Lubricating 8x10 Darkslides

[gbenaim]

Hi All,

Just got some wooden 8x10 holders, and the slides are a little tight. What's the standard way of lubricating them? I seem to remember people using graphite powder, can one use pencil lead? How do you keep graphite from making a mess of your film? What other options are there? TIA,

GB

 

[Roger Hicks]

Hi All,

Just got some wooden 8x10 holders, and the slides are a little tight. What's the standard way of lubricating them? I seem to remember people using graphite powder, can one use pencil lead? How do you keep graphite from making a mess of your film? What other options are there? TIA,

GB

A candle stub is another traditional lubricant.

 

[Steve Smith]

The graphite from a pencil is commonly used on guitars where the string passes over the nut to stop the strings sticking whilst tuning. I suspect that it would work equally well on your holders.
Just apply a bit with a soft pencil and wipe off any loose dust with a cloth.

Something else which may work is a wax or polymer based furniture polish such as Mr Sheen. I use this on plastic curtain tracks.

Steve.

 

[doughowk]

For rehabbing some in-bad-condition 8X10 holders, I 1st washed the slides; then, after drying, sprayed both sides with a Silicone spray lubricant from Gunk. Its been a couple of years since doing this, & they still slide properly.

 

[gbenaim]

Thanks all for the help. I used some furniture polish w silicon in it and it worked great. No I just have to test their light-tightness. How much of a bulge is normal in the middle when the slides are inserted at the insertion end?

 

[DannL]

I take a wad of steel wool and polish the edges of the darkside first. Sometimes that's all that is required. Then if lubrication appears necessary, I also rub a candle along the edges. I steer away from liquid lubricants, due to the mess.