cleaning and waxing some tools...

Wax - the wonder substance

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>Myself, I use paste furniture wax - but whichever one uses, it's a marvelous substance. You'll find it increases your planing ability about 100%.

Put some on the frog, too. The iron will advance and retract far more smoothly.

Re: Wax - the wonder substance

Victor Parisian

>Couldn't find Johnson's Paste Wax at the store last time I looked.

Just after I posted this my older brother called. After talking to him and relating this story he told me to try Ace Hardware for Johnson's Wax. Small world this.

Victor - cooling off after mowing the lawn. :(

Re: Wax - the wonder substance

alan womack

>You don't have any trouble with the iron staying put do you? Wonder how well that yoke will hold.

Alan

Re: Wax - the wonder substance

Jim Brown

>I thought I heard within the past year that production of Johnson's paste wax was ceasing.

Re: Wax - the wonder substance

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>Victor,

I also use Johnsons Paste wax on my tools and it makes a yhuge difference. I've never tried the parrifin blocks that are used for canning, but may have to as I havemn't been able to find Johnsons either.

A few years ago? somebody wrote to Johnsons concerning a rumor of the end of the paste wax, and the reply was that it was just a rumor. however, that was some time ago and things change.

Also use the Johnsons to wax tools after they've been zapped. Wax, buff, no rust comes back unlike with the 3 in 1 oil I used to use. Coarse, I also switched from Red Devil Lye to Washing Soda, which I think also helps as the Lye was so caustic, which as you know promotes rust.

Re-waxed the TS top about a week ago, and have got to be careful as the wood slides so easily again that it's amost dangerous.

Todd O.

Re: Wax - the wonder substance

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>My can is Minwax, from the local Orange Borg. I don't think you need fancy furniture wax for this purpose.

Re: Wax - the wonder substance

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>Haven't yet, but then, as I occasionally whine, I'm not planing exotica, just your basic North American softwoods and mild hardwoods.

Re: Wax - the wonder substance

Norman (Ottawa, Ont.)

>Speaking of wax..

I was on a couple of courses with Garrett Hack as instructor

these past 3 months or so..

He uses a wax on the sole of his planes that had this incredible scent. I asked him and he mentioned it is Goddard's Paste Wax.

It took me a while to track it down, it is imported from the UK.

Awesome stuff, used exclusively on the Royal family furniture.

I've got 2 tins of it now...

A funny note.. My wife also noticed the scent and wanted to apply it

to some furniture in the house. I said no way, it's for plane soles.

Let's say the reaction was not favorable, so off I went polishing a couple of pieces of furniture.. I keep the tins hidden now.

Norman

That`s lilac you smelled

Bob Hackett

>

Re: cleaning and waxing some tools...

Bob Hutchins in central Texas

>Howdy Victor!

Parafin works well but I use Johnson's Paste Wax like others here do. I've had no trouble finding it at Lowe's. They place it with the floor care products. Randalls and Kroger both had it when we lived in Sugar Land, but that's been about 10 years ago now.

BobH

Goddards

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>seen it inthe magazine articles, but never seen it for sale. Any major chains carry it?

Todd O.

Johnson's Paste Wax

Tom Colligan, Peoria

>This product is renowned for it's anti-slip property and is therefor widely used on school/commercial/industrial floors. For this reason another paste wax, i.e. Briwax, might be a smarter choice where slipperiness is wanted.

Yes, Briwax is also very good stuff

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native in FL. Exile :~(

>

Re: Goddards

Norman (Ottawa, Ont.)

>Goddard's ->The scent is "Unique lemon verbena fragrance"

and it also contains beeswax

Where to find it.

I am up in Canada, but I had to go to another city to pick some up.

I happened to be driving through at the time.

I contacted the distributor to find out where it was sold.

Only 3 outlets in a city of 3 million had it..

Norman

Different waxes for different purposes

Tim of Livermore

>I find that paste waxes are ineffective for hand planes. Application is the problem. The wax wears off continuously so if you use a hand plane for more than a few swipes, you want to keep reapplying the wax. A candle works well and is extremely inexpensive. Candles are also handy since they fit in apron pockets or in many other convenient spots to reach while working wood with plane(s). Scribble on the sole and keep going. It can also give you that 2 second breather....:- ).

I use canned waxes for power tool surfaces. Slip-It, Rennaisance, Johnson's, Minwax all reside in my shop. I also have some Treewax due to arrive soon...via Joel at toolsforworkingwood. Wax is great for a router table too....and despite many modern woodworker's apprehension, it makes for a good wood finish....albeit rarely by itself. Paste wax also makes for an easy way to lube screws to hinges....just dip the point of the screw in and then fasten the hinge.

Tim

Re: Wax - the wonder substance

William Duffield, on the Cohansey

>Pleasantly surprosed, I found lots of cans of JPW this week at the nearest (at the time) Blue Borg. I don't think the Orange Borg stocks it, however. I needed a can of it for, of all things, waxing a table top I had just finished refinishing.

Thanks, I'll check it out...1.5 miles ;>)

Victor Parisian

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