On 23/12/2020 14:10, Chris Hogg wrote:
On Wed, 23 Dec 2020 12:58:01 +0000, newshound
wrote:

I have an old front door and even more ancient door frame, these move
about a bit in damp weather and get tight but free up when it gets drier
and warmer. This was an area that is currently bare wood (but it is old
oak).

Needed a spot of fettling today, took a light skim of the tight bit with
a little plane and manual coarse sandpaper, but it was still slightly
tight. Rather than faff about longer removing material, I thought I'd
try a spray of Mr Sheen which has transformed it from "needing a shove"
to "just kissing".

I know it's not ideal, in the better weather I will need to clean it up
properly and repaint, but I was surprised what a quick and easy fix this
was.

Rubbing it over with a candle also helps. I've found that silicone
grease, well rubbed in, tends to stop the wood swelling in winter. I
used silicone because the bugs and beasties don't go for it like they
might with mineral grease.

Part of my rationale was that the silcone wax in such things might help
with "waterproofing".

It tends to be anaerobes that go for mineral oils, with the organic
sulphur impurities being the attraction. You don't get much mould
growing on the surface of grease in a tin!