What are you guys waxing your plane soles with?

[Glenn Lewis]

I use paste wax, rub on, wait, buff off. It works but it's slow. I've recently seen some people just scribble a couple squiggly lines with some sort of more solid little chunk of wax, but i don't know what it is. What works for you guys?

[chris carter]

Gulf Wax. You find it in the canning section of the grocery store. One box will last a lifetime.

[glenn bradley]

Gulf wax. I cut one end off the carton and continue to cut the carton back as I use it.

[Glenn Lewis]

Awesome thank you. Bonus points because I love when i can walk into a "regular" store and buy something useful for woodworking!

[Steve Kang]

I just use tea lights, pull the wicks out and they're good to go.

[Nathan Johnson]

I got a bag of old candles from my mom. It should last forever.

[glenn bradley]

I got a bag of old candles from my mom. It should last forever.


Ain't it the truth.

[Tony Mize]

I mix 2/3 beeswax to 1/3 boiled linseed oil in a old muffin pan. Melt in the oven at a low temperature. Once all the wax is melted pull it out of the oven an let it cool to room temperature. It hardened to a little bit harder than a normal candle an will last years.

[Ben Ellenberger]

I bought a little beeswax candle at the farmer’s market.

[Christopher Charles]

FWIW, I find paraffin from tea candles (same as gulf wax) works considerably better than beeswax, which has a bit of tack. Even though I prefer the idea of using beeswax... I go through about one candle once every very long time.

[ken hatch]

Oiled rag in a can, candle, Gulf wax, it all works and kinda depends on what is handy. Not worth obsessing over.

ken

[Todd Trebuna]

I use both a "rag in a can" or a chunk of paraffin, cut off a block of paraffin. Trying to decide which I like better.

[mike stenson]

I have a rag in a can, a chunk of beeswax lying around and some chunks of gulf wax. Whatever is convenient.

Packrats prefer beeswax.

[steven c newman]

Soles will get a few squiggly lines from an old , plain candle less than a dollar at Wal E World.

To "oil" the rest of the plane....old, plain, cheap paint brush that has a "filling" of 3in1 oil.....just rub the brush around as need be.....brush is around a dollar bill, got it while getting that candle.

I also use that candle on the threads of screws....helps prevent them from snapping off in the Ash, or Oak....Candle started out as a white 6".....now down to ~4"....

[Jim Koepke]

It depends on what is at hand.

There are a couple hunks of candle wax in the shop. A couple hunks of bee's wax in a drawer.

There is also a rag impregnated with furniture oil/wax used to rub down planes, tools, turnings and even furniture.

There is also a piece of cloth with the old cloudy version of Johnson & Johnson's paste wax that is occasionally used.

jtk

[Michael J Evans]

Paul sellers rag in a can
/ Johnson's paste wax for machinery surfaces and or storage application

[Mel Fulks]

I keep my planes sole up in a "sand-box" type thing in which I raise slugs for "fun and profit". Nothing is slicker than
what ever that stuff is that they make !
P.S. This must be a record run for a SM thread. I hope Keith can sell the film rights !

[Derek Cohen]

I just use tea lights, pull the wicks out and they're good to go.

Steve, I do the same. The wax seems to have the consistency I like. It is probably no different from common long candles.

I wonder if any here have used the wax sticks sold by Rob Cosman. Several months ago I bought a few to try out - the dispenser it comes in looks so useful - and so I have been using these wax sticks. Perhaps it is because I am so used to the wax of old, but I find the Cosman wax a little more “stickier” than I like. Still persevering. ...

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Curt Putnam]

Gulf wax is good - as long as you don't leave it out in the heat and it melts.

Anybody ise mutton tallow?

[Rob Luter]

Another vote for Gulf Wax. Buy a box and you'll never need to buy more.