Comments on: Wax is Your Friend

By: Shannon

Shannon — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:20:55 +0000

I used Paraffin wax because you can chop off a hunk and keep it in your pocket or on your bench. The others you mention work just fine but require a rag to apply and that is just too much work to interrupt planing. The exception would be beeswax but parraffin costs next to nothing. I use Renaissance wax periodically after I clean my planes with a rust remover/preventative. The wax makes a nice top coat to seal in the Boeshield goodness.

By: Morton

Morton — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:13:30 +0000

What type(s) of wax do you use for planes and saws, and does it matter much? I have paste, Renaissance and beeswax on hand…

By: Adam Cherubini

Adam Cherubini — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:38:32 +0000

I wax my wooden planes’ soles for a super silky swish. I use old candles or blocks of beeswax from a local orchard. What I haven’t had success waxing is saw blades. I’m a set-guy. I like set. Consequently, I don’t think my saw blades get hot enough (touch enough wood) for the wax to melt. So instead of speeding me up, saw dust sticks to the beeswax I sometimes use, which slows me down. Be careful what you wax (Mike).

Adam

By: Shannon

Shannon — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:16:45 +0000

Mike,
LOL, I knew when I was writing the title that one of you jokers would have a comment like this. Why am I not surprised that it was you?

By: Mike Semsen

Mike Semsen — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:07:36 +0000

Wax is also your friend if you want your mustache to look great, or remove it completely! Or to tidy up that bikini line. Amazing stuff

By: The Village Carpenter

The Village Carpenter — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:09:32 +0000

Nice one, Shannon. ; )

I agree with Adam about wooden planes not needing wax. I’ve used my jack plane for a decade and the sole is so shiny, it looks like French polish. The wood that it’s been smoothing all these years has burnished it. No wax necessary.

By: Larry Marshall

Larry Marshall — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:46:57 +0000

I carry a block of parafin in my shop apron. Like you, I use it often. Like you, it lasts a VERY long time. In fact, the one time I decided that mine had gotten small enough to get another hunk from the box of paraffin that I’d bought, I couldn’t find the box. Wish I’d know of your offer then as I would have had you buy the replacement. Wonder what it costs to ship a $2 box of paraffin from Maryland to planet Quebec City (grin)?

Cheers — Larry