waxing tools

kmd · #1 2012-06-24, 1:45am

Can't find the answer on any previous posts.
I noticed Mr Smiley recommends waxing shears before cutting off lumps of encased Serendipity cane, in the video showing how this cane can be prepared. I have a gift voucher and am considering lashing out on some of this luscious stuff.

How do you apply wax to glass shears, or other tools.
How often?
Why?

KMD

Dragonharper · #2 2012-06-24, 4:11am

Use a stick/block of bees wax and just rub it on. How often depends on how often you use said tool and how hot it gets. The goal is to keep the glass from sticking as the tool warms up. Also ut protects from rust when the tools are not in use. I've seen some furnace workers wax down their tools before each piece and others not wax at all.

Bunyip · #3 2012-06-24, 6:24am

Just takes a little, touch the warm tool with wax. Don't overdo it.

and a word of caution: Setting a hot, waxed tool down on a dirty bench will lead to hours and hours of frustration and picking surface schmutz off of your glass until you figure out what you did wrong.

patienthand · #4 2012-06-24, 7:36am

when I was doing furnace glass, I would wax my jacks when they began to chatter or drag and not glide on the hot glass.

rudiger420 · #5 2012-06-24, 8:26am

I wax my tweezers, hot dog grabbers, graphite pencil reamer, graphite big reamers, graphite paddle, and graphite bowl pushes. Heat up a second in the far bushy flame and just melt it into some beez wax. Wipe off while still hot with a paper towel. May catch fire as the beez wax melts out of the graphite but it only happens after a fresh coat.

Dragonharper · #6 2012-06-24, 12:03pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunyip

...and a word of caution: Setting a hot, waxed tool down on a dirty bench will lead to hours and hours of frustration and picking surface schmutz off of your glass until you figure out what you did wrong.

This sounds like the voice of experience.

kmd · #7 2012-06-24, 5:55pm

Thank you all who replied to my waxing query.
Interesting to read that graphite can be waxed as well.
Also thanks to Bunyip/Chris for troubleshooting advice in advance!
KMD

menty666 · #8 2012-06-24, 6:04pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bunyip

Just takes a little, touch the warm tool with wax. Don't overdo it.

and a word of caution: Setting a hot, waxed tool down on a dirty bench will lead to hours and hours of frustration and picking surface schmutz off of your glass until you figure out what you did wrong.

ugh..I wound up with bees wax dripping off of my jacks onto my bench, and my graphite tools, and the glass on the bench, and....

I have a patty of the stuff I use to wax my jacks and when it melts it dribbles off the sides, so make sure there's nothing you love (or can't be coated in wax) underneath it.

Having said that, hot beeswax smells lovely

kmd · #9 2012-06-24, 6:18pm

Thanks Tom.
Note to self.
Put beeswax block on a saucer or metal plate to catch drips.
It's great that you guys are saving me from the usual newbie mistakes.
Now I can think up a whole lot of new ones.

I love the smell of beeswax too.
I believe bees are attracted to it.
Another note to self.
Keep studio screen door closed!

KMD