Lubricating drawer runners

[Feltwell]

I've just spent ages sorting out the horrendously badly worn drawer boxes and runners in a built-in kitchen larder, lovely new timber has been spliced in (retaining as much of the original drawers as possible) and all is ready to go.

The question is, what to lubricate the drawer runners with? My inclination is to just use some beeswax - has anyone any better tips? I know candle wax is popular, does it last any longer than beeswax or is it just that people usually have a candle around somewhere to use?

It's softwood by the way, if that makes any diference.

 

[Schoolmarm]

If it isn't a huge area you could try pencil lead. Or that dry powder stuff in a little bottle, can't remember the name. Candlewax does work too.

The beauty of candlewax is it stays hard in a warm house and doesn't sink in.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I've always used candlewax. I doubt relative longevity between that and beeswax is something we should lose sleep over. 8)

 

[biffvernon]

I know candle wax is popular, does it last any longer than beeswax

Not if you have nice candles made of beeswax.

 

[Pford75]

Not as authentic as the many other suggestions, but a spray silicon will be far more effective

 

[Schoolmarm]

Won't silicon either slide away or sink into the wood?

 

[Pford75]

Not on our linen press it hasn't

 

[Schoolmarm]

But is your linen press bare new softwood?

 

[biffvernon]

a spray silicon will be far more effective

What do you do with your empty spray can?

 

[Feltwell]

I hadn't thought about spray silicon - I've got some in the shed, I may try that on top of wax, the wax to stop it soaking straight in to the new wood.

We recycle aerosols Biff - it's one of the things our Council will collect, along with cardboard, tins, glass, paper and textiles. Although they won't collect , they have also finally introduced banks that you can take plastics and tetra-pak cartons to as well. With all that and composting at home, it's very noticeable now that we manage to recycle a lot more than goes in the bin for landfill.

 

[biffvernon]

We recycle aerosols Biff - it's one of the things our Council will collect,

Right, so what actually happens to the spary can - the whole life-cycle? I know about bees-wax.

 

[Pford75]

What do you do with your empty spray can?

Well, I am still using the can of silicone which I purchased in our first house (so...it's somewhere around 13 years old).

I'm not going to get into a petty "I'm the greenest" debate....suffice to say that no product (even naturally produced ones) is without environmental impact. Personally, I find the multi-use aspect of silicone makes it a better choice than multiple single-use products (which all require production and transport).

Anyway......when you are elected, you are welcome to lecture me on my product choices.

 

[biffvernon]

:? Elected? Lecture? I just asked a question. Now, how many multi-uses can we think of for beeswax. Of course if the agro-chemical industry with their neonicotinoids like imidacloprid are allowed to continue much longer we will have to use silicone spray because there won't be any beeswax.

 

[Feltwell]

We recycle aerosols Biff - it's one of the things our Council will collect,

Right, so what actually happens to the spary can - the whole life-cycle? I know about bees-wax.

I agree, but sending the can for recycling is still better than sending it to landfill. Yes, beeswax is much greener (and is exactly what I've put on the drawer runners btw, along with a bit of non-beeswax candle wax) but I already have a tin of silicone spray - it's used to lubricate sliding automotive parts such as car window rubbers - so I've put a bit on the runners as well. It hasn't dissolved the wax and they do now run very freely. On the next drawer to be done I shall try without and compare.

 

[JoceAndChris]

And next time, please pick a slightly less filthy title to your anti-climactic question. I was quite excited, but just had to trawl through a load of beeswax!

 

[Feltwell]

What, you mean that waxing drawer runners isn't at the top of your list of exciting topics? :wink:

Hey, it could be worse, I posted a reply to a query about corrosion in reinforced concrete once. And someone on here (was it Mdb??) presumably with the help of Google found a reference to a website for manhole cover enthusiasts, in response to a quip from Penners.

 

[Penners]

in response to a quip from Penners.

I never quip.

I may occasionally offer you the benefit of an astute observation, but quipping is only for the trivial-minded.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Yes, and I remember that particular astute observation. Highly typical of the male species.

You know I'm teasing Felts, I'm just as fascinated by the speedy opening of my drawers as the next girl!

 

[biffvernon]

Lucky you weren't here when Grimmers was around.

 

[Feltwell]

I never quip.

I may occasionally offer you the benefit of an astute observation, but quipping is only for the trivial-minded.

I do apologise most humbly for the slur upon your astute observational qualities!

I consider quipping to be quite an art myself......