Wax screw lubrication

[^woody^]

I use a candle to wipe screw threads for lubrication, but it's not very efficient as the wax can be a bit flaky.

So in true DIY style, I think it would be better to slightly dissolve the candle into a tin of some sort to make a paste - like the ones you can buy.

Does anyone know what can be used to soften and hold candle wax in such a paste form? Not paraffin or anything too smelly, and not using heat or hot water!

 

[Notch7]

I know a builder that simply sprays the box of screws with WD40.

I tend to use furniture wax like liberon and get a bit of wax on the thread - awfully expensive though.

I don’t know of a softening liquid that would make candle wax permanently soft though.

 

[blup]

The best candle wax is a pilot hole.

Blup

 

[^woody^]

I have a box of candles left over from the 3-day week strikes in the 70's, so ideally would like to put them to use. LOL

 

[^woody^]

The best candle wax is a pilot hole.

Blup

We've just been fitting some 120mm insulation board into the underside of rafters with some 170mm screws, so piloting was not an option.

The impact driver struggled a little if the screw was not waxed, the screw flew in when waxed.

But generally piloting is not always practical either

 

[Notch7]

I have a box of candles left over from the 3-day week strikes in the 70's, so ideally would like to put them to use. LOL

Funnily enough when I cleared out my Dads under stairs cupboard after he died, there was 4 boxes of prices candles and I’m sure they were bought in 1970s.

I can just about remember the power cuts

during the 3 day week energy restrictions my Dad was a financial director for a manufacturing business employing 100+ employees. They put up black out blinds and carried on working…bit naughty!

 

[blup]

Never had a blackout in the 70's our house was on the same sub station/network as the local pit, the lights never went out.

Blup

 

[^woody^]

Perhaps we should keep the candles, and see what happens with the electric prices

 

[lostinthelight]

Never had a blackout in the 70's our house was on the same sub station/network as the local pit, the lights never went out.

Blup

That would change if smart meters became the norm

 

[Mottie]

How would you apply the softened candle wax - with a brush? How about using engine oil - would that work?

 

[SpecialK]

Melt the candle wax and dip the screw ends in. Leave the wax to set on the screws?

 

[^woody^]

How would you apply the softened candle wax - with a brush? How about using engine oil - would that work?

If the wax can be made into a thick paste, it could just be kept in a tin or suchlike and the threads dipped in.

I suspect lots of oils would work, but a paste would be less messy and I do have a lot of candles that only get used once a year.

 

[^woody^]

Melt the candle wax and dip the screw ends in. Leave the wax to set on the screws?

No hot works on site.

 

[pcaouolte]

Vaseline. Already the right consistency.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Melt the candle wax and dip the screw ends in. Leave the wax to set on the screws?

Problem is - there is generally no heat on site (fire risk)

Should have got yourself a lump of paraffin wax @^woody^. Far softer