JosephThomas Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 Hey guys. Every time I use paste wax in the shop the strong odor takes days to dissipate...is there some trick to getting rid of it quicker? I applied a thin layer to some mdf for a torsion box bench I'm building, and I just have one rag I used to apply. I turned on my overhead air cleaner on high before I started and have left it on for multiple hours since, and left the window open as well. Any tricks/tips? Is it normal to take a couple days for the smell to go away? Also, how soon can I toss the rag in the garbage? I'm always worried about tossing anything oil-based or petrol-based on the trash for risk of starting a fire, so it's just been rinsed and hung out in my slop sink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 Ziploc the rag. It's often the source of the smell. That's what I do with my oily rags. For wax or other substances, I buy rags by the pound at the hardware store and discard them right after first use. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxdabroxx Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 You could always store the rag in a mason jar with a metal lid on it. If I apply BLO or something of the like I just leave the rags on the concrete floor in a open space. I imagine the biggest flame possible on the rag and make sure it couldn't reach anything flammable. So far I have not come back to a pile of ashes on my floor. I do want to get a metal trash can with tight fitting lid for oily rags though as my current solution isn't the greatest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 You're crazy. I love the smell of Renaissance Wax. That strong turpentine smell. Smells like...victory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 I don't know about the Renaissance wax, but plain old paste wax smells like dead cow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtnwoodworker Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 I have Johnson's paste wax and don't find the smell that bad. If you want to get rid of the smell put out some rat poison. Let the rat die in your shop somewhere that you can't find, and now your shop will smell terrible for a whole different reason. That's the smell I'm dealing with right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxdabroxx Posted August 31, 2016 Report Share Posted August 31, 2016 46 minutes ago, midtnwoodworker said: I have Johnson's paste wax and don't find the smell that bad. If you want to get rid of the smell put out some rat poison. Let the rat die in your shop somewhere that you can't find, and now your shop will smell terrible for a whole different reason. That's the smell I'm dealing with right now. Ugh, I've got a mouse trying to move into my house right now. Those critters are a PITA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 I bought a 5 lb can of wax years ago. I keep the rag in the can and wear gloves when I use it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephThomas Posted September 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 You guys are funny. I have ren wax, but was using Johnson's this time, as it was just to get a non-stick surface on some mdf. Never thought of keeping the rag in a seal jar/bag or in the wax container itself. All good ideas. I'd probably get reported if I burned anything, my neighbors all of 4 feet from me. The wife really hates the smell, and I share the shop space with the laundry, so I have to do something, otherwise she can't come in here on the days I open the wax container. Thx guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 I use Aerowax & I like the smell. The rag goes back in the can when I'm done & the smell never lasts more than an hour or so. BTW, your air cleaner will do nothing to remove the smell, unless it's got charcoal filters in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephThomas Posted September 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 3 minutes ago, drzaius said: I use Aerowax & I like the smell. The rag goes back in the can when I'm done & the smell never lasts more than an hour or so. BTW, your air cleaner will do nothing to remove the smell, unless it's got charcoal filters in it. Yeah I thought it did when I bought it, bc I was glad it would remove solvent stink from the air, but it's been useless for this so I'm probably wrong. Thx for the reminder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 Hopefully you're not talking about Johnson's? That stuff smells almost as good as the plastic bubble stuff in a tube back in the ..... well, back when I was a kid! In fact, when I finally get ac in my shop, I'm going to hang a rag soaked in it in front of the ac as an air freshener! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenskye Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 JT just hang a dirty diaper in the shop, I'm sure it would smell worse, but by now you and better yet your wife have to be used to the smell. Probably doesn't even affect you, case closed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 Are you upset it doesn't smell like paste? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenskye Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 2 minutes ago, Llama said: Are you upset it doesn't smell like paste? Doesn't taste like it either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 17 minutes ago, Woodenskye said: Doesn't taste like it either. Will try it Sat. morn. And get back to Ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxdabroxx Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 14 hours ago, JosephThomas said: ... otherwise she can't come in here on the days I open the wax container. Thx guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 Related question: Isn't turpentine supposed to be a natural product, extracted from pine resins or something like that? The turpentine I get from a local luthier shop smells worse than paint thinner, as soon as I open the bottle the odor will fill the room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 There is a substitute mineral turpentine. That could be what you got. It's kinda in the same family as paint thinner/mineral spirits. The odorless mineral spirits is highly refined to remove the aromatic hydrocarbons. Real turpentine is pretty expensive ,around $18 a quart , $52 a gallon. If you paid a lot less you got a substitute . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 32 minutes ago, wdwerker said: There is a substitute mineral turpentine. That could be what you got. It's kinda in the same family as paint thinner/mineral spirits. The odorless mineral spirits is highly refined to remove the aromatic hydrocarbons. Real turpentine is pretty expensive ,around $18 a quart , $52 a gallon. If you paid a lot less you got a substitute . Thanks Steve! It was cheap, I guess that explains it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephThomas Posted September 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 There is a substitute mineral turpentine. That could be what you got. It's kinda in the same family as paint thinner/mineral spirits. The odorless mineral spirits is highly refined to remove the aromatic hydrocarbons. Real turpentine is pretty expensive ,around $18 a quart , $52 a gallon. If you paid a lot less you got a substitute . Do the odorless mineral spirits work the same way for woodworking purposes? Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 If the label says "green" then the answer is no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 I love the smell of both Johnsons paste wax and renn wax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted September 1, 2016 Report Share Posted September 1, 2016 9 minutes ago, Brendon_t said: I love the smell of both Johnsons paste wax and renn wax. Yeah, that and spanking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.