wax or paraffin, like Gulf Wax used for canning and sold in supermarkets. Answer from oldtoolfool on reddit.com
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/beginnerwoodworking › how to lubricate wood drawer slides? wax?
r/BeginnerWoodWorking on Reddit: How to lubricate wood drawer slides? Wax?
October 7, 2020 -

I made a basic desk out of common lumber.

For the drawers, I didn't use ball-bearing slides in order to save money. So they are just wood sliding on wood. It's ok, but I'd like the action to be smoother.

What can I use to lubricate the wood-on-wood mechanism? I vaguely heard that wax might be an option but am open to hearing of a better product.

Ideally, it'd be cheap, easy to apply, and be long-lasting.

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Amazon
amazon.ca › 6oz-Wood-Lubricant-Wax-Maintain › dp › B0D3V7VDBZ
Qucship 6oz Wood Lubricant & Wax - Sliding Drawer & Door Hinge Lubricant - Restore & Maintain Wooden Slides, Loosen Drawer Slides : Amazon.ca: Health & Personal Care
Qucship 6oz Wood Lubricant & Wax - Sliding Drawer & Door Hinge Lubricant - Restore & Maintain Wooden Slides, Loosen Drawer Slides : Amazon.ca: Health & Personal Care
Qucship 6oz Wood Lubricant & Wax - Sliding Drawer & Door Hinge Lubricant - Restore & Maintain Wooden Slides, Loosen Drawer Slides : Amazon.ca: Health & Personal Care
(4.5)
Price   $30.25
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Woodworking Talk
woodworkingtalk.com › home › forums › woodworking forum › general woodworking discussions
Wooden drawer guides and silicone oil | Woodworking Talk
Try Johnsons paste wax. ... You can buy thin plastic drawer tape. I bought a roll and use it from time to time for many projects, mostly home repairs. The 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch are the same price, so I bought the 3/4 inch and trim it carefully ...
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Family Handyman
familyhandyman.com › home › skills › woodworking › furniture
Gulf Wax for Sticky Drawers — The Family Handyman
October 31, 2022 - Rub a block of Gulf Wax along the wooden drawer slides and along any other high-friction points on the drawers. Drawers will open smoothly.
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Woodweb
woodweb.com › knowledge_base › Waxing_Wooden_Drawer_Runners.html
Waxing Wooden Drawer Runners
You can buy it in the canning section at the grocery store. Wax up the guides and drawer bottoms or sides that contact the guides very well, then move the drawers in and out to make them work nice and smoothly. From contributor D: Instead of wax, Mohawk's Slideez (#M750-1205) is a far superior ...
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Amazon
amazon.com › drawer-slide-wax › s
Amazon.com: Drawer Slide Wax
Check each product page for other buying options. Price and other details may vary based on product size and color · AstraVox Wood Wax Lubricant for Furniture, Multi-Purpose Sliding Drawer Door Hinge Lubricant Grease to Lubricate and Reduce Noise, Paste Wax for Wood Drawer, Floor, Dresser, ...
Find elsewhere
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LumberJocks
lumberjocks.com › home › forums › skill share › finishing
Wood lubricant | LumberJocks Woodworking Forum
My go-to is still Bowling Alley Wax…. Used to be Johnson, but a few years ago, Home Depot switched to a different brand that works almost as well. Certainly good enough for drawer slides or tool surfaces, ... man this is a slow day on jocks ...
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Canadian Woodworking
forum.canadianwoodworking.com › home
Helping wood to slide well - Canadian Woodworking and Home Improvement Forum
Give the sliders a couple of coats of white shellac or cellulose sanding sealer ,sand very lightly 240 grit or Scotch brite ( fine ) to de nib then use any paste wax preferably a beeswax furniture polish e.g Antiquewax,,Liberon Black Bison . Avoid all silicone's ... Pat, I use a block of beeswax ...
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Amazon
amazon.com › IMPRESA-Lubricant-Friction-Drawer-Furniture-Restoration-Long-Lasting › dp › B0CLS8Z3LB
Amazon.com: Impresa Wood Drawer Slide Wax - Friction Reducer & ...
Smooth Sliding Experience: Transform stubborn drawers into effortlessly gliding components with this wood drawer slide wax. Reduce friction on wooden drawer slides, ensuring longevity and functionality in every room of your home
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A Traditional Life
atraditionallife.com › home › blog › how to use beeswax to deal with sticky, wooden drawers
How to Use Beeswax to Deal With Sticky, Wooden Drawers • A Traditional Life
May 11, 2023 - I quickly applied wax to other two. Even when loaded down with shirts, jeans, socks and such, the drawers still slid smoothing, without catching! Finally, I can get at our clothes without yanking the set across the floor. ... Now, let me be clear: my old wooden drawers still don't slide perfectly.
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Target
target.com › p › impresa-6oz-jar-drawer-wax-sliding-wood-lubricant-to-reduce-unwanted-friction-metal-wood-drawer-slide-wax › - › A-93018029
Impresa 6oz. Jar Drawer Wax Sliding Wood Lubricant to Reduce Unwanted Friction - Metal/Wood Drawer Slide Wax : Target
Read reviews and buy Impresa 6oz. Jar Drawer Wax Sliding Wood Lubricant to Reduce Unwanted Friction - Metal/Wood Drawer Slide Wax at Target. Choose from contactless Same Day Delivery, Drive Up and more.
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USVintageWood
usvintagewood.com › how-to-make-wood-drawers-slide-easier
Woodworking Tips: How To Make Wood Drawers Slide Easier
March 26, 2025 - Instead, use paraffin wax, beeswax, candle wax, or silicone spray, which lubricate without staining or attracting dirt. For an oil-based option, dry graphite powder is a better choice as it leaves no residue.
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RMP Finishes
rmpfinishes.com › home › tips & techniques › fix sticky wooden drawers with clear carnauba wax
Fix Sticky Wooden Drawers Using Clear Carnauba Wax | RMP Finishes
The fix: Real Milk Paint Clear Carnauba Wax. Wood doesn’t have a lot of natural lubrication, which is why it can be hard to open some stuck drawers. This is especially true in the summer.
Published   October 2, 2025
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Sawmill Creek
sawmillcreek.org › forums › woodworking topics › general woodworking and power tools
Drawer Friction | Sawmill Creek Woodworking Community
November 11, 2021 - Paraffin, by way of candles or canning wax, is all I have ever used. I don't think I have ever had to re-wax a drawer. It also what I use on plane soles, machine tables, wood vise slides, etc.
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Amazon
amazon.ca › Package-Center-Classic-Traditional-Drawer › dp › B077JMT2SZ
Wax Coated 22" 2 PCS Package Center Mount Classic Traditional Wood Drawer Slide, Drawer Slides - Amazon Canada
Wax Coated 22" 2 PCS Package Center Mount Classic Traditional Wood Drawer Slide, Drawer Slides - Amazon Canada
Wax Coated 22" 2 PCS Package Center Mount Classic Traditional Wood Drawer Slide in Drawer Slides.
(4.2)
Price   $52.26
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Woodworking Talk
woodworkingtalk.com › home › forums › woodworking forum › general woodworking discussions
Wax on bare wood, moving parts | Woodworking Talk
Properly fit and a touch of Johnsons paste wax and they should last for generations. ... Traditionally drawer boxes, especially the kind with wood slides are not finished at all. Personally I prefer the wood slides that have a runner underneath ...
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WonderHowTo
macgyverisms.wonderhowto.com › how-to › make-sticky-stubborn-wooden-drawers-slide-more-smoothly-0146571
How to Make Sticky or Stubborn Wooden Drawers Slide More Smoothly << MacGyverisms :: WonderHowTo
April 29, 2013 - You can use just about anything you have that's waxy or has a similar texture, like silicone spray or plain beeswax. If you don't want to apply a coating, sometimes sanding the sides and runners will help drawers slide easier since wood chips ...