1 each. I find this to be every bit as good as Johnsons. However, now if you want to buy some it's $15. I guess the wax people decided it wasn't worthless after all.

db5 wrote:In 1956, as a teenager, I bought a can of Johnson's Paste Wax and used the last of it about 10 years ago. I doesn't take much to do a great job. When I couldn't find it I bought two cans of Carnuba auto wax on a closeout for $1 each. I find this to be every bit as good as Johnsons. However, now if you want to buy some it's $15. I guess the wax people decided it wasn't worthless after all.

I saw a Shopsmith video that said "Do not use auto wax" somthing about auto wax dosn't dry the same as floor wax.

Meester wrote:I saw a Shopsmith video that said "Do not use auto wax" somthing about auto wax dosn't dry the same as floor wax.

I have seen that too but I can not find it now. I was told early to use Johnson's and that is what I have always done. However, Shopsmith does sell other than Johnson's. It is not auto wax, however.

Following is an extract from one of the catalogs.

"Minwax® Paste Finishing Wax coats
and protects your power tool surfaces
Just apply a thin coat of
the premium-quality wax
to the exposed metal
surfaces of your MARK V
or Special Purpose Tools
to protect against rust
and corrosion.
It provides and easyglide,
virtually frictionfree
surface for work tables, rip fences and
similar work-guiding surfaces. 16 oz. can.
522454 Minwax® Paste Wax $9.99"

dusty wrote:I have seen that too but I can not find it now. I was told early to use Johnson's and that is what I have always done. However, Shopsmith does sell other than Johnson's. It is not auto wax, however.

Believe Nick Engler said it is one of the Sawdust sessions. Not sure which video, but maybe #11 - Cleaning and Lubricating the Mark V?

I use the minwax finishing wax (Lowes) as JPW was not available when I needed wax. I have since seen JPW back on the shelf at HD in with the cleaning products. YMMV

letterk wrote:Believe Nick Engler said it is one of the Sawdust sessions. Not sure which video, but maybe #11 - Cleaning and Lubricating the Mark V?

Yes, that does sound right. I think that was the video that I saw. He used Johnsons floor wax, the original formula. I found that at Home Depot yesterday. But don't ask anyone for help finding it, three employees told me that they didn't carry it, but I went and found it in the cleaning section not the floor section! It even came in a can just the way it did back in the day.