Squeaking table

[momo]

Hello Cyber-Woodworkers! I recently purchased an old Gibbard walnut table with 2 drop-down attached leaves and 2 independent leaves. It has many legs and hidden, wooden moving parts underneath the tabletop.

Does anyone know how can I stop the table from squeaking without having anything (graphite, oils, etc.) drip onto my carpet and while also maintaining the authenticity of the table? I have heard rubbing bar soap on the moving parts may be a solution; Has anyone one else tried this? Thanks in advance!

[drzaius]

Rubbing paraffin on the moving parts, in my opinion, is better than soap. It's clean & harmless to the furniture.

[RichardA]

Johnson's wax will do the same thing as paraffin, and might be less expensive.

[pkinneb]

I'm with @drzaius I would use paraffin.

[drzaius]

By paraffin, I mean just take a candle & rub it on the friction surfaces. I always have a little tea candle in my shop apron & use it to rub on the jointer or planer beds, table saw & fence, hand planes, wood drawer runners, etc.

[wtnhighlander]

There is actually an old-time furniture finish based on soap, but I'd go with the wax. Candle or beeswax, paste will work as well, but needs a little care to avoid leaving globs that might soften and drip onto the floor.

[drzaius]

28 minutes ago, wtnhighlander said:

There is actually an old-time furniture finish based on soap, but I'd go with the wax. Candle or beeswax, paste will work as well, but needs a little care to avoid leaving globs that might soften and drip onto the floor.

That goofy Chris Schwartz did an article singing the praises of a soap finish. He tried to make it sound like a wonderful, long lost miracle finish. I wasn't convinced. He's interesting and a good writer, but he as some odd ideas.

If paraffin is just rubbed on, there is no dripping or mess at all.

[G Ragatz]

Dad always used paraffin, so that's what I've always used, but I was watching an episode of Ask This Old House just last night, and Rich Trethewy was recommending soap for lubricating wooden drawer runners.  Everybody has a bar of soap in the house, so maybe it's just a convenience thing?

[Wimayo]

I like paraffin but, I find it rather crumbly and it can make a mess if you are not careful. Also, because it is solid, it is difficult to get into tight spaces where you need it. For the last year or so, I have been using the wax from a toilet wax seal. They are cheap at the big box store and the wax is soft enough that it can be brushed into tight spaces with a small acid brush or, likewise, spread onto flat surfaces with the brush.