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'Dry' lubricant for metal

Does what it says on the tin
MyNameIsUrl
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'Dry' lubricant for metal

#402019

Postby MyNameIsUrl » April 6th, 2021, 1:54 pm

My curtains have metal rings on a metal pole (both probably steel, possibly plated). They drag badly and there is a danger of damaging the curtains when opening/closing them, but putting oil or grease on the poles risks staining the curtains. I'd use silicone if they were plastic or wooden - is there anything clean/dry for metal?

bungeejumper
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Re: 'Dry' lubricant for metal

#402023

Postby bungeejumper » April 6th, 2021, 1:58 pm

If it's metal on metal, I'd have thought using a fine file on the sliding edges would be more effective?

BJ

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Re: 'Dry' lubricant for metal

#402024

Postby DrFfybes » April 6th, 2021, 2:04 pm

Rub the pole tops with a fine sanding block, and try Candle wax?

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Re: 'Dry' lubricant for metal

#402027

Postby Watis » April 6th, 2021, 2:10 pm

I second the suggestion of rubbing candle wax on the surfaces that touch.

Candle wax works as a lubricant on drawer slides too.

Watis

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Re: 'Dry' lubricant for metal

#402032

Postby ReformedCharacter » April 6th, 2021, 2:14 pm

Furniture polish.

RC

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Re: 'Dry' lubricant for metal

#402034

Postby MyNameIsUrl » April 6th, 2021, 2:16 pm

...a fine file on the sliding edges...


...a fine sanding block...


Sorry if I haven't described it clearly - the pole and the rings are brand new and very smooth. I don't think that any sanding or even polishing would help, as the dragging is caused by the weight of the curtains, around 5kg each, combined with the 30 rings per curtain. I think it's just friction, but I'm looking for a lubricant which won't stain the fabric.

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Re: 'Dry' lubricant for metal

#402038

Postby bungeejumper » April 6th, 2021, 2:28 pm

MyNameIsUrl wrote:Sorry if I haven't described it clearly - the pole and the rings are brand new and very smooth. I don't think that any sanding or even polishing would help, as the dragging is caused by the weight of the curtains, around 5kg each, combined with the 30 rings per curtain. I think it's just friction, but I'm looking for a lubricant which won't stain the fabric.

If the pole is new, I'm guessing it's got a coat of lacquer which is snagging on the rings because of the weight of the curtains. (Actually, our curtains are closer to 15 kg each!) It might improve as it settles in, but I'd still consider sanding/filing off the lacquer on the very top of the pole where you won't see it.

BJ

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Re: 'Dry' lubricant for metal

#402040

Postby GrahamPlatt » April 6th, 2021, 2:32 pm

Just a thought off top of head, but maybe rubbing along the top of the pole with a soft pencil (4B or greater) might do it. Or not.
another option would be PTFE chain lube (aerosol can, but just squirt onto a duster and rub onto the pole).
Last edited by GrahamPlatt on April 6th, 2021, 2:38 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Re: 'Dry' lubricant for metal

#402041

Postby MyNameIsUrl » April 6th, 2021, 2:36 pm

thanks for the replies, I've tried a couple of suggestions:

I'm a fan of candle wax on drawer runners, but it's not as good on the curtains - the ring on the pole is essentially a point contact, never an ideal engineering design, and candle wax is simply scraped off

I'm also a fan of furniture polish which works well on plastic/wooden rings and poles, especially with very light curtains. What I've now tried is 'Wynn's Professional Formula Silicone-Lube' which has made a marked improvement. I'll see how long it lasts...

I haven't tried the pencil suggestion - I think it may have the same pitfalls as oil and grease, ie marking the curtaiins

thanks all

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Re: 'Dry' lubricant for metal

#402043

Postby Cornytiv34 » April 6th, 2021, 2:38 pm

Try searching for a dry curtain rail lubricant there seem to be many. When we moved into a new house the fitter used one. A search revealed these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/500ml-silicone ... B004YTGCO6

Mike

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Re: 'Dry' lubricant for metal

#402127

Postby NilDenari » April 6th, 2021, 7:30 pm

Silicone polish ? Teflon lubricant ? Wax Candle ?

BTDT, the real answer is ...

Nylon lined curtain rings.

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Re: 'Dry' lubricant for metal

#402614

Postby richlist » April 8th, 2021, 2:06 pm

The wd40 people do a silicon spray.

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Re: 'Dry' lubricant for metal

#402616

Postby DrFfybes » April 8th, 2021, 2:10 pm

GrahamPlatt wrote:Just a thought off top of head, but maybe rubbing along the top of the pole with a soft pencil (4B or greater).


Finally, after nearly 400 years, we know the correct answer is "not 2B".

Paul

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Re: 'Dry' lubricant for metal

#403363

Postby 88V8 » April 11th, 2021, 10:34 am

Lubricant wears off....
If you look on eBay, you will find hordes of metal rings with some sort of plastic liners, at a peanuts price. They don't drag.

V8


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