John p
Established Member
Up until now i have used a candle to lubricate the sole of my planes . Is there anything else i'm not very happy with this . What do you use
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Alf
Established Member
Personally I use a candle, so I'll leave alternative suggestions to those that use them.
Cheers, Alf
Cheers, Alf
Chris Knight
Established Member
Candles are the cheapest, nastiest rubbishy paraffinic wax in the world. They are where the stuff you can't sell in other forms gets dumped (I should know I used to work in the oil industry that made the stuff). Posh candles of the Bodyshop type have other nasty smelly stuff in them. Candles wiped on things like blades and plane soles just leave lumpy bits of wax in places you don't want them.
Candles used in the Vatican have 10% beeswax in them and are probably better as a result because beeswax is much nicer but harder.
You can use a paste wax like Liberon Black bison (also paraffinic but with a solvent that helps its spread more easily) or a liquid wax - Liberon make a specific lubricating wax - also very good.
You can also use an oil wick like old timers - you plane the layer off immediately so you don't have to worry over much about contamination of finishes. All in all this is a smarter option IMHO.
Candles used in the Vatican have 10% beeswax in them and are probably better as a result because beeswax is much nicer but harder.
You can use a paste wax like Liberon Black bison (also paraffinic but with a solvent that helps its spread more easily) or a liquid wax - Liberon make a specific lubricating wax - also very good.
You can also use an oil wick like old timers - you plane the layer off immediately so you don't have to worry over much about contamination of finishes. All in all this is a smarter option IMHO.
Alf
Established Member
Chris is evidently a fan... :lol:waterhead37":1kzhcu91 said:
Chaps, just how much ladling on of candle wax are you folks envisioning here? :-s
Cheers, Alf
John p
Established Member
A
Anonymous
Guest
I agree with Alf. I'm starting to feel like I have a WMD in my apron pocket :lol: .Alf":3i1nyfbv said:
Chris Knight
Established Member
John,
A regular mineral oil will do - the sort of white oil used in French polishing is fine.
A regular mineral oil will do - the sort of white oil used in French polishing is fine.
A
Anonymous
Guest
I use everyday white candles without any of the problems reported here. No lumping nor other issues.
Tried bees wax but it didn't spread onto the plane as smoothly and evenly and so I returned to good old candles
Tried bees wax but it didn't spread onto the plane as smoothly and evenly and so I returned to good old candles
GCR
Established Member
I have always used a candle, just a very light "zig-zag". If that does not work you probably need to work on the sole of the plane and get it really smooth.
Bob
Bob
bugbear
Established Member
What's the problem? Candles work well, IME.
For convenient application, you can't beat a solid wax. Most polishes work well, but are a tadge too soft to apply conveniently. Oils (e.g. raw linseed) need applicators. Beeswax is just a little too hard.
BugBear
John p
Established Member
I thought linseed oil was used in french polishing .
i'm posting more in the last two days than i have in the last three years .
Must be sickening for something .
Frank D.
Established Member
Some use linseed, some tung, but I think Chris is referring to mineral oil, which is very widely used here in Quebec for French polishing.John p":1rk9al12 said:
Ed451
Established Member
I'm sure I read somewhere about putting a can/bottle of kerosene with a wick in it on you bench, and then simply running the plane over the wick from time to time to lubricate it. Those more experienced than I should be able to add something about this practice?
Ed :?:
Ed :?:
Chris Knight
Established Member
John,
Frank is right. The oil is used in French polishing simply to lubricate the rubber it has no part in the actual polish and is "spirited-off" in the traditional polishing method (removed with a quick wipe of alcohol). Mylands sell it as "Polishing oil".
Ed,
You can roll up a cloth, stuff it into a small, squat bottle (like a Baby Food bottle) with half an inch sticking out and let the bottle into a piece of wood for stability. The cloth serves as a wick and as you pull the plane the back for another stroke you can wipe the sole over the top of it to get a light smear of oil.
Frank is right. The oil is used in French polishing simply to lubricate the rubber it has no part in the actual polish and is "spirited-off" in the traditional polishing method (removed with a quick wipe of alcohol). Mylands sell it as "Polishing oil".
Ed,
You can roll up a cloth, stuff it into a small, squat bottle (like a Baby Food bottle) with half an inch sticking out and let the bottle into a piece of wood for stability. The cloth serves as a wick and as you pull the plane the back for another stroke you can wipe the sole over the top of it to get a light smear of oil.
