Like some other builders, I replaced the bearings in the Rockler with Acetal ones from McMaster-Carr. This was the 3rd time I'd taken a Rockler apart. Cleaning it and replacing the stock lube didn't quite live up to my expectations.
I cleaned the grease from the track, used the dremel to clean up the little bit of slag in there, then sanded it with 400 grit paper and wiped both pieces down as best I could. Then I sprayed a little Teflon Lubricant in the track, replaced the bearings leaving about 2 inches of empty space in the track just as the original bearings did, and finally sprayed a little more lubricant into the open gap in the top.
You can see the difference. It was only getting about 3/4 a turn per spin before. Now its going a full 3-4 rotations. I added the Dome Base Plate and Dome afterwards and still get 3 full rotations with a modest hand spin. It quieted down too. Almost totally gone is that annoying bearing knocking that came from the stock balls. It always sounded like a Newton's Cradle to me. Although not completely silent, it should be loads better and sound a little more like the Artoo in the movies.
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