Unisaw lube?

[David]

My Uni's finally getting a bit "cranky" when I apply the cranky. I've got T-9 but not sure that's the best product to lube the gears. What's a good lube that won't attract a ton of sawdust?

David

[Leon]

I have a similar problem and have been using a dry lubricant, TopCote with some success. I find that dust collects there with no lube. I used T-9 the last time and time will tell.

[Slowhand]

I've tried T9 and went back to paste wax. It's kind of the nature of the beast. You just gotta keep it clean. No real easy solution. SH

[Secret Squirrel]

David wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Try a dry lube like powdered graphite. Its sold as lock lubricant in most hardware stores

[Charlie Self]

David David asks:

Mix a tube of graphite (auto supply store lock lube) and some Johnson's wax...you may need to ehat a blob of the wax in a double boiler.

Use a toothbrush (new or old, your choice) to clean the gears. Use another toothbrush to apply the lube.

Charlie Self "A politician is an animal which can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears to the ground." H. L. Mencken

[Eag111]

I have a related question...when I clamp down the Unifence on my saw, the action is stiff; is there a way to lubricate without interfering with the locking mechanism's grip on the rail? (hope I'm making this clear enough...) thanks, Eric

[Steve]

A whole heck of a lot of Johnson's Paste Wax (with a whole heck of a lot of intermittant cleaning) took care of the problem I had with my Biesemeyer fence. (Your problem description is very close to the difficulties I experienced.)

[BobS]

10 year supply....

Fill a small baby food jar 3/4's full of Johnson's or Butcher's paste wax and stir in one very small tube of dry graphite from the auto supply store. Stir it all together until the solution is graphite black. May need to add a drop or two of mineral spirits to get a good mixture. If you get to much mineral spirits mixed in, don't worry - just leave the lid off the jar and it will evaporate out in a day or two.

As Charlie mentioned, clean off whatever is on them now and then use a toothbrush (yes even a used one will work) to spread the wax and graphite mixture on the gears. It beats the dry lubes and doesn't attract dust like grease does. Yes, dust will lay on top but will fall off when you rotate the cranks. All you need is enough to coat the bearing surfaces where the teeth mesh. Any slopped on the sides doesn't do a thing....

Bob S.

[John]

Charlie

I have done essentially the same, but use Moly power instead of the graphite.

John

[My Old Tools]

motorcycle moly chain lube, dries hard, doesn't attract dirt

[Nova]

Outer's Gunslick Graphite Lube works well:

Novak Buffalo, NY - USA (Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply)

[Steve Knight]

or white lithium grease works well too. it only attracts a little sawdust. in the spray can is the way to go.

[Unisaw A100]

In a recent write up in Wood magazine the writer wrote about a product from ProGold. It's their PG2000 Penetrating Lubricant. The product is meant to be used over time and with each application it lasts longer. The Wood writer confirms this.

Anyways,

looks to be the company's Web page.

UA100, neither a buyer of or user of the product but will probably buy some in the near future...

[Ba r r y]

Any teflon carrying "dry" lube available in bicycle shops should do the trick, as ProGold seems to be one more label on the same can. I prefer the drip-on versions over the aerosol delivery. These products do work quite well.

We use this stuff all the time on high end bicycles. Personally I've probably used ten different brands of it. These lubes work by carrying a finely ground dry lube mix (graphite, teflon, etc...) in an evaporative carrier, kind of like a high-tech automotive lock deicer. Each application leaves more of the dry component behind, which is what the wood writer noticed. They work best on CLEAN surfaces, spraying or dripping it on a sawdust encrusted assembly will simply waste lube. Once the lube dries, less dust will stick, compared with greases.

I've also had excellent luck with wax-based chain lubes such as White Lightning, Pedros Ice Wax and others on machinery. Bike shop versions of ProGold are known as Pedro's Extra Dry, ProLink, TriFlow Dry Chain Lube, etc...

Barry

[David]

Thanks to everyone who gave suggestions. I'll try the bicycle chain lube first since I have a couple of spray cans of that (Finish Line).

David

David wrote: