Wax!!!

[sainty]

OK people, heres the thing. I was in my utility today and at the back of one of the cupboards was a box of candles. Now, I've heard people talk about applying wax to the bottom of a plane to reduce friction. OK I think, I'll give it a go. So off I go with candle in hand to the workshop, thinking that this is one of those things that marginally improved performance but you had to be doing superfine work to notice. A few strokes of wax on the bottom of the plane and whoooaaaa maammmma....what a difference it makes. I was so surprised. If you haven't tried it, go now and try it.

Makes me wonder what other advice I'm ignoring

Happy waxing!!!!


Sainty

[jfc]

Bri wax rocks ;D Dont ask ;D

[colincott]

jfc said:

Bri wax rocks ;D Dont ask ;D

You should stop that now

[dom]

Didn't know Bri Wax made rocks ;D

[Alf]

sainty said:

A few strokes of wax on the bottom of the plane and whoooaaaa maammmma....what a difference it makes. I was so surprised.

Sigh. You try and tell people...

Cheers, Alf

[dom]

Tell me about it ;D

[sainty]

Alright, alright, I know.

I promise that I will do as I'm told in the future.....

Seriously though, it was like it was the sharpest plane in the world, amazing. I now carry a candle in my pocket and wax things everywhere I go....excuse me madam, allow me...no need to thank me it was the wax.

[tellurian]

sainty said:

Alright, alright, I know.

I promise that I will do as I'm told in the future.....

Seriously though, it was like it was the sharpest plane in the world, amazing. I now carry a candle in my pocket and wax things everywhere I go....excuse me madam, allow me...no need to thank me it was the wax.

First time I waxed the sole of a plane I was using a jointer and when I put it to the wood and pushed with my customary amount of force it shot forwards so fast that I wrenched my shoulder . Bloody hurt as well.

[argus]

.


Here’s an old candle that’s been hanging around my shop for years, waxing up the odd plane sole now and then.
Problem is, it needs two hands and an interruption to the work to rub the sole.



Later, I took a hint from Jim Kingshott and made this oil wick in a box. The wick is a paraffin heater ribbon wick, coiled tightly and anointed with linseed oil. When it’s too grotty, you chuck it out and start again with a new one.

The beauty is that you can use it without missing a stroke - you keep it beside the work and just run the sole over the wick every few passes with the plane.


.

[Alf]

argus said:

The beauty is that you can use it without missing a stroke

Au contraire - the hideousness of it is you don't get a chance for a legitimate breather...

Cheers, Alf

[mrgrimsdale]

Wax works on saws too.
You don't have to go to as much trouble as Argus - just needs a quick 2 seconds scribble down each side of a saw or along the sole of a plane.
cheers
Jacob

[jfc]

Wax also marks the work , a quick squiggle from a candle works fine but you will pass that onto the the timber and it will show on the finish . Unless of course you are using wax for the finish as i do at every chance ;D But i dont have a Briwax problem ...... Honest ...... ;D

[Alf]

jfc said:

Wax also marks the work , a quick squiggle from a candle works fine but you will pass that onto the the timber and it will show on the finish .

With all due respect, Jason - nuts. Show me proof of that and reverse the experience of thousands (millions?) of woodworkers over hundreds of years. Go on; I dare ya. ;D

You'd have to shove the wax on, take one pass and then stop. It's a theoretical problem.

Cheers, Alf

[jfc]

It's a theoretical problem.

Ahhhhh yeah , hand tool forum so no outfeed table to wax

[Scrit]

toobyefore said:

Show me proof of that and reverse the experience of thousands (millions?) of woodworkers over hundreds of years. Go on; I dare ya. ;D

Any money none of those guys were spray acid catalysed lacquer........ Cisses (fish-eye's) at every opportunity or so it seems at times

Scrit

[engineerone]

i thought it was only silicon that caused that problem, not candles

paul

[Scrit]

It's the wax, and the last time it happened it was because I'd waxed the sole of the block plane then taken only one quick pass across a small area........ the finish wouldn't stick and looked like a collection of gigantic fish eyes

[Alf]

scrit said:

It's the wax, and the last time it happened it was because I'd waxed the sole of the block plane then taken only one quick pass across a small area........

To which there's really only one thing to say:

Silly boy. ;D

Cheers, Alf