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Hi Brian,
Use a high quality car wax ONLY on the tubes. This is the same trick as done on the laminate bearings of dobs. Clean them only with metho. Don't use any other cleaners or solvements as these can leave residue. Also clean the clamps the tubes slide through with metho.
Don't use some cheap and nasty car wax product. These contain nasty solvents, and don't have the same properties as the good stuff. The Turtle Wax that comes in a tub is perfect. Yes it costs a little more than the cheap stuff, but it is a better product for the scope, and your car too! Apply it to the tubes and wipe it off. Only the tubes. This will help reduce the binding your friend is currently experiencing especially if the tubes are scratched.
The tubes should be cleaned occasionally to prevent scratching. Dirt won't stick as you fear to these waxed tubes. Have your friend clean and re-wax the tubes say once a year. If things are very dusty, then do this a bit more regularly. And if you have a scope that uses Teflon in its bearings, you should also clean and wax the surfaces the Teflon slides over as described above at least once a year. DON'T wax the Teflon. Teflon is used because of its unique physical properties - only clean the Teflon pads with metho to maintain the physical properties of it. The quality of the action will be restored to as good as new and reduce binding, gittering, and backlash, and make using the scope not only easier but much more enjoyable as you are not needing to wrestle with it. You should not be needing to use any strong force to move the scope.
Alex.
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