Lubricating/cleaning my router?

[Mac]

I seem to recall this coming up before but for the life of me I can't find the thread.  My 1010 has been getting it's first real work out lately and I've been routing some MDF. The dust tends to stick to whatever is on the shafts of the router and it gets a bit juddery to plunge. Any recommendations on the best thing to clean and maintain the little beauty?

Thanks
Rick

 

[Mac]

Guys,

Shane stepped in within minutes and sent me the link to the relevant thread.  I'm about to read it now, and assume it'll shed light on matters.

And Shane, I've said it before but I'll say it again...you get things done like no-one else.  As always, much appreciated.
[thanks]

Rick

 

[PeterK]

Hey Mac. Please copy the link in as I would like to see that thread as well. Thanks.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

It was this older thread about Plunge Router Maintenance from December of last year.

 

[PeterK]

Thank you!!    [big grin]

 

[jeffinsgf]

If a forum newbie can interject here, that thread seemed to bounce around the issue and not face it directly.

Built up crud (some that you can't even see) on the slides will adversely affect your plunging performance.  I can only speak for the OF-1000, but on it, there is one long bolt with an allen head that limits the upward travel of the router motor.  If you remove that bolt, the motor will easily separate from the base.  I use Simichrome to polish the slide bars and then apply a bit of Teflon based spray lube on the bars and the sleeves (Boeshield T-9, Tri-Flo or Slick 50 OneLube interchangeably).  Be very stingy with the lube and take a dry paper towel to the bars and wipe off as much as possible after application.  I do this anytime I notice that the plunging action is not smooth as silk.