Not trying to be snarky, but I'd choose Johnson & Johnson wax paste in the yellow can. Old school. No additives. No fillers.

 

Based on what I have read over the last couple of years about it, I will no longer use it on my gun stocks. A fellow member - Noremf - has forgotten more than most of us ever knew about wood finishes including how to care for them.....and unless I've lost my mind, I think he strongly recommends against that particular product.

The long term effects may be undesirable. I use Renaissance Wax (great stuff) or just Johnson's paste wax.

 

Based on what I have read over the last couple of years about it, I will no longer use it on my gun stocks. A fellow member - Noremf - has forgotten more than most of us ever knew about wood finishes including how to care for them.....and unless I've lost my mind, I think he strongly recommends against that particular product.

The long term effects may be undesirable. I use Renaissance Wax (great stuff) or just Johnson's paste wax.

never tried Renaissance, had forgot about it....think i would like to give it a shot.

Is the Howard's somehow causing long term problems such as discoloration, or maybe weakening wood, or affecting the existing finish?

 

I like Howards quite a bit....not sure how "protective" it is as far as long term effects like sealing/waterproofing wood, when as compared to thicker waxes, etc.

but, it seems to make wood grain pop, and on some porous stocks i've had seem to soak it up pretty good and it keeps them looking good.
and if you like oranges, it smells pretty good.

I have used Johsnon paste wax a lot too...especially for high gloss finishes that show scratches easily, the Johnsons wax fills light surface scratches better i think...

 

As I said, Noremf (George) has forgotten more on this subject than most of us know. He has the credentials and has written a number of threads/posts on this topic. The problem is potential long term damage to the finish.....not what it looks like short term. You might read through this thread as an example paying special attention to all posts by Noremf that start showing up after the first page.

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=400117&highlight=Howard's+Feed

As a long time woodworker, I know that Renaissance Wax is a top of the line product for applying to wood finishes.....no danger of damage over time. Johnson's Paste wax ain't bad either. Why take chances with automotive products?

 

My understanding is that Howard's Feed and Wax contains silicone which is suppose to be really bad for wood.

 

Howard's Feed and Wax

After reading quite a number of George's posts I would NEVER use this on any stock I valued. Use only Renaissance Wax now on all stocks. It is expensive BUT you do not use a lot. Try it you will like it.

 

+1 on the above two comments. I once e tolled the finish Howard's Feed-N-Wax gave to CZ stocks, but George (noremf) really educated me (and others) - Howard's has silicone which will damage wood. I have washed and removed the Howard's from all my stocks, and replaced it with Renaissance Wax.

 

Waiting for George to weigh in, he is smarter about finishes than all of us put together. Howards is junk according to him, and I tossed mine in the trash. I use Johnson's Paste Wax, and am loving it.

 

What would a person use to remove the Howards? Could one use Johnsons over the top of a finish that was treated about five years ago? Thanks in advance for any information.
FM

 

When I first joined this site everyone was extolling the virtues of Howards and Scratch X for stocks and some local guys I know were using Howards so I bought some of each and did a couple of stocks. Then later on I read George's posts and bought Ren Wax and have used nothing else. And small can does go a long way.

 

George has educated most of us on the evils of Howard's, mine sits idle in the cupboard, I use Renaissance Wax as a rule but have Johnson's and Briwax on hand as well. The Renaissance is the better of the three but that skinny little can is a pain.

 

Here I is.

This sticky goes over Howard's.

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494768

or if you want the virus free PDF to save to your PC.

http://rimfirecentral.com/rfcftp/stocks/HOWARDS FEED-N-WAX AND OTHERS.pdf

This one goes over Scratch-X/liquid Silicone

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494769

or

http://rimfirecentral.com/rfcftp/stocks/SCRATCH-X AND AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS ON WOOD.pdf

or

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5129053&postcount=54

Cannot edit that post anymore but here is the "show me" picture.

or

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5129168&postcount=56

or from a non woodworking source.

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5015308&postcount=5

and on a lighter note but just as nasty.

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5017899&postcount=1

While each sticky addresses a particular product, which I chose because they were "crowd pleasers" when I joined RFC, the chemicals contaminants in each are common and while some folks use them and report no problems, that limited usage will not change what the chemicals will do and when they do what they will do the damage will be so great that sometimes it cannot be corrected without completely stripping a stock and then putting on a barrier coat before refinishing it.

ALL NATURAL WAXES are designed by nature to be sacrificial which means they absorb contaminants and then bleed or flash off etc. carrying the contaminants with them at which time they need to be renewed.

Much like human skin.

There are posts on which ones are the top 3 and they are mentioned here as Renaissance, Bri-Wax and good old Original Formula Johnson's paste wax in the flat yellow can.

Synthetic waxes often called paraffin waxes which are petroleum byproducts are not as good and often contain contaminants. Simple as that.

Bunch of stuff, including the sticky's etc. here on the "Stocks: Making, Repairing, Refinishing, Modifying, and Bedding " forum which was set up to consolidate "woodworking" questions which fundamentally are about that discipline rather then a particular gun model or other discrete questions. Some pretty talented folks contribute to that.

"buckmark13" .... You might want to review the How to clean a finish and Rubbing-Polishing-Burnishing threads on there which goes a long way towards presenting your stock to it's best attributes and is done before you wax it. Only gotta do once by the by.

noremf(George)

 

I just rub a silicone cloth on it every so often. Simple, easy.

 

I wonder if George sometimes feels like he's talking to a wall. (Not most of the time, but an occasional wall.)

 

i wonder if george sometimes feels like he's talking to a wall. (not most of the time, but an occasional wall.)

I bet he has those days.....

 

As an industrial painter and automotive re-finisher since the early 70's there is nothing like silicone to really ruin your day.