Machine Wax for a Band Saw Table

[awhitecat]

I have been using my Band Saw for a couple of weeks now and am coming to realise that I need to put some Machine Wax on the table.

Aside from buying a commercial product at say £9.65 + P&P a tin, is there any sort of household type product I could use?

Thank you for your suggestions.

Mike

 

[MattRoberts]

You can wipe on BLO regularly, or use any wax really. Even a regular candle applied with a fine wire wool will do the trick

 

[Fitzroy]

I use briwax. However having just bought a tin it's about the same price as your machine wax.

 

[pollys13]

I think you need to take care with some waxes, as any old wax could mess up the finish of the work piece.

 

[undergroundhunter]

I use clear briwax on mine, works a treat. On the plus side you can also use it on furniture of whatever you're making

Matt

 

[RobinBHM]

Ive recently bought some rennaisance wax which works well.

 

[ColeyS1]

Are you finding it's starting to rust, or do you want it a bit slippier? Rubbing a candle on it would help with the latter

Coley

 

[awhitecat]

Not rusting yet, just a bit sticky from the wood resin, I guess.

I might just put a bit of WD40 on it to start off with.

I purchased another blade at Harrogate on Friday. I'm not really sure about blade tension yet or anything. I am using the one blade for everything from plywood to 2" beech wood.

 

[Bodgers]

This is what I use:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wood-Lavender- ... B006BHPEKC

It's cheap and it works, and you can't beat the smell of grandma in the workshop.

 

[skipdiver]

Clear Briwax as i buy it regularly and it's to hand.

 

[bigbob1]

I just use paste wax

 

[sunnybob]

Dont use WD 40. It is NOT a long term lubricant. The top will rust if you use wd 40 alone, and it will also taint the wood.

Youve spent how many hundred pounds on a machine, and dont want to spend a tenner on keeping it looking nice?

I use ACF 50 on mine. I originally had the can to protect my motorcycle during the winter, but its working fine on the cast iron table.

 

[pcb1962]

Is £8 really too much to pay for the stuff that's made for the job?
http://www.axminster.co.uk/liberon-lubricating-wax-500ml-600221

 

[LJM]

+1 for using something intended for the job; the liberon stuff is very good, long lasting, protective and slippery! 500ml will lat a good while.

If you use the furniture polish from under the sink, you'll only be buying more of that sooner. So unless you happen to have many uses for a single product, meaning it makes sense to buy in bulk or have a cheap source of an alternative product and so save ££, just get something intended for the use. Or use a cheap candle. Just not the ones that have been stashed away for the last decade, in case of a power cut... You know what will happen.

 

[Racers]

Most spray furniture polishes contain silicone which can cause problems with your finish, Wood Silk is a beeswax polish don't let ant thing else in your house!

Its good for finishing as well, a spray and a wipe down leaves a nice finish, but watch out for over spray it makes your floor into a skating rink.

I use Briwax for machine beds Renaissance wax is a bit expensive.

Pete

 

[ED65]

Not rusting yet, just a bit sticky from the wood resin, I guess.

I might just put a bit of WD40 on it to start off with.

Not the worst thing you can use to start off with, but its efficacy seems to drop off sharply after a while.

Aside from buying a commercial product at say £9.65 + P&P a tin, is there any sort of household type product I could use?

Yup. Any paste wax will do the job nicely.

You can make your own, it's dead easy and you can use up any candle stubs lying forgotten in a drawer somewhere in the house.

If you want to make a paste wax for finishing use you'll want to choose your waxes with a bit more care but just for use as a rust preventative your basic paraffin or soy waxes will do the job nicely.

 

[RogerP]

I just use any wax paste I have to hand and polish it right up to a shine. Works for me.

 

[selectortone]

Another vote for Liberon lubricating wax - been using it for a couple of years on my lathe, bandsaw, pillar drill, table saw and anything else I think needs rust protecting and I still have over half a 500ml tin left. Two quid a year is hardly breaking the bank.

 

[MusicMan]

Renaissance wax for me too. While other waxes are surely fine, Renwax was formulated by the British Museum so that it will not damage common materials. Used by conservators. Hence one can slap it on without worry.