• Jigsaw table with stiff drawers

    From Mike Halmarack@mikehalmarack@gmail.com to uk.d-i-y on Fri Jan 9 10:12:54 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    Bought a jigsaw table for Christmas on EBay. It seems to be made from
    a sort of dense polystyrene. The drawers are really resistant to being
    opened and closed. There's a need to wriggle them to get them moving,
    which can disturb the partially finished jigsaw layout.

    I've rubbed all relevant parts with candle wax, which hasn't had much
    of an effect.

    Are there any more effective lubricants for this type of material?
    --

    Mike
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  • From Abandoned Trolley@that.bloke@microsoft.com to uk.d-i-y on Fri Jan 9 10:37:37 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 09/01/2026 10:12, Mike Halmarack wrote:
    Bought a jigsaw table for Christmas on EBay. It seems to be made from
    a sort of dense polystyrene. The drawers are really resistant to being
    opened and closed. There's a need to wriggle them to get them moving,
    which can disturb the partially finished jigsaw layout.

    I've rubbed all relevant parts with candle wax, which hasn't had much
    of an effect.

    Are there any more effective lubricants for this type of material?



    what about some of that powdered pencil lead stuff which locksmiths use ?
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  • From Mike Halmarack@mikehalmarack@gmail.com to uk.d-i-y on Fri Jan 9 10:49:09 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On Fri, 9 Jan 2026 10:37:37 +0000, Abandoned Trolley
    <that.bloke@microsoft.com> wrote:

    On 09/01/2026 10:12, Mike Halmarack wrote:
    Bought a jigsaw table for Christmas on EBay. It seems to be made from
    a sort of dense polystyrene. The drawers are really resistant to being
    opened and closed. There's a need to wriggle them to get them moving,
    which can disturb the partially finished jigsaw layout.

    I've rubbed all relevant parts with candle wax, which hasn't had much
    of an effect.

    Are there any more effective lubricants for this type of material?



    what about some of that powdered pencil lead stuff which locksmiths use ?

    That might do the trick, I'll try it. Maybe graphite grease would be
    too messy.
    --

    Mike
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Fredxx@fredxx@spam.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Fri Jan 9 10:58:07 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 09/01/2026 10:12, Mike Halmarack wrote:
    Bought a jigsaw table for Christmas on EBay. It seems to be made from
    a sort of dense polystyrene. The drawers are really resistant to being
    opened and closed. There's a need to wriggle them to get them moving,
    which can disturb the partially finished jigsaw layout.

    I've rubbed all relevant parts with candle wax, which hasn't had much
    of an effect.

    Are there any more effective lubricants for this type of material?

    You can get molyslip and graphite sprays that only leave a powder behind.

    Many solvent will attack polystyrene.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Mike Halmarack@mikehalmarack@gmail.com to uk.d-i-y on Fri Jan 9 11:32:49 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On Fri, 9 Jan 2026 10:58:07 +0000, Fredxx <fredxx@spam.invalid> wrote:

    On 09/01/2026 10:12, Mike Halmarack wrote:
    Bought a jigsaw table for Christmas on EBay. It seems to be made from
    a sort of dense polystyrene. The drawers are really resistant to being
    opened and closed. There's a need to wriggle them to get them moving,
    which can disturb the partially finished jigsaw layout.

    I've rubbed all relevant parts with candle wax, which hasn't had much
    of an effect.

    Are there any more effective lubricants for this type of material?

    You can get molyslip and graphite sprays that only leave a powder behind.

    Many solvent will attack polystyrene.

    A spray may be the way to go, although if the result is a loose layer
    of graphite, some masking will be needed.
    --

    Mike
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Tricky Dicky@tricky.dicky@sky.com to uk.d-i-y on Fri Jan 9 15:15:10 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    Mike Halmarack <mikehalmarack@gmail.com> wrote:
    Bought a jigsaw table for Christmas on EBay. It seems to be made from
    a sort of dense polystyrene. The drawers are really resistant to being
    opened and closed. There's a need to wriggle them to get them moving,
    which can disturb the partially finished jigsaw layout.

    I've rubbed all relevant parts with candle wax, which hasn't had much
    of an effect.

    Are there any more effective lubricants for this type of material?

    Try silicone spray lubricant, mine says it is OK for plastics although I
    would test it on a hidden part just in case.

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Fredxx@fredxx@spam.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Fri Jan 9 15:55:06 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 09/01/2026 11:32, Mike Halmarack wrote:
    On Fri, 9 Jan 2026 10:58:07 +0000, Fredxx <fredxx@spam.invalid> wrote:

    On 09/01/2026 10:12, Mike Halmarack wrote:
    Bought a jigsaw table for Christmas on EBay. It seems to be made from
    a sort of dense polystyrene. The drawers are really resistant to being
    opened and closed. There's a need to wriggle them to get them moving,
    which can disturb the partially finished jigsaw layout.

    I've rubbed all relevant parts with candle wax, which hasn't had much
    of an effect.

    Are there any more effective lubricants for this type of material?

    You can get molyslip and graphite sprays that only leave a powder behind.

    Many solvent will attack polystyrene.

    A spray may be the way to go, although if the result is a loose layer
    of graphite, some masking will be needed.

    I would use the spray on a test area first.

    If colour is an issue and won't easily wipe off visible areas PTFE
    powder might be an alternative?

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/100-PTFE-lubricant-ultra-powder/dp/B08P58HCSS?th=1
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From jkn@jkn+nin@nicorp.co.uk to uk.d-i-y on Fri Jan 9 15:57:13 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 09/01/2026 15:55, Fredxx wrote:
    On 09/01/2026 11:32, Mike Halmarack wrote:
    On Fri, 9 Jan 2026 10:58:07 +0000, Fredxx <fredxx@spam.invalid> wrote:

    On 09/01/2026 10:12, Mike Halmarack wrote:
    Bought a jigsaw table for Christmas on EBay. It seems to be made from
    a sort of dense polystyrene. The drawers are really resistant to being >>>> opened and closed. There's a need to wriggle them to get them moving,
    which can disturb the partially finished jigsaw layout.

    I've rubbed all relevant parts with candle wax, which hasn't had much
    of an effect.

    Are there any more effective lubricants for this type of material?

    You can get molyslip and graphite sprays that only leave a powder
    behind.

    Many solvent will attack polystyrene.

    A spray may be the way to go, although if the result is a loose layer
    of graphite, some masking will be needed.

    I would use the spray on a test area first.

    If colour is an issue and won't easily wipe off visible areas PTFE
    powder might be an alternative?

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/100-PTFE-lubricant-ultra-powder/dp/B08P58HCSS?th=1

    Never heard of this (as a powder) before, thanks for the pointer

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Mike Halmarack@mikehalmarack@gmail.com to uk.d-i-y on Fri Jan 9 17:37:57 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On Fri, 09 Jan 2026 10:12:54 +0000, Mike Halmarack
    <mikehalmarack@gmail.com> wrote:

    Lots of useful advice, thanks.
    --

    Mike
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From The Natural Philosopher@tnp@invalid.invalid to uk.d-i-y on Fri Jan 9 18:43:51 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.d-i-y

    On 09/01/2026 15:15, Tricky Dicky wrote:
    Mike Halmarack <mikehalmarack@gmail.com> wrote:
    Bought a jigsaw table for Christmas on EBay. It seems to be made from
    a sort of dense polystyrene. The drawers are really resistant to being
    opened and closed. There's a need to wriggle them to get them moving,
    which can disturb the partially finished jigsaw layout.

    I've rubbed all relevant parts with candle wax, which hasn't had much
    of an effect.

    Are there any more effective lubricants for this type of material?

    Try silicone spray lubricant, mine says it is OK for plastics although I would test it on a hidden part just in case.

    or even silicon grease. IIRC Halfords do it for bikes. as do many other
    sheds and screwfix etc
    --
    rCLA leader is best When people barely know he exists. Of a good leader,
    who talks little,When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,They will say,
    rCLWe did this ourselves.rCY

    rCo Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

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