I rencently attend a hand tool event where they put wax on the sole of a plane. Does that could affect the finish? What kind of wax could be used?
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If you run a hand plane all day, everyday, like woodworkers of the past, you'll look for ways to make it easier. That's why they started to make corrugated soles, to reduce friction. Back in the day, we used to lightly rub a cake of parafin on the bottom. Any residue gets cut off by the blade as you plane. You can use paste wax, allow it to dry, then buff off. This will not leave any wax unless you are sloppy with the application and leave gobs of wax in the nooks and crannies. Lie Neilsen sells camilia oil for applying to the plane but I've never used it. With a clean bottom, you don't need any wax unless you want to try it. Species like pine can be a little sticky but not with most hardwoods. As long as you are light with the wax, it won't be a problem for finishes but I'd be careful on final planing if you are using lacquer.
Big Box Wax
I just use a can of Miniwax Furniture Wax that I bought at Homeless Despot for a few dollars.
Beeswax
I use beeswax and have never had a problem with it affecting the finish. It makes a HUGE difference in how easy it is to plane.
Jim
gilles1949,
I use Johnson paste wax. After applying the wax, I let it dry for a while, buff vigorously, and plane a few strokes on scrap wood. This has never caused any finishing issues.
Rob Millard
http://www.americanfederalperiod.com
http://www.rlmillard.typepad.com
Paraffin Wax
I buy a box of paraffin wax at the grocery store and rub a piece on the sole. Never had an issue with effecting the finish. I think corrugated soles on planes are silly.
I like the paraffin wax--it's with the canning supplies. I too haven't had a finishing problem, but then I never use polyurethane, which has the most risk of adhesion problems.
CANDLE WAX
I use paste wax without any problems, an old burned down candle works good also.
Camilia oil
Just one note, the camilia oil that LN sells may work to ease friction, but they sell it to prevent rust. They wipe irons on it after sharpening with water stones too.
I have a 3 x 8 piece of 4/4 scrap stock with suede glued to one side. This is charged with paraffin and stays on my bench. Every so often I wipe the plane on the block to lubricate the sole. Quick and easy.
paraffin
Parrafin
I use paraffin on my planes, never had a problem.
I did once apply Drycote to the bottom of a plane... it worked. It almost went right off the other side of the bench... me with it.
I recently took a lie-Nielsen shoulder plane that I kept in a box, used it and stored it back in the box around the beginning of August 2021. It was oily never used, I removed the oil with mineral spirits and used it on a door. I returned it to its box after having used some camilia oil to oil it before storage and on september 2nd 2021, the steel has now been pitted in multiple places. It has to have been the camilia oil. It was fine before I used it. I will admit the oil was several years old, but would that cause a problem? I will use Johnsons paste wax going forward and throwing the camilia oil away. Now I have to try and remove rust pits from a treasured plane...
I understand the theoretical worry about the wax and finish. I can say with 100% confidence it isn't an issue. I have used wax but mostly oil on a rag to lube my soles on my handplanes. I exclusively use hand planes and I don't sand prior to finishing and I have never had any problem. I mostly use shellac as a finish.
I use renaissance wax (microcrystalline) for all my cutting tools, saws, chisels, planes etc. It reduces friction and prevents corrosion along with it's other uses.
I am still using a block of Gulf Wax that I bought for a few dollars years ago.
Yup. You can keep that sole as clean as you want, if it’s flat, there’s friction.
I have the same block. One side for lubing screws, the other for planes and tables. Started as 4 in the box, I am down to 2. Works great on the zippers of the Doyle Stackpacks on my buddy's ketch also.
I use a candle that sagged in the heat on our move to the West Coast. It's not really a 'scented candle', but it has a little pleasant scent to it.... Makes my planes smell nice.... Oh, and it keeps the friction down as well.
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