Wax and gun bores

Honestly, it's really not that complicated. I add 100g of carnauba wax to 100g of mineral spirits, heat and mix. Store in a JTS tin and apply by hand to a patch.

It's awfully messy and I bet a small addition of paraffin would make it better but I'm not buffing furniture so as long as the wax will flow on hot steel, I'm happy.

How about Johnson Paste Wax or good ol' Kiwi Shoe Polish?

I'm trying to find something to use that we already have laying around, rather than buying something specifically for this, only to have it laying around for decades, too.



Neither of these lists the ingredients.

Thanks, guys.

Well I see the mess I will begin this weekend.

dormitionskete said:

How about Johnson Paste Wax or good ol' Kiwi Shoe Polish?

I'm trying to find something to use that we already have laying around, rather than buying something specifically for this, only to have it laying around for decades, too.

View attachment 447039

Neither of these lists the ingredients.

Thanks, guys.

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two thumbs up for Johnson paste wax,, i would leave the Kiwi for the leather

I used a Lot of Johnsons paste wax to make recluse's boolit lube, too bad it's no longer made.

This is quite an amusing thread

Johnson's Paste Wax is NLA now for several years.

There is a 3rd party seller on Amazon selling the Johnsons for $154. What a joke.

I also herd the Trewax is not what it once was. Hang onto that old can.

3Crows said:

Johnson's Paste Wax is NLA now for several years.

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It is for an arm and leg.

If you want to go full McGyver, you could try something like Shea Butter. It's quite affordable, easy to find. It has some oeleric and stearic acid in it, so it might not be ideal, but it's essentially a waterproofing wax. Very low-tech. You can find it in some feed stores (people use it to make candles) and in African goods stores (used in hair care and cooking oils).

Can't follow the established recipe ... don't do it

Ta-Ta Toothie said:

It is for an arm and leg.

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The Johnsons product was discontinued. Left over product can sometimes be found at quaint hardware stores on back shelves. I have plenty but for guns I prefer Birchwood Casey Gunstock Wax.

Firewalker said:

Honestly, it's really not that complicated. I add 100g of carnauba wax to 100g of mineral spirits, heat and mix. Store in a JTS tin and apply by hand to a patch.

It's awfully messy and I bet a small addition of paraffin would make it better but I'm not buffing furniture so as long as the wax will flow on hot steel, I'm happy.

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I am going give pine turpentine a go as well, for comparison. I think if white spirit/mineral spirits is used it should best be "odorless white spirit"/"artist's white spirit"/type 3/Isopar L - plain normal mineral spirits contain sulfur; Isopar G might also work (it's thinner and 4 times faster evaporating than Isopar L).

So is it the general consensus that Johnson Paste Wax would be good for this?

Has anyone actually tried it?

I don't want to mess up any of our guns.

Yes, Johnsons is fine.

jarmstrong said:

two thumbs up for Johnson paste wax,, i would leave the Kiwi for the leather

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I can tell you that the Kiwi, makes the floors in the barracks like a mirror.

So true.

Back in the early 80's, we used Johnson's most of the time in the USAF. But when we ran out, out came the Kiwi. After all, if the floors (and the boots) don't shine, the world stops turning.

dormitionskete said:

Back in the early 80's, we used Johnson's most of the time in the USAF. But when we ran out, out came the Kiwi. After all, if the floors (and the boots) don't shine, the world stops turning.

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We did the Johnsons then the Kiwi. Basic at Lackland