Are US and Canadian "paraffin" different? (I know British "paraffin oil" is US "kerosine" which is flammable.)
US version of paraffin is a wax which is traditionally used in kitchens across the US for sealing "canned" (i.e. jarred, preserved) goods. Yeah, it's flammable, but you have to try really hard. (I imagine about as hard as it would be to burn beeswax.)
Interesting point if this is the case.Are US and Canadian "paraffin" different?
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
I prefer beeswax over paraffin because paraffin crumbles while beeswax sticks to the threads. It also smells better.
Does the wax make sure you can get 100% of them back out in 20 years? I've never seen a Star Drive screw that wouldn't come right back out. Here, we turn dock boards, and deck boards over when the tops are badly checked, which is after about 20 years.
Also, I've never put wax on a single one of the thousands we've run in.
i build docks. i would echo what others have said about the softness and breaking of ss screws. if you need to use stainless because a hostile enviornment requires it for corrosion resistance, we had better luck with 2 1/2 inch screws instead of 3 inch. dramatic reduction in breakage. we also did switch to deck mate ceramic coated with torx drive. one fifth the cost, and no breakage. they hold up for us, but freshwater. ymmv
Way too much "screwing around" (groan - I know - bad me/bad pun ).Pre-drill with an appropriate drill/countersink unit;
Bees way the thread (paraffin also works, but too dangerous);
Use the impact driver to run the screw into the pre-drilled hole;
Repeat another 10,000 times.
I just use Deckmate screws and an 18V Makita impact driver.
"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." - John Lennon
Been away for a while.
Had 2 nasty experiences with paraffin, once overseas where it IS kerosene, and once locally where it spilled, someone slipped and I vowed never to use it again. Didn't know there was a difference between Middle Eastern and North American paraffin flammability.
Still, I use beeswax, just ingrained habit I guess.
Young enough to remember doing it;
Old enough to wish I could do it again.
I think bee's wax works the best. And the fact that it seems gummy and unlikely to work , is kinda entertaining.
I did some experiments between beeswax and paraffin wax and found that paraffin wax was "slicker" than beeswax. Beeswax tended to "stick" somewhat. This was for uses other than screws so it may not apply to screws.
And paraffin wax is certainly not dangerous.
Mike
Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.