Travis,

Not exactly porch wisdom...

But in the world of wooden clock movements people like to slather the 
movements with linseed oil to "feed" and reinforce the teeth on the 
wheels. It doesn't. Instead it oxidizes, discoloring the wood and forms 
a sticky surface finish which is perfect for catching dust.  While the 
use of the word oil in the name might make one think it could be a 
lubricant, this is is not the case. I suspect this is why Kingshott 
makes this comment.

All, said I wouldn't use graphite powder either. When folks are finished 
soaking their clock movements in linseed oil they typically coat every 
working surface with heaps of graphite powder in lieu of proper repairs. 
It makes an awful mess and is miserable to clean off. If you coat your 
clamp threads with graphite likely you will end up with the stuff all 
over your project, hands, and clothes.

If your threads are well formed I suspect lubrication is unnecessary but 
in a pinch I would probably use some paste wax.

Troy


On 10/19/2014 9:41 AM, Gye Greene wrote:
> 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
>