-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: Broken map drawers]]
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 14:39:55 -0400
From: Barry, John W. [C] <[log in to unmask]>
To: 'Maps and Air Photo Systems Forum' <[log in to unmask]>

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If you decide to grease your bearings (or other metal to metal surfaces),
use White Lithium grease, a non-petroleum-based corrosion- and
oxidation-resistant lubricant that goes on (and cleans up) easily.

John W Barry [C]
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
Software Engineer
EDC / e-Library Team
Bethesda, MD
(T) 301-227-2103 (F) 301-227-5059

"To understand your enemy, you must walk a mile
in his shoes.  Then, if he is still your enemy, you are
a mile away and he has no shoes."

-----Original Message-----
From: Johnnie D. Sutherland [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2004 1:25 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Broken map drawers]]


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Broken map drawers]
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 09:03:49 -0700
From: Brian Bach <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]

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Ilene,

Having achieved a sort of mechanical apprenticeship tinkering with old
DeSotos and Chrysler Imperials in my youth, I consequently feel
confident enough to effect nearly all map drawer maintenance myself.
Most problems have to do with the guide wheels, as you have pointed out.
I've found that the screw or bolt that mounts the wheel to the framework
has sometimes come loose, so that the wheel wobbles and causes all sorts
of mayhem, including scraping (metal filings are a telltale sign!) and
misalignment. Solution: tighten said screw or bolt - firmly. There
should be some sort of lock washer in there to keep it tight. Otherwise,
it's pretty much a case of lubrication.

I would avoid using WD40. Though it is heavily marketed as a fix-all
solution, it tends to dry out mechanisms over time, and thus is only a
quick fix. The best lubrication is grease, boldly but discreetly slapped
into the 'race', that orbital channel where the ball bearings live. This
should be sufficient for years, depending on usage. Also, check to see
if the ball bearings themselves are intact. Work the lubrication around
by moving all the parts to ensure complete coverage. Map drawer wheels
aren't on the same plane as say, the running gear in a diesel/electric
locomotive, but the principles of lubrication are the same. Any
automotive store will have grease of all kinds. Just tell 'em what you
need it for.

If the grease factor is a bit forbidding, good old 3-in-1 oil will
suffice, but because it's a pretty lightweight oil, it won't have the
same staying power.

This process is one of the very few activities in which one can
literally get one's hands dirty in a Map Room.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Brian

Brian P. Bach
Maps Specialist
Documents/Maps
Brooks Library
Central Washington University
400 E. University Way
Ellensburg, WA 98926-7548
USA
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>>> [log in to unmask] 8/10/2004 1:36:43 PM >>>
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Broken map drawers
Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 13:20:35 -0600
From: Ilene Raynes <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>

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The Map Library at the University of Colorado is in the midst of a
large
collection shift and we're quickly discovering that many of our map
drawers
are in need of repair (they stick and/or are hard to close and open).
We've
called in facilities management and they've managed to make a few
drawers a
bit better, but many are still in bad shape. Has anyone had experience
getting their map drawers fixed? If yes, who did you call? Has anyone
ordered new wheels for map drawers? How about ordering new drawers to
fit
existing cabinets? If yes to either of these questions, who did you
contact
for these services? Finally, has anyone tried good old-fashioned
oiling
w/WD40? We'd of course take the maps out of the cases before trying
this.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks-

Ilene

Ilene Raynes
Jerry Crail Johnson Earth Sciences and Map Library
University of Colorado - Boulder
Campus Box 184
Boulder, CO 80309
(303) 492-4487
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