GGs,


Was glancing through the book **A Woodworker's Guide to Joints**
(1998), by Jim Kingshott.  On p. 45, regarding handscrew-style clamps
(i.e. with actual wooden threads), he states "The wooden threads on
hand screws are dressed with powdered graphite.  A soft 2B pencil
rubbed over the threads will deposit sufficient graphite to lubricate
them."

But then he warns, "Under no circumstances put linseed or any other
oil on the wooden threads."

Why not?  (He doesn't explain.)  Why is it OK to lubricate with
graphite, but not oil?  It is because crud (sawdust) will stick to
them?  If so:  I oil the metal screws on my vices -- and they seem to
work fine...


Any Porch wisdom would be appreciated.  Thx!


--Travis