Shopsmith Forums

I have various pieces of wood working power tools, some have threaded shafts for moving the table saw blade up/down, angel it, move the jointer table height, ect. The threads on these shaft are like on a machinists lathe to move the tool carriage, about a 1/32nd wide, and deep, with a square cut to them. Since they are on wood cutting machines, what is the best type of lube for them so saw dust does not stick and clog them?

Unless you consider wax a lubricant, I don't lub any of the threaded shafts that you describe. Shafts on devices such as bench vises, c-clamps and the like I occasionally wipe down with a wax inpregnated cloth. The cloth that is stored in my almost depeted can of Johnson's Paste Wax.

Ironic, "Dusty" was the first to respond!LOL!!!!!!!! How about getting into the deep/valley part of the threads? Funny you mentioned almost depleted, mine too!!! One of the cheaper priced waxes, I guess it is not fancy enough to cost as much as some others at Wood Workers Shops, which is good, it is one of the better rated for wood working.

How about a dry lube like Top Coat?
Bill V

wa2crk wrote:How about a dry lube like Top Coat?
Bill V

I've heard good things about Top Coat and nothing negative but I have no experience. I am a die hard Johnson Paste Wax user.

Every now and then, I take a rag, wet with mineral spirits, and wipe down my table tops and tubes. I then start the cycle over again with a good wax job.

I do this because my shop is wide open to the outdoors and is always under a layer of fine desert dust.

I've been wondering though, you have to be able to buff the waxed area after letting the wax dry, don't you?

fitzhugh wrote:I've been wondering though, you have to be able to buff the waxed area after letting the wax dry, don't you?

Usually ya buff it off, But KNOT if your storing your SS for awhile.

I assume you are referring to acme threads. IIWM, I would use powdered graphite. I have not tried this, but JPW(unbuffed) followed by graphite.

JPG, I have used that combo before where mating metal slides against each other like on a compass/protractor angel pivot point, exp, jointer fence angel adjustment area. Heck "I" thought I was the first with that idea. Hard to get in front of you, you must be on Eastern time.LOL