Shopsmith Forums

Is anyone using a oil or graphite on there speed control?
I see allot about just oiling the two sheave hole but nothing else

I’ve seen a couple of discussions about this and it doesn’t seem like there’s a uniform preference on lubricating the speed control, unlike what we see for the ways and quill. The main recommendation I’ve seen is a dry lubricant like graphite or dry silicone. My speed control dial was grabbing as I turned it, so I put graphite on the (edit: worm screw) threads and flat gears and it works well now. The first time I did this I also waxed the flat metal surfaces that slide under the handle, but that made it turn too easily. As I got to the higher speeds it started increasing pretty quickly by itself. I had to clean that off!!!

One opinion - I use JPW on the indicator dial and the HS casting behind the dial. There are usually some bare areas where the paint has rubbed off the casting, those are the only areas I wax on the HS casting, they are obviously the ones in contact with the dial. I use some powdered graphite on the worm screw shaft as well as the gears and pork chop gears. But I don't do any of this as part of routine maintenance, I just do it if I have the speed control apart for some reason, and only the the extent I have already disassembled it. If you have modified the speed control so that the pork chop pivots on something other than a roll pin (Bill Mayo mod or equivalent) this also may benefit from some powdered graphite. I don't like to use oil or grease in the headstock except where absolutely necessary because of the sawdust and dirt present in the cooling air.

- David

I know I am the heretic here, but I use white lithium grease on the worm and pork chop gears in mine. I replaced mine last year after a couple of decades of use...just wanted it to be as smooth as possible. So far, so good with it, but I'll have to see down the road if it was a mistake. Just an fyi, but there is next to no sawdust inside my headstock so I am not too worried about it. Of course my shop stays fairly clean with the dust collection and air cleaner that I have. If your shop is considerably dustier then maybe don't try grease like I am doing.

There once was a discussion about using bee's wax. I gave it a try and it seemed fine until it got colder, then it got about as hard as a soft rock and I ended up chipping it off one cold day in the shop when I wanted to use my shopsmith. I do not recommend that for any one living in a colder climate.

What I do love is STP, yea the one that you can put in your car. I started using it on a upside down router(table mounted) that I had to keep taking apart to keep it moving up and down smoothly. Once I started using STP that went away.

The STP does get sawdust in it but a tooth brush removes it extremely easily and quickly, it stays soft and doesn't cake up. And of course the controls move nicely between times.

Ed

Ed,

Is this the STP product you are using? When I think of STP, I think of fuel or oil additives. Didn't know they made a lubricant.

I didn't know they made that lubricate..... I use the stuff that is added to the oil. The bottle is maybe a pint and I'm sure it will be a lifetime supply.

Ed

I have used a bunch of different lubes over the years. I've been sticking to graphite for the speed controller for a while though. Nothing seemed to clog up badly with oils, teflon, or silicon lubes, but they all did hold dust and dirt to some extent and I'm sure it would have been a problem eventually.

Thanks guys good input