Replies

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Sep 13, 2008 06:25pm | #1

   Most table saw gurus use a furniture paste wax on the heli worm gears. Apply with a toothbrush turning the wheels to reach as much of the gears as possible. Paste wax is an excellent low speed lubricant and will not attract or hold saw dust. Use white grease on the bearings that support the adjusting shafts. In general, do not lubricate the arbor bearings as most saws use sealed bearings.

   Howie.........
1. 
   lostcreek | Sep 15, 2008 05:42pm | #4

   Applied the paste wax exactly as you suggested and everything moves with ease...thanks.
   lostcreek

2. 
   stpatrick | Sep 22, 2008 06:11am | #5

   Howie, wish i read this 2-3 weeks ago before i used synthetic bicycle grease on the gears, which were already caked with sawdust.  Next weekend it will be cleansed and teflon'd or Johnson paste waxed.   Thank you, patrick

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Sep 22, 2008 11:03pm | #6

   >> before i used synthetic bicycle grease on the gearsI know of some who swear by bicycle chain grease which they claim does not attract or hold dust. I've never used it though. I have a couple of cans of Johnson Wax which should outlive ever shortening career in woodworking.Howie.........

1. 
   rcooper | Sep 29, 2008 06:14pm | #7

   Hmm. I'm looking at the owner's manual for an Inca 2100SE saw. In the section on lubrication, it specifically says, "Wax should not be applied between any sliding metal parts. This is important! Do Not Apply Wax Between Metal Sliding Parts!" The manual recommends using dry Teflon spray lubricant instead. Unfortunately, it doesn't explain why they think wax is a bad idea.Prior to reading this, I had already lubricated the gears and screws of the saw's lift mechanism with paste wax as suggested in this thread, and the immediate results were very good. However, the warning in the book has me worried about some long term problem. Does anybody have a clue why the Inca guys recommend against wax?-- Russ

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Oct 01, 2008 06:27pm | #9

   I can not conceive how paste wax would be in any way harmful to metal parts. Or, why it would not be a satisfactory lubricant for worm type heli gears.If you want a specific answer, I would suggest you send off a note to the manufacturer of your saw and ask them. I'd be interested to know their response. It may be something specific to your saw.Howie.........

   Edited 10/1/2008 11:29 am ET by HowardAcheson

2. 
   rcooper | Oct 02, 2008 05:55pm | #10

   Thanks, Howie. My thoughts match yours -- how could paste wax hurt some metal gears? Anyway, your idea to ask the manufacturer is good. I'll see if I can find a way to fire off a note to Inca.-- Russ

3. 
   HowardAcheson | Oct 02, 2008 06:06pm | #11

   Thinking about it, the manufacturer may be concerned about to solvent(s) used in paste wax to make it softer and spreadable. However, all the readily available paste waxes I am familiar with use mineral spirits as their solvent. Mineral spirits is not generally considered harmful to standard metals. BriWax is an exception using toluene which is a much more aggressive solvent which MAY be damaging. I have no direct knowledge about BriWax damaging metal.Be interested to see what INCA has to say.Howie.........

4. 
   rcooper | Oct 14, 2008 07:09am | #12

   Well, after nearly two weeks I've struck out on all my attempts to contact Inca directly. The best I've been able to come up with was a phone conversion with a guy named Jesse at Eagle Tools in Los Angeles. He's mentioned frequently on a Yahoo Inca forum as an expert on Inca stuff. He said that Inca recommends white lithium grease on the blade lift mechanism, but didn't have any info about why the wax might be a bad idea.Putting grease in there seems like a bad idea to me, simply because it seems like it would attract sawdust and make a mess in pretty short order. I've decided to just stick with the wax and see what happens.-- Russ

5. 
   HowardAcheson | Oct 14, 2008 06:33pm | #13

   Thanks Russ, appreciate the follow-up. I agree that something like a grease is going to attract and hold sawdust.Personally, I'd stay with the wax or something like the bicycle chain lubricant.Howie.........

6. 
   EdHarrow | Oct 14, 2008 07:39pm | #14

   I recently tried a NAPA product on the innards of my TS, and I must say (so far) I've been quite impressed.  The up and down, not to mention vertical to 45 action is smooth and slick.  Very slick.  I confess to not yet opening the side up to examine the innards, but after a month of typical fooling around use, it's still working sweet.

   NAPA Chain and Cable Lube.  (YMMV)

2. 
   jointerman | Sep 30, 2008 11:15pm | #8

   For bicycle chains, it's usually a liquid lubricant and not grease, grease is that thick goopy stuff. There are many bicycle chain lubricants including oil based, synthetic oil, and wax based. My thought would be to use a Teflon based lubricant or a liquid based wax lubricant like White Lightning.That said, I never even thought about lubricating my saw.

2. 
   Gnome | Sep 15, 2008 01:24pm | #2

   I used Dupont Performance with teflon on my old Craftsman table saw. It now raises,lowers, and tilts with ease. I bought a can at Lowes for about five bucks. The teflon keeps sawdust from sticking.

3. 
   RickL | Sep 15, 2008 04:02pm | #3

   Howard has it right. "Nothing" is better than using grease which cakes up the dust and jams the mechanism. There is so little friction the bare cast iron will not be a problem.