Originally Posted by
Prashun Patel
I have been using an oil pot for the past week. I am using a mixture of synthetic oils because that's what I had on hand.
I haven't noticed a big difference in chisels, but have really noticed a difference on my planes. I am working on a white oak park bench and the oil has really made planing the end grain quite easy. I must say I like the oil vs the wax, because it's very easy to get coverage.
I normally use a mixture of oil and beeswax. Easy to apply, the wax makes it longer lasting than oil alone, the oil makes the wax easier to apply. To get them mixed, I use a small amount of mineral spirits to soften the wax to a mixing consistency. It evaporates over time with no discernible effect on performance. While it's still soft (newly mixed) I saturate a smallish microfiber towel, roll it up tightly and put it a matching oil pot container. From time to time, I pull the towel our, re-roll it to give a fresh, clean top and put it back into the pot. Rub it on a tool, let it stand ~5 minutes and buff with a clean dry cloth. Works a charm, good for about half-a-dozen sharpenings before it's time to reapply for either a chisel or a plane blade.
Fair winds and following seas,
Jim Waldron