Electric Meat Slicer Lubrication Tips
Lubricating your electric meat slicer regularly helps the blades move more easily, allowing the unit to make cuts quickly and precisely. If you’re not sure how to care for your unit, this guide contains electric meat slicer lubrication tips so you can keep your unit working efficiently.
Supplies
Mineral oil is tasteless and odorless, so using it to lubricate your unit won’t affect the taste of food. Be sure to avoid using vegetable oil: this sticky oil can not only seize up the slicer but also allow bacteria to grow.
Pre-Maintenance Checklist
Slicer blades are sharp, so take care when lubricating the unit. For added safety, wear cut-resistant gloves and safety glasses.
- Step 1. Turn off the unit - Power down the unit using the on/off switch.
- Step 2. Unplug the unit - In order to avoid accidentally powering on the unit, disconnect the power cord from the outlet.
- Step 3. Return the selector knob to home - Set the selector knob to the home position.
Lubricating the Sharpener & Shaft
Lubricate the sharpening stones and shaft whenever you change the blades, the unit is unusually noisy or food sticks to the blades. Be mindful of these clues when operating heavy-duty slicers since these units may need to be lubricated as often as once every 4 hours.
- Step 1. Remove the knife sharpener - In order to gain access to the sharpener stones, take off the knife sharpener by first loosening the knob and then pulling up by the handle.
- Step 2. Lubricate the sharpening stones and shafts - Apply oil to the shaft of both stones. Push the handle a few times to distribute the oil evenly.
- Step 3. Reinstall the knife sharpener - Once the sharpening stones and shafts are lubricated, return the knife sharpener assembly to its proper position on the unit.
- Step 4. Wipe off excess oil - If there’s any excess oil on the sharpener assembly, clean it with a soft cloth.
Lubricating the Slide Rod
For optimal performance, lubricate the slide rod once per week.
- Step 1. Apply oil to the slide rod - Lubricate the slide rod and end weight of the food shute with a few drops of oil.
- Step 2. Distribute the oil - Move the end weight up and down to distribute the oil.
- Step 3. Clean off any excess oil - Wipe away any excess oil on the slide rod with a clean, soft cloth.
Lubricating the Carriage Knob
Remember to lubricate the carriage knob once every 6 months.
- Step 1. Loosen the carriage knob - First, turn the carriage knob to loosen it.
- Step 2. Apply mineral oil - Lubricate the carriage knob shaft by applying a few drops of mineral oil.
- Step 3. Tighten the knob - Tighten the knob by turning it in the opposite direction.
- Step 4. Wipe up any excess oil - Use a clean cloth to remove any excess oil.
Resume Normal Operation
Before resuming normal operation of the slicer, make sure that the knife sharpener is reinstalled, the selector knob is set to home and all other knobs are tight.
- Step 1. Plug in the unit - To use the unit normally, first restore power to the unit.
- Step 2. Turn the unit on - Then, use the on/on switch to turn the unit on. Once the unit is powered on, you may resume normal operation.
If you found this article helpful, check out our guides on how to use a meat slicer safely, how to clean a meat slicer and electric meat slicer troubleshooting. For more information on caring for your equipment, our Resource Center has a large library of other articles and videos, too.