now that the formula has changed and the price has sky rocketed. What are you using instead? I needing something to coat bare metal. Only thing I've found is bowling alley wax.I wanted to ask here at GJ since it's expensive ,but if it works as well as Johnson's wax I'll pay the price. Thanks
Johnson paste wax
- Thread starter bluesboy
- Start date
jwilson645
Well-known member
For my forged pieces, I mixed up a combo of BLO, turpentine and bee's wax.
Boiled Linseed oil by itself can be used too. Just don't use too much or it'll be sticky. Sitting the piece in the sun will help it cure too.
Boiled Linseed oil by itself can be used too. Just don't use too much or it'll be sticky. Sitting the piece in the sun will help it cure too.
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Boeshield T-9 works pretty well on bare metal.
Zeke
Well-known member
If paying outrages prices then Briwax is a good choice. I don't wax metal much, but when I do any auto wax is good enough.
ptt49er
Well-known member
One issue w/ auto wax on woodworking cast iron is that sometimes there is silicon in the waxes that can embed in the raw wood and prevent finishes from sticking.
four.cycle
Well-known member
I have a gigantic tin of "Mother's" brand carnauba wax. No cleaners, no abrasives, no solvents. Not sure if they make it any more.
kngelv
Well-known member
Did it really change?
James
James
Same here. And I’m 58 so i don’t think I will run out!
Zeke
Well-known member
Who said anything about wood? What is woodworking cast iron?
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Minwax paste wax works for me
Do.you use so much that a price increase matters that much?
Do.you use so much that a price increase matters that much?
dave*99
Well-known member
Many folks use wax on their cast iron table saw.
I do.
Zeke
Well-known member
I do too. I couldn't understand the reference. So the idea is don't use auto wax on your table saw because silicone might transfer to new wood being worked? Plausible I guess, but kinda far fetched.
I could not make a connection from the OP's post about woodworking tools, sorry. There are a lot of 'bare metal' objects.
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Jim greengo
Well-known member
Brings back bad memories of buffing the barracks floor back in the 80s! Hahaha
Johnsons paste wax was our secret when it came to making points.
Johnsons paste wax was our secret when it came to making points.
Shootinok
Well-known member
I use plain old turtle wax.
i have acquired a couple of the old green cans and they go a long way on table saw tops etc.
i have acquired a couple of the old green cans and they go a long way on table saw tops etc.
dave*99
Well-known member
I have 1 can of Johnson’s paste wax. I bought it for my table saw many years ago. So when I see that name I immediately think cast iron woodworking tools.
I saw my parents used it on hardwood floors 50 plus years ago. But for me I just see table saw when I look at that can.
I don’t know if car wax would transfer. But the Johnson’s wax sure goes on the saw nice. Like it was meant to be.
Hobby_Man22
Well-known member
My biesmeyer table saw fence has a sticker on it that says apply paste wax to fence and table saw surfaces weekly.
What's wrong with the johnsons paste wax? You mean they changed it so much it doesn't work anymore?
What's wrong with the johnsons paste wax? You mean they changed it so much it doesn't work anymore?
ZRX61
Well-known member
How about Colinite Insulator Wax?
Thorold
Well-known member
My go to has always been
Bostik 10220 Aerosol Top-Cote
Nothing transfers to the wood. Great on saw blades too.
kngelv
Well-known member
Same here. The crappy liquid wax that came in 5 gallon cans was worthless. Our go-to was Johnson’s paste wax. We would light it and get a melted puddle and dribble it all over the floor had some homemade coat hanger handle to hold the can. We would finish it with a few capfuls of alcohol to buff with the polish pad for a hard finish. I remember the first time I used a floor buffer I couldn’t control and then I was smashing into our barracks lockers in basic training. Once I got the hang of it it was quite easy to buff floors with one hand while drinking a beer with the other.
James
My Old Tools
Well-known member
I have 5 or 6 sitting around the shop. Saw tables, jointer, planer bed, hand planes, hand saws, mortise machine bits and chisels, slicks up lots of stuff, even wooden planes.
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Death Row Dave
Well-known member
All of my guns get waxed instead of oil , they look as new no effected my any weather changes
It's $60 on Amazon
Zeke
Well-known member
I have a can of Trewax. Same stuff to me. It's old, but they still sell it in a newer looking can.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Gizmosity
Well-known member
Trewax, Briwax and Renaissance are in my shop. I swipe my cast iron surfaces with a handful of wadded up wax paper I keep in an apron pocket when I think about it. I might apply an actual coat of paste wax once a year. Those three cans will likely last three of my lifetimes.
4xdog
Well-known member
The listing for SC Johnson Paste Wax on the company's website today lists a formula number (35*3599) and the following ingredients:
Deodorized Naphtha (Solubilizer)
Carnauba Wax (Film Former)
Microcrystalline Wax (Film Former)
Paraffin (Film Former)
The Paste Wax SDS on the SC Johnson website (prepared in 2015) lists the following ingredients:
Stoddard solvent CAS 8052-41-3 60.00 - 100.00%
Paraffin waxes and Hydrocarbon waxes CAS 8002-74-2 10.00 - 30.00%
Note: My tin of Paste Wax (probably circa 2005) has no ingredients or formula number.
The differences between the website and the SDS are mainly the listing of carnauba wax, and possibly the microcrystalline wax. The older safety data sheet doesn't have carnauba. The 2022 website does.
The Chemical Abstracts Services registry number for carnauba wax is 8015-86-9. Microcrystalline wax would likely show CAS number 63231-60-7. Names like deodorized naptha and Stoddard solvent are the same ingredient.
Odd that the older formula doesn't list carnauba wax. I'd have guessed that was a main component forever in SC Johnson Paste Wax. Dunno... It's generally considered a super-premium wax, so perhaps it is a recent, pricier addition to the formula (guessing).
But guessing at formulations from data like this is risky. It's not gonna be perfect, and might very well be off in some important areas as SDSs have to disclose hazards, not complete formulations.
Deodorized Naphtha (Solubilizer)
Carnauba Wax (Film Former)
Microcrystalline Wax (Film Former)
Paraffin (Film Former)
The Paste Wax SDS on the SC Johnson website (prepared in 2015) lists the following ingredients:
Stoddard solvent CAS 8052-41-3 60.00 - 100.00%
Paraffin waxes and Hydrocarbon waxes CAS 8002-74-2 10.00 - 30.00%
Note: My tin of Paste Wax (probably circa 2005) has no ingredients or formula number.
The differences between the website and the SDS are mainly the listing of carnauba wax, and possibly the microcrystalline wax. The older safety data sheet doesn't have carnauba. The 2022 website does.
The Chemical Abstracts Services registry number for carnauba wax is 8015-86-9. Microcrystalline wax would likely show CAS number 63231-60-7. Names like deodorized naptha and Stoddard solvent are the same ingredient.
Odd that the older formula doesn't list carnauba wax. I'd have guessed that was a main component forever in SC Johnson Paste Wax. Dunno... It's generally considered a super-premium wax, so perhaps it is a recent, pricier addition to the formula (guessing).
But guessing at formulations from data like this is risky. It's not gonna be perfect, and might very well be off in some important areas as SDSs have to disclose hazards, not complete formulations.
dfiler2
Well-known member
I just bought some minwax paste wax last week, I think it was only about $8, or is it something different from this?
I see this is $15, I got mine from Menards.
I see this is $15, I got mine from Menards.
WisJim
Well-known member
And to think I was about to throw out an old half-full can! Guess I'll keep it awhile longer and use it up.
Not a guarantee, but not far fetched. Any residual silicone on a project you are painting or finishing, can seriously fisheye your finish. I wouldn't let silicone in the door of my (or any) shop with woodworking tools.
4xdog
Well-known member
Right! Silicones get EVERYWHERE. They'll contaminate surfaces far from where they're intended and "seriously fisheye your finish" is the perfect description.
I worked for many years doing application development and technical service for ingredients to the paper coating industry. Most mills had a standing policy banning any materials containing silicones and required suppliers to sign certifications to that effect. I avoid silicones wherever I can.
Zeke
Well-known member
An antiques dealer told me awhile back that the old Johnson's had toluene in it as did shoe polish. That was eliminated by the EPA quite some time ago. IIRC, Briwax still has toluene.
My Old Tools
Well-known member
and other things
ar2stp48
Well-known member
The can of Johnson's wax I am using is likely as old as I am; and I am 74, knocking on 75.
A one pound can with no list of ingredients or formula: HO-37 on the lid. A warning statement of: " Caution Combustible mixture NYFD C of A. A caution of not to use on shellac surfaces until they have fully dried, and not to use on asphalt floors. Use on metal surfaces is encouraged. It works well on all the tool surfaces; the wax has not dried out.
I may need to shop at estate sales for another can of wax.
A one pound can with no list of ingredients or formula: HO-37 on the lid. A warning statement of: " Caution Combustible mixture NYFD C of A. A caution of not to use on shellac surfaces until they have fully dried, and not to use on asphalt floors. Use on metal surfaces is encouraged. It works well on all the tool surfaces; the wax has not dried out.
I may need to shop at estate sales for another can of wax.
Spareparts
Well-known member
This post brings back really good memories, back in the mid 50's Dad @ Mom purchased a very large older home and refurbished
the oak floors, this room was 18' X 36' LR and DR combined. Out came the Johnson paste wax, then all 4 of kids put on a couple pair of socks and a large lamb wool pad and pulled each other around the floor until it met up to mom's satisfaction. The next time it got done Dad got Mon a buffer, but it was fun.
the oak floors, this room was 18' X 36' LR and DR combined. Out came the Johnson paste wax, then all 4 of kids put on a couple pair of socks and a large lamb wool pad and pulled each other around the floor until it met up to mom's satisfaction. The next time it got done Dad got Mon a buffer, but it was fun.
