Thread: CRC Dry Glide suitable for arbor bearing lubricant?

Jill, I use the dry glide on the trunions on my saw, similar to your illustrations. Don't forget that when adjusting the saw the speed will be way too low to cause galling even if run without lubricant. The saw cabinet is too dusty for a grease lubricant although many uses do use grease. The weight of your saw arbor/trunion assembly wouldn't be heavy enough to rupture the film of the dry glide, although you should plan on spraying it from time to time when the machine maintenance mood strikes.

Cast iron differs from steel in that is has much free graphite present which gives a natural lubricity. Early machine tool spindles in fact ran in cast iron bearings, albeit with oil drip feed.

Greg

Greg, many thanks for this very informative and expert comment. It gives me a lot of confidence about using a dry lubricant on the trunnion bearing surfaces.

How did you get the existing oil / grease lubricant completely out of that bearing before applying the dry lubricant, when some sections of the bearing surface are inaccessible?

regards,
Jill

Hi Jill...I got out what I could with manual means, to the limit of my patience and dexterity. Some more worked out and mixed with sawdust over time, which I again cleaned. Gradually my machine became stiffer to adjust as the remaining stuff hardened in place. (six year old machine at that time). I finally used a kero gun (kind of an ultra cheap spray gun with a long nozzle) and had at it. The resulting clean up left a sparkling fresh cabinet interior and lots of flammable vapour.

If I had to do it again I'd use a trigger spray bottle and a half litre of solvent (whatever is at hand-grease is just oil mixed with soap, so it doesn't need an exotic cleaner)

Greg

no expert, but happy to report good findings from my many experiments.

Thanks Greg, will give it a go.

I have applied CRC Dry Glide with PTFE to the worm and worm gear that raise and lower the blade, and to the trunnion sliding bearing surfaces which incline the blade.

I think I have applied too much to the worm gear over the past couple of days, as it is now difficult to raise and lower the blade, the mechanism being quite stiff. It was OK when the lubricant was freshly applied and wet. I suspect that there is a build up of PTFE on the gears.

Can anyone please advise on the best way to manage this situation?

regards,
Jill

Jill, check out the knobs that hold the hand wheels on their shafts, as they can be adjusted to lock the wheel so they dont turn!
You may have them too tight, it doesnt take much screw pressure to lock them tight.(you can use this to your advantage when cutting joints to keep the saw blade exactly in place)

Thanks Harry72. The handle locks were quite loose

I contacted CRC Technical people today, and was advised that CRC DRy Glide has resin in it that sets pretty hard, and therefore is only really suitable for flat bearing surfaces ( like the trunnion bearing). It was not recommended for use on worm gears. He suggested removing the Dry Glide with a CRC Clean-R-Carb and a bit of elbow grease.

He said there are Dry Film Lubricants around that do not have resins, and are suitable for worm gears

With the recommended CRC cleaner and a small brass brush, I was easily able to remove the Dry Glide, but you need to be careful the cleaner doesn't land on any painted surfaces. It washes off with water.

I then applied Selleys Ezy Glide, allowed to cure, and the mechanism is not so stiff at all now

Regards,
Jill