Tuning key lube

[Thumpie]

My Kay's tuning keys are tight and hard to move. What sort of lube should I use?

Thanks!

[Steve Killingsworth]

I had a similar problem and applied a slight amount of vaseline (petroleum jelly) to the worm gears--problem solved.

[Cody Sisk]

Vaseline is a dust magnet. I'd use one drop of 3-in-1 machine oil.

[Rick Auvil]

I loosened up an old worm gear using musical instrument valve oil. The oil also seemed to have a cleansing effect.

[mje]

In something that moves as slowly as the tuning machines on an instrument, the problem usually isn't lack of lubrication, but dirt and heavy oxidation.

[Bill Bentgen]

I disassemble and clean mine about every 10 years or so. I've had it since the 60's. For a while I used a graphite gun lubricant which worked pretty well.

[Paul Warburton]

+1 on mje's post.

In my 53 years with basses, (I used to buy and sell) I've never lubricated a machine.

[fdeck]

In his guitar repair book, Dan Erlewine recommends against oil, as it could seep into the wood and really mess things up.

[Fetusyolk]

KY his & hers

[Jeremy Allen]

Just solved the same problem with some beeswax. It looks a little messy, but it works perfectly and it's not greasy or dirt-collecting.

[Gastrok]

white Lithium grease