Lubricating antique wood table slides

[Duane Reynolds]

I am restoring an antique dining room table that has wooden expansion slides. These slides are sticking and need some lubrication. I can remember my parents lubricating similar slides with a bar of Ivory soap. Does anyone know of a better solution?

[Stephen Musial]

Beeswax works well and there's also a product called Slipit http://www.slipit.com/ which I believe is available at Rockler.

[Richard Wolf]

I wouldn't hesitate to use the Ivory soap. I know that they use soap to lubricate beams to slide under houses when they are moving them. Smells good too.

[Loren Woirhaye]

I would use paste wax because that's what I keep in the shop and it is both cheap and useful for lots of things.

[Rick Potter]

Paraffin or an old candle.

RP

[Mike Henderson]

Paraffin or an old candle.

RP

Agreed. Paraffin works much better than beeswax. Much less sticking.

Mike

[Lee Schierer]

Beeswax works well and there's also a product called Slipit http://www.slipit.com/ which I believe is available at Rockler.

Actually, beeswax tends to be a bit sticky for slides. I would use paraffin or Johnson paste wax. I would avoid soap as it is hygroscopic (attracts water) and might make matters worse.

[Peter Quinn]

Paste wax. I use Butchers, or whatever is at hand. A little does wonders.

[Stephen Musial]

My great grandmother's dining room table would beg to differ.