I've been working on a moxon vise using a kit I bought, but I'm encountering a problem where the metal bolts leave a black residue on everything they touch, including the handles. Is there a way to fix this? Do I need to treat the bolts with something?
3 Answers
You might want to try wiping the bolts down with some rubbing alcohol to clean them up a bit. After that, applying a light coat of boiled linseed oil (BLO) should help, just avoid the threads to keep them from getting sticky. By the way, are you seeing powdery residue or more like a stain on your wood? If it’s staining, it could be a reaction with the tannins in the wood causing it to darken.
It's boiled linseed oil; it's great for finishing wood and protecting it.
I've had the same issue with my moxon vise kit! The black stuff is just some factory lubrication mixed with oxidation, so it’s normal. Just make sure to clean it off as you go, especially from the nuts and threads so they're ready for your own lubricant when you install everything. A bit of Goof Off or another cleaner will help scrub it away too. Eventually, this should stop happening after you clean it up a few times.
The best way to handle this is to give the bolts a good cleaning and then wax them, similar to how you'd maintain a tablesaw or jointer. This will help seal the metal from moisture and oxygen, which can reduce that annoying residue.
What's BLO?