I recently purchased a pattern maker’s vice and a cross slide drill press vice, but I believe that while they were kept in storage the grease has turned to wax. Further, the wax-like substance is hard and interferes with the proper operation of the tools. My belief is that I should remove this completely and to re-grease all of the appropriate parts. My question is whether or not this is wise decision, and if so, then what solvent should I use and what grease should I use as a replacement.
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Replies
Old grease exposed to the air and dust will turn uselessly hard, I see it all of the time on old machines. Any petroleum solvent, such as paint thinner or naphtha, will remove it but it can be a very messy job on a tool with lots of nooks and crannies. If wiping the vise down with rags doesn't work to remove the hardened grease, you can soak it for a few hours, possibly disassembling the vise to get it into more manageable pieces. An old toothbrush or brass brush will help speed up the process.
Once the vises are cleaned up, try to find a soaplike grease in stick form to apply to the threads and sliding surfaces. Use oil to lubricate areas such as a shaft through a casting that you can't apply the grease to. Ordinary furniture wax is a fairly good substitute for the grease stick if you cant find the stick form, but many hardware stores will have it.
John White
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