Only acid-free machine oil should be used for the mechanics. Depending on your location, you should use oils with more or less viscosity. Viscosity indicates the thickness of an oil. Thin oil should be used in cooler areas as opposed to warm areas. If you are not sure, sewing machine oil is often a good all-around solution.
In general, oils should only be used for the long axles and grease for the screws. Adjusting screws should not be able to turn themselves, but should also be protected against rust. Therefore, they are burnished with oil. You warm them up and then dip them in oil. Wood screws are mostly made of nickel silver or silver-plated and therefore cannot rust.
Greasing the Mechanics
The pointed screws on the other hand should be well lubricated with grease. Watchmaker grease is the most suitable for this. It is not cheap but very good and well worth the price.
Cork fat
The Swiss company Chemische Fabriken Schachen has been producing this excellent natural product under the name La Tromba for decades. Unfortunately, the name was never protected. In the meantime, cheap counterfeits with the same name are being offered. We only recommend and sell the Swiss Original . It is slightly reddish and lasts almost forever. Once applied, it keeps the cork supple and does not dry out.
Fat Pencils
The very common fat sticks consist mainly of petroleum jelly. This does not lubricate as well and you are forced to move one layer to the next. After several layers, you should clean the cork with alcohol again.