Q:

I have an old tablesaw that still works well. But the gears often become clogged with sawdust, which makes them hard to turn. I clean them out, but the lubricant I use seems to be a magnet for dust. Is there something I could use that wouldn’t attract so much sawdust?

Paul Cox, Berkeley, CA

A:

I use a white grease stick that has the consistency of soft soap. You can find it in the automotive aisle of most hardware stores. A toothbrush will let you apply a thin coat to the gears that won’t attract much dust.

If you can’t find the stick grease, use a furniture wax like Johnson’s paste wax. It works nearly as well.

To help clean the gears before applying the grease, use a spray penetrating oil such as WD-40 and a stiff brush.

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