To keep the top of my stationary tools free of rust, I have always used a coat of car wax.
I recently heard from a Delta tech rep that I should instead use regular furniture wax (Johnson’s Paste Wax, Butcher’s Wax, etc.). He claims automotive wax is formulated to go over painted finishes. It supposedly has a high moisture content, and if applyed to raw metal, can actually cause rust to form beneath the coating of wax.
This seems logical, but I am wondering if anyone has thoughts/experience/advice on the matter?
Replies
Have you been getting rust on your tools after putting the car wax on them?? If not why worry?? I use Trewax a furniture/ floor wax because that's what I have handy. To be honest I "think" I tried car wax and had more friction on the tool surface vs. Trewax...Dale
Where do you live? If the relative humidity is high in your shop, and there is a lot of water in the brand of wax you use, I can see that the water might cause some rust before it all evaporates. In a dry climate, the very same wax would dry out before any rust occurred.
Dale's point is a good one, too. If you're not getting rust right after waxing, you don't have a problem.
I'm using Simonize on my tables and am having no problems and material slides really well on them. There are no signs of rust developing. In my school shop I',m using Johnsons Paste Wax. It works fine but doesn't last long before I have to apply it again.
Ken
I use Renaissance Wax. Works great on all my planes and keeps everything sliding easily and free of rust. Whatever you use make sure it doesn't have silicon in it or it will mess up your finishes.
When people 100 years from now see my work, they'll know I cared. --Matt Mulka
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