question on sticky banjo

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triw51

triw51

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Joined
Feb 14, 2012
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407 East Cottonwood Drive, Cottonwood AZ
I purchased a new banjo for my 2nd hand lathe. My problem is that it does not slide smoothly when I am positioning it. I cleaned the rod inside with carburetor cleaner to remove the packing grease and used a silicone dry lube for lubrication. But after a while that gummed up and I had to clean it again this is like the 4th time in less than a year. What do you use to lube your banjo with?
I do not know the technical name for the parts but I am referring to the locking parts that has a metal ring that slides on an offset rod.
Thanks William
 
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I'm not sure if I understand what you are saying but when my banjo doesn't slide smooth it usually just needs to be adjusted by turning the bolt on the bottom below the lathe bed. It just takes a very slight movement of the bolt, like a 1/10 turn to loosen or tighten it a bit.

Sorry if I didn't understand your question correctly and didn't help.
 
In addition to what Jim said about the bolt being adjusted, I think I understand that the problem you may be having is your banjo sliding smoothly across the lathe bed which may be caused by gunk.
If that's the case, what I do every once in awhile is run a 80-100 grit sanding sponge across both rail of the lathe bed a few times. You'd be amazed and what kind of gunk it can accumulate. Run your fingers across it and you will see. Then, before the next step wipe all of the dust off.
Next run a bar of paraffin wax VERY lightly across the lathe rails. Doesn't take much, even buff it out a little. Do the same on the bottom of your banjo. Whole thing takes about a minute. Before you know it, you'll have a hockey puck on your hands.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Bob
 
I think the problem is that you are lubricating it. Sanding dust and other gunk is sticking to your lubricant. Clean off all the lubricant. I've never lubricated the banjo.
 
When I clean and lube the misc slide-around parts and lathe bed, I end with a coat of wax on the bed ans all the sliding parts. I also apply wax to the area and parts you describe here. The wax does not attract sanding dust and other stuff, so I have not ever had the problem that you describe that "gums up". So based on my experience, you may want to try the wax. I think I do the clean/wax about every 2 months, which I consider to be minimal, somewhat routine maintenance.
 
William, paraffin like earlier noted. I rub a little along the banjo sliding bar and rub most off with a rag or paper towel. Sorta like waxing sled runners!
 
My banjo is fine but my tailstock wants to slide back when I bring it up to the wood or what ever I'm turning and then tighten it snug but it wants to slide back. I have tightened the cam underneath it and that helped but not too much. I don't want to tighten it so tight I wouldn't be able to move it. Can't figure out what causes that. I have the Excelsior mini lathe... Fay
 
Fay Prozora said:
My banjo is fine but my tailstock wants to slide back when I bring it up to the wood or what ever I'm turning and then tighten it snug but it wants to slide back. I have tightened the cam underneath it and that helped but not too much. I don't want to tighten it so tight I wouldn't be able to move it. Can't figure out what causes that. I have the Excelsior mini lathe... Fay
Click to expand...

If you wax the lathe bed that could be the cause. Some turners believe you should wax the bed to prevent rust and allow the banjo and tailstock to slide easily. Other turners say you shouldn't wax the bed because you want everything to stay in place once you move it.

I only wax the bed about once or twice a year when it starts to get sticky. When I do wax it it is after a good cleaning and I remove as much wax as I can. That is what works for me but may not be the right choice for you.
 
Triw, I am firmly in the camp of using a wax--specifically Renaissance micro-crystalline wax. It is damn expensive, but it works a trick. I even use it on the workings of my banjo. Using the sanding sponges as mentioned is also a must IMO-it is amazing what all your lathe bed accumulates on it. Try cleaning your banjo guts of all lube and gunk, and then applying a good coat of wax, (hopefully Renaissance was) and buff it off to the best sheen you can get and I'm pretty sure that will slick things up for you.

Kragax--the banjo is the fixture that your tool rest slides into that moves along the bed of your lathe.
 
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