Slideez. Anyone use it?

If it ain't broke...

David Yoho

Wondering whether to stick with the centuries old stuff or be progressive and give something new (new to me) a try?

That answer is entirely up to you. No harm in trying something out. I'm betting it will work. However...

I suppose my background in restoration and period casework causes me to favor tradition - good old wax. It worked good enough for yesterday's cabinet makers and has never failed me in all these years, so I figure if it ain't broke - don't fix it.

There may be a dent.

Virgil Johnson

I should have elaborated last night but used the time in the shop. (and possibly if I was a better craftsman drawers would not need lube...separated discussion) There are a couple of drawers here in the house that are ash on cherry frames. They see daily use. On these drawers there are (were) small flakes stuck to the frames that looked to be a mixture of wax and dust. Theses had worn into the bottom of the drawer sides. Can't say that I've been meticulous about properly opening the drawers or taking out the sock drawer and cleaning the runners over the last 25 years. I don't see enough antiques to know what wear is normal.

I own some Slideez

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

(carefully worded)

What properties are needed? Hard for durability, low coefficient of friction to slide easily. Also had so it will not accumulate abrasive dirt.

Paraffin is just hard grease. It is the same chemistry as oil and poly(ethylene). So it has a low coefficient of friction. But it isn't particularly hard and hence not as long lasting as we might desire. What would be better? A hard wax.

I have experience with durability. We tried many things on our planer bed. What lasted the longest was Carnuba wax. I prepare it by melting/dissolving Carnuba wax in warm xylene or mineral spirits, about 50:50 or what ever makes a spreadable paste.

My drawers work effortlessly when properly fitted. I shellac the drawer and case side, sand smooth and wax with Carnuba.

I bought a jar of Slideeze 30 years ago and never used it. I'll test it late today. If you maintain the drawer lubricant about any wax or waxy stuff will do. It becomes only a matter of how often it needs renewing.

paraffin is not wax, nor traditional

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Paraffin is a product of the distillation of petroleum. It is not a wax, though it has waxy properties. It didn't exist in 1720, or 1820. As a guess, I suspect bee wax was used as a lubricant, traditionally. I think bee wax is harder than paraffin, though there are additives that harden paraffin.

A true wax is an ester, related to vegetable oil, similar chemistry. Just like paraffin is a hydrocarbon like petroleum oil, just a bigger molecule, waxes are esters like vegie oils, except bigger molecules. A nit picken point perhaps. But true waxes have different properties than paraffin, though each is waxy.

Drawer engineering

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Drawer sides should be made of wood softer than drawer runners and dividers. Over time the drawer will wear. A worn drawer is trivial to fix and the repair will be hidden from view. A worn divider is difficult to fix and the patch is hard to hide.

The best fitted drawer will most benefit from lubrication. It will appear frictionless. Lubricant that is not hard will accumulate dirt and become worse than none.

A well engineered a drawer will endure daily used without noticeable wear for decades.

I will test my jar of Slideeze to see what it is like after application to wood. Hard I hope.

Close to centuries old.

virgil johnson

A Google search determines paraffin has been around since 1830.

Yes, but...

John in NM

It did not come into such common use until the 20th century when the refinement of petroleum for gasoline became a mass industry. Oil is actually quite difficult to extract from the ground in a pre-industrial setting - one would be dependent on a naturally occurring seep, which I believe are fairly rare.

Industrial well drilling was invented around the same time, but was mostly confined to auger drilling of loose material until the 20th century when the invention of roller cone bits & high pressure water flushing made it possible to drill deep wells through rock.

Do not use Slideez for drawer

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

The first worrisome sign is this jar is still the consistency of Vaseline after 40 years. I planed a wood surface and applied this stuff. Several hours later it was still a sticky, though slippery, dust magnet. I think it will remain sticky forever, not what one wants for a drawer lubricant.

The Carnauba wax I use dries hard and I presume will not invite dust to stick to it.

Re: Close to centuries old.

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Your Google search revealed it was discovered that paraffin could be recovered from crude oil by distillation in 1830. As John reports, common availability would wait for the development of the petroleum industry 75 years alter. With bee wax readily available since early colonial times I would wager that bee wax was used in what is now antique furniture more commonly than paraffin. If it is in fact harder, bee wax remains a better choice.

Re: Do not use Slideez for drawer

Virgil Johnson

Thanks for the input. 40 year old bottle...I just tossed some 21 year old shellac flakes that would not melt. Trumps my flake stash by 19 years.

might be a good screw lube

Is this the same product as Slipit ??

Re: Is this the same product as Slipit ??

Virgil Johnson

Don't know for sure but after looking at the Slipit website it doesn't appear to be.