Suggestions on lubricating flat file sliding drawers

[Jands180]

Hi all! Our shop just purchased a used 12 drawer flat file, and the drawers are catching and not sliding as smooth. I was wondering if anyone has stumbled into this problem and has a solution that doesn't involve any spray/grease as we will be storing customers' art in them. I've heard wax or powdered graphite can work, are these the best suggestions?

Thanks!

Jenna

 

[framah]

Rub some bar soap on it.

 

[Rick Granick]

Don't use powdered graphite in there, as it would be equivalent to emptying pencil sharpener shavings near the art. If you can remove the drawers, then clean the tracks which might just have dust and dirt in them. If you want to lubricate them, you could use a dry lube or wipe some similar non-oily lubricant in the tracks with a rag.
Rick

 

[JFeig]

Paraffin wax, or even a candle which is usually made from the same wax.