How to Maintain Dining Table Slides

In an effort to keep the fine furniture that we buy in top condition, we must learn how to maintain them. For furniture with moving parts, such as dining room tables, maintaining them will help keep them in top form. The metal slides of a dining room table should be cleaned and oiled on a regular basis.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Protective floor covering
• Wire brush
• Clean cloth
• Oil

1. Pull on opposite ends of the dining table to extend the slides and remove the table leafs. Place a protective covering on the floor and turn the table over on the protective covering.

2. Clean the slides with a wire brush if there is rust present. Be careful not to scratch the slides as you clean them.

3. Clean the rust you broke free from the slides with an old paint brush. Apply oil onto a clean cloth and wipe the slides to remove the rust the paint brush left behind.

4. Apply a liberal amount of oil directly to the slides. Turn the table upright keeping it on the protective cover and work the slides by pushing the table together and pulling it apart.

5. Work the slides as indicated in Step 4 until they are moving freely. Allow the table to stay on the protective covering until excess oil has finished dripping.

Tips & Warnings

• It is best if you can do this in a garage or a carport as long as the table will be protected from the weather.
• Use only oil designated for this purpose.
• Do not leave oil cans unattended in the presence of children.
• Do not reinstall the table leafs until the oil has stopped dripping.

References

• Dining Table Design Basics

Resources

• Hardware: Extension Table Slides