What To Lube Toolbox Slides With?

[Gregg33]

I recently purchased a 26" Mastercraft top box off Kijiji. It's about as big as you can get for a 26" top box with nine 1/3 width drawers and a few more full size ones. It was made a few years back when Cdn Tire tool boxes were still built by Waterloo and made domestically. I paid $75, I figure they sold around $300+ when not on sale, so I feel I got a good deal.

It's in pretty good condition, virtually no rust or dents, the finish is pretty dull though, looks like it was cleaned it with a fine steel wool, softscrub or the like, there are no deep scratches and some elbow grease with some cleaner wax or if ncessary a bit of scratch remover should get it looking 95%. I'm also going to line the drawers.

Anyways, some of the drawers are pretty stiff to open. The box is only a few years old and not too dirty (don't think they need to be taken apart and cleaned but I'll double check), but I was wondering what to lube them with. I've used just about everything imaginable over the years without much luck. What does everyone reccommend? I was thinking of trying graphite spray, any success with this?

 

[burnitwithfire]

Friction sliders or bearings? I used white general purpose grease on my Mastercraft box with friction sliders and it worked great. Graphite spray or lithium grease might work better though.

Does your top box look like this?

I got the whole thing off lespac.com for 200$. I'm really impressed with the build quality compared most of their current offerings. I don't care for bearing sliders, friction sliders work well when clean and are easy to maintain.

I bought drawer liner from Canadian Tire and while it works, some tools have a tendency to stick to it and rip off small parts. In drawers that saw heavy duty items (air tools, sanding blocks, hammers) I used car trunk carpeting. Works amazingly well and can be had for really cheap in junkyards.

 

[brslk]

The drawer liner from Canadian tire here is about $25 for whatever length...

the same stuff if $6 at Canadian tire in the housewares area.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I put grease on mine every 10 years or so. They still slide smooth.

Chris

 

[graybeard62]

You're supposed to lube them?

 

[porphyre]

In addition to what these guys have said, I recommend taking the drawers out and checking to see if the rails for the slides are straight and true.

I refurbished an early 90's vintage Waterloo 26" box w/ friction slides and the rails in the box sides had bent out and down a little bit from years of overloading and use. I straightened them with pliers and my hands and the drawers slid 100% better.

 

[tdkkart]

On slides, parifin wax or candle wax works pretty good and doesn't get all gunky.

 

[wornoutoldman]

Wurth HHS 2000 goes on like a penetrating oil and thickens up super slippery. Great for door hinges too!

 

[lilredex]

On slides, parifin wax or candle wax works pretty good and doesn't get all gunky.

Second that candle recomendation............worked well on this oldie "Gray".




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[robertwhite]

Garage door track lube. Designed to stay put and not break down.

 

[larry_g]

It depends, are you in a nice clean shop area or is it dirty with grit or dust. If a clean shop then white grease can be used. If your in a dirty area then you want a lube that will not attract dirt and grit that will make an abrasive paste and eat your slides.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[jvitez]

If your in a dirty area then you want a lube that will not attract dirt and grit...

Such as? I tried Amsoil MP Metal Protector spray, but it didn't do much to my friction slides. What have you gents used if in a dirty/dusty environment?

 

[Gregg33]

I bought some canning wax and am going to give that a try. I got some foam liners in the style that Cdn Tire and Sears (in the U.S.) sells. Personally they've worked good for me in the past, but a friends MAC box has them and they are all bunched up so we'll see how it works.

Burnitwithfire the top box in your pic is identical to mine, I also have a smaller top box in that same style which I bought new, it's a 6 drawer (three 1/3 drawers and 3 full ones). These boxes are definetly a step up from the Jobmates and other cheapos that use a removable locking bar.

Lilredex I love that old school Gray tool box, but then again I'm biast towards Gray.