Drawer sliders - What kind of lube?

[The Rusty Gear]

Just got a new 41" rolling cabinet with friction slides. The manual tells me I should lubricate the slides every 6 months, but neglects to mention what I should lubricate it with. Canola oil? White Grease? WD-40? What should I be using?

 

[Uncle Buck]

spray silicone or wd-40 would be fine.

 

[sjsfire]

I think I would use white lithium grease, and go light with it. Wipe off the old if you can before applying new

 

[eschoendorff]

I just use CorrosionX on everything. Even cereal.

 

[kartracer55]

I like Silicone spray for mine. White lithium greasedoesnt seem to go "where I need it too" as easily as silicone spray does.

Jim

 

[EdNJ]

If you can find it, Wurth HHS 2000 lubricant
http://www.wurthusa.com/product_img/04.0110.jpg

 

[REFLEXX]

Chain wax, like for motorcycles. Sticks to surfaces but keeps dirt from sticking to it!!!

 

[89vert]

Silicone.

 

[GooberMcNutly]

Baby seal blubber

 

[geaugafletcher]

Kitten tears

BTW, WD40 is not much of a lubricant.

 

[JRGSPE73]

I used Dupont White Lithium spray on my 41" HF box and side cabinet, and it worked great...a little too great, actually. I went a little overboard on the slides for the side cabinet, and now they tend to open on their own - once I got to the slides on the main box, though, I cut back on the amount that I used, and I'm more than happy with it. Drawers slide open and closed with very little effort, even when weighed down with tools. Use it sparingly and I think you'll be quite satisfied.

 

[fourfeathers]

I would stay away from white lithium. It is REALLY nasty when it dries on a seldom used cabinet.

How does Vaseline work for slides? Seems like I tried it, but don't remember the result.

 

[OldCarGuy]

Silicone spray works best, or possibly a light 3-in-one oil. Grease tends to harden and collect dirt.

 

[SteveU]

Dynaglide is something I am going to try on mine. It dries so it won't attract dirt & claims a film strength of some huge amount, now if I could remember where I put the can...

 

[alohavw]

PB Blaster GDL (Garage Door Lube)

 

[Chris Adams]

On older Craftsman friction I always used white lith grease from a tub. They never slid super smooth, but then, nothing ever made them slide super smooth.
On a Homak heavy top box the lithium worked just fine.
On Kennedy friction boxes light oil gave the best result.
On Quiet Glide Craftsman I find silicon is best.

You know you could just play around with different lubes on different drawers and see what works best.

There is a heck of a lot of variance in friction slides.

 

[kbs2244]

I just salvaged a 40's or 50's Craftsman tool box.
Sprayed the slides with lots of starter fluid. Amazing how much black stuff flowed out.
Eather is the best solvent around. Just be real carefull about flames in the area.
For lack of anything better at the time I just used the oil can that catchs the drips from when I change oil. 10-30 motor oil.
They slide real well now.
I do like the motorcycle chain oil idea, just didn't have any around.
(I think the skatboard kids have basicly the same stuff for their wheel bearings.)

 

[mikeceli]

I would stay away from white lithium. It is REALLY nasty when it dries on a seldom used cabinet.

How does Vaseline work for slides? Seems like I tried it, but don't remember the result.

I found the white grease got sticky, even though I use my cabinet.

 

[Kevin54]

They actually make a Teflon dry spray lube for applications like that. I had a can that I believe came from Grainger but not for certain. I'll check it out when I get to the garage. Okay..I went to the garage and can't find my can unless I used it up. But I did a search for Teflon dry spray and came up with a few. Here is one http://www.worldklass.com/pro_drytef.html basically all the same. I had a couple of vinyl windows on the house that was a little tight. Gave them a small spray and they worked like new. Here is another brand http://www.finishlineusa.com/products/teflon-plus-lube.htm

 

[eschoendorff]

Another option would be a dry graphite spray lubricant.

 

[Merkava_4]

The experience I've had with friction slides is that grease doesn't work well. Some kind of light oil seems to work best.

 

[jim]

If you use silicone on your slides and you get some on the paint of your box, will it damage the paint?

 

[Indy_500]

WHITE LITHIUM GREASE! silicone spray works good too. DON"T USE WD40!

 

[Brandon_K]

I've been quite partial to John Deere "Super Lube" Synthetic Dri Film lube. I'm not sure who makes it for JD, but I like the stuff quite a bit.

 

[TireTracks]

I use engine oil, 10w30.

Or axle bearing grease. Though in the winter it got stiff.

 

[69supercj]

I think a graphite lube would be a good choice. Also, you might check out the various gun lubes out there, they're designed to not attrack or hold dirt and grime. I think Break-free makes one.

 

[Randy_che]

PTFE Dry Lube spray, for example:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NV5ORA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[kwoody51]

They actually make a Teflon dry spray lube for applications like that. I had a can that I believe came from Grainger but not for certain. I'll check it out when I get to the garage. Okay..I went to the garage and can't find my can unless I used it up. But I did a search for Teflon dry spray and came up with a few. Here is one http://www.worldklass.com/pro_drytef.html basically all the same. I had a couple of vinyl windows on the house that was a little tight. Gave them a small spray and they worked like new. Here is another brand http://www.finishlineusa.com/products/teflon-plus-lube.htm

This is good stuff! Teflon lube, see link below, $5 a can.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-lube/dupont-teflon-chain-saver/

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GL19TY/?tag=atomicindus08-20