Automotive Wax For Table Saw Top

[Jeremy Kargas]

I thought I remember reading that you shouldn't use automotive wax to lubricate and prevent rust on cast iron tops, but I don't remember where I saw it. Just wondering if anyone does use it or why one wouldn't use it?

[Barry Beech]

There are additives in car wax that will affect your finish on wood pieces.

I just use johnson's paste wax. No rust and slick.

[Jim Becker]

Many automobile waxes contain additives, such as silicone which are "no-no" in a woodworking shop...they can cause all kinds of finishing problems. Use simple paste wax. I happen to use Minwax brand 'cause I've had the can "forever", but any similar product is just fine.

[Jeremy Kargas]

Thanks. Where do you find the paste wax? I looked all over at Menard's the other day, but couldn't find it and no one had a clue what I was talking about when I asked around. Is it in the paint/stain area or is it somewhere else?

[Dennis Peacock]

I thought I remember reading that you shouldn't use automotive wax to lubricate and prevent rust on cast iron tops, but I don't remember where I saw it. Just wondering if anyone does use it or why one wouldn't use it?

Jeremy,

May I suggest you use Johnson's Paste Wax instead? Car waxes contain stuff like silicon which will effect your wood finish. Wal-Mart has the Johnson's Pase Wax and even a local big box store may have it.

[tod evans]

no car wax in the woodshop! silicones are the most evil little gremlins you`ll ever encounter. plain ol` furniture wax is great stuff for saw tables, hand saws, planes, ect......02 tod

[john whittaker]

Johnsons Paste Wax ... Any BORG will have it. Blue or Orange. Look in their flooring dept.

[Dan Oelke]

I was in Home Depot here the other day - and out of curiosity looked for Johnson's - didn't find it, but I did find Minwax paste wax in with the other Minwax stains and sealers. Any idea if this contains any of the dreaded silicone or is any good?

[tod evans]

I was in Home Depot here the other day - and out of curiosity looked for Johnson's - didn't find it, but I did find Minwax paste wax in with the other Minwax stains and sealers. Any idea if this contains any of the dreaded silicone or is any good?

minwax works fine:) ..02 tod

[Jim Becker]

BTW, it's SC Johnson Paste Wax. If you can't find it in local stores, you can order it direct (http://www.scjbrands.com/mailorder/). It's the third one down on that page in the short, yellow container.

[Jeremy Kargas]

Thanks again for your help! I'll go back and look!

[Brian Dormer]

Johnsons paste wax -OR- Butchers Bowling Alley wax

Johnsons is everywhere (certainly Wal-lyWorld). I think I got the Butchers at HD or Lowes.

bd

[Frank Pellow]

Thanks. Where do you find the paste wax? I looked all over at Menard's the other day, but couldn't find it and no one had a clue what I was talking about when I asked around. Is it in the paint/stain area or is it somewhere else?
I too use Johnson's paste wax. It should be very easy to find -for instance my local grocery store sells it.

It really surprises me that no one you spoke to at Menard's had a clue about it. :confused:

[Dave Lehnert]

You will find the past wax in the cleaning aisle with the Mop and Glow and Endust, mops, brooms etc... . Lowe’s has it. I have used the Minwax with no problem

[Jim DeLaney]

Okay, odd man out here. I've used both Turtle wax and Meguir's on my saw tables and have never had a finishing problem. There's so little silicone on the buffed wax surface that it doesn't have any effect on subsequent wood finishing.

Can anybody here give <B>FIRST HAND</B> accounts of the wax on their saw's table having an effect on the wood's subsequent finish?

I can see having the problem if you wax the wood itself, but it's just never happened to me when the only thing waxed was the saw's table.

[Steve Schoene]

Since the non-silicone waxes work very well and are no more expensive than car wax, it should take no more than a tiny percentage risk from the silicone for the best advise to be "avoid the car wax which my have silicone."

[Russ Massery]

I found Johnson's paste wax a my local Ace hardware.

[Marc Spagnuolo]

I was going to ask the same question Jim. I have an old can of Turtle Wax that I have used many times without problems. I too wonder if its just one of those hyped-up woodworking myths. I dont doubt that silicone can cause finishing problems, but I cant imagine an appreciable amount transferring to the wood. And since I rarely go from the table saw right to the spray booth, I would think any residual wax would be removed. Anyway, for the price of wax, it really is worth it to use other waxes just to be safe. But thats not to say I wont still pull out the turtle wax if I run out one day. :)

[Jim Becker]

Marc, it only takes a tiny, tiny bit of "that silicone stuff" to totally wreck some of your future finishing. Not all automotive wax contains it, but why take the chance? As Steve points out, a can of paste wax (SC Johnson, Minwax, whatever) doesn't cost that much and lasts a good long time...even if you start putting it on woodworking projects! ;)

[Steve Ash]

Like Jim says, I use Minwax paste wax and occasionaly it finds it's way to one of my projects.

[Bill Lewis]

I too used to use automotive waxes, and they did fine with no finishing problems. Not all automotive waxes contain silicone.

However I found a can of S.C. Johnsson's paste wax and decided to try it. I found that it lasts longer than the automotive waxes and is very slick.

BTW like others have stated, you'll find it with the cleaning supplies, not the finishing supplies.

[Scott Fernald]

I use a can of MinWax for the tool beds - keep a small scouring pad in the can for applying. I only use this can for tools so I don't worry about any grime transfering to the wax in the can.

I use a separate can of Butcher's paste wax for project work.

The paste wax is also good for lubing screws if you have some tough assembly work (brass screws into hard maple for instance)...