Page 2 of 2
Re: Johnson Paste Wax
Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2023 8:33 pm
by Mike
Customers willing to pay $50 up for a $15 can and none to be found. I guess it would depend on the date when production ended to the date shelves are stocked out. Maybe it comes back
Re: Johnson Paste Wax
Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2023 9:26 pm
by jsburger
RFGuy wrote: Sat Jun 24, 2023 5:51 pm
I think it is more akin to the Coke vs. Pepsi or Bud vs. Coors or Mustang vs. Camaro, etc., etc. debates.
It is ALL personal preference. Shopsmith got me onto JPW and I know there are equal products out there, but sometimes one wants to stick with what one knows and perhaps support brands one loves. That was the case for me. I reported previously on how I secured a new can of JPW online a while back. I paid a slightly elevated price for it because it was out of manufacture, but nothing like $50/can.
Keep in mind the OP was sharing their experience and wanting to support a charity by auctioning a can off to anyone who wants it on this thread.
This is not a place to sell or auction items.
Brand loyalty is OK but at what price considering JPW is no longer available?
Anyhow, the OP is not donating to charity. He said...
"If by chance I hit $50.00 bucks the over $50.00 bucks will be donated to MDA Portland. (Muscular Dystrophy Association). "
So if you pay $51 then one dollar goes to charity. He just wants to recoup some of the money he foolishly spent on JPW and is hoping someone here has the same affinity for JPW that he has.

Re: Johnson Paste Wax
Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2023 9:27 pm
by jsburger
JPG wrote: Sat Jun 24, 2023 4:50 pm
"Does anyone remember when SS actually sold JPW if ever?"
YES
OK, now the obvious question is when.

Re: Johnson Paste Wax
Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2023 12:24 am
by JPG
1962?
Re: Johnson Paste Wax
Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2023 5:40 am
by RFGuy
jsburger wrote: Sat Jun 24, 2023 9:26 pm
This is not a place to sell or auction items.
Brand loyalty is OK but at what price considering JPW is no longer available?
John,
The OP can speak for themselves on charity & intent of their post. Good point on not selling items on this forum as it is forbidden by this forum. Well just about any post on this forum seems to generate controversy or debate. Even a discussion over something as simple as a can of paste wax causes this. I mainly wanted to point out the "why" for some of us using/preferring JPW and even THAT is controversial because there is no acceptance that Shopsmith recommended it before.

I guess when a product is sold for 70+ years the history of said product gets lost and forgotten with time unfortunately.

Re: Johnson Paste Wax
Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2023 12:31 pm
by chapmanruss
Sorry I really don't have time to research this answer since it is moving time and almost all my Shopsmith stuff is packed.
The early Mark 5 manuals began recommending the use of paste wax over the use of a light coat of oil as was recommended for the Model 10's. At one time Shopsmith sold JPW which was one of the items in the Help Kit.
Re: Johnson Paste Wax
Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2023 1:27 pm
by DLB
Here is a link that shows what JPW has recently
sold for: (
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R ... Complete=1)
Supply and Demand at work, I'd say it is running around $65 to $70 including shipping for a full new can. The OP has generously offered to make a can available to a forum member for roughly half the going rate. If anyone wants a can, I'd advise to take him up on it, but via PM. I like the stuff, have tried one of the others and liked it less, but I'm no longer sure which one. The wax was okay, but it tended to dry out in a lesser container. Like others on the forum, I got the word JPW was going away in time to buy a can off the shelf locally.
- David
Re: Johnson Paste Wax
Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2023 7:51 pm
by Mike
Date and amount I paid for (2) cans on eBay, I thought it very expensive at that time but came highly recommended by so many on this forum I had to pull the trigger. I really love the stuff and now use it on all my finer tools. Would I pay 50-100? Yeah probably would but should have enough to last till I quit foggin a mirror.
Discontinued HTF Unopened
$59.98 price $59.98
Item number:225068707465
Quantity 2quantity 2
Return window closed on Sep 28, 2022.
Re: Johnson Paste Wax
Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2023 9:03 pm
by RFGuy
DLB wrote: Sun Jun 25, 2023 1:27 pm
Here is a link that shows what JPW has recently
sold for: (
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R ... Complete=1)
Supply and Demand at work, I'd say it is running around $65 to $70 including shipping for a full new can. The OP has generously offered to make a can available to a forum member for roughly half the going rate. If anyone wants a can, I'd advise to take him up on it, but via PM. I like the stuff, have tried one of the others and liked it less, but I'm no longer sure which one. The wax was okay, but it tended to dry out in a lesser container. Like others on the forum, I got the word JPW was going away in time to buy a can off the shelf locally.
- David
David,
Thanks. I prefer JPW, but recognize there are other choices. I had to use Renaissance Wax on my deceased FIL's workshop tools to maintain them a while back due to that was the fastest I could get in a pinch with availability at that time/location. I didn't like the consistency of it as much as JPW, but the bigger problem is the cost of Renaissance Wax. For the same volume as a can of JPW, I'll bet Renaissance Wax is at least $50 for the equivalent amount (too tired to do the math right now). Not trying to diss on Renaissance Wax because I know many woodworkers love the stuff, as do others love Trewax, etc., etc. I really think it comes down to personal preference. I know Shopsmith recommended JPW to me originally and I also got it in the Help Kit once I believe.
Re: Johnson Paste Wax
Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2023 11:06 pm
by Thomschuck
Hey guys!
Thanks for all the positive feedback on JPW!! I have used it for over 50+ years. Since I was in Jr High School. Mike….. Why did they quit making it is the only note worthy comment? They shut off the tap January 31 2021. The reason is that it has an ingredient in it that the state of California red flagged. Have you all noticed all the tags that say except in California? Johnson & Johnson took that ingredient, removed the smell and then added their own perfume. Then J&J renamed the ingredient. They have been making it for a LONG time. I have never used a wax other than JPW and I don’t want/need to start now. I also happen to know several guys (maybe even on this forum) that caught on and went out and loaded up on the wax clearing the shelves of the stuff. For those of us that never tried it? Well……. Too late now! I have enough problems in my life without concerning myself with a wax I am not familiar with. BTW… Back in the day NASA spec. JPW on many of the moving metal to metal contacts. But then again we are not launching blocks of wood into space. My Shopsmith has spit some blocks of wood back at me but never even close to call it altitude. The way I justified the price was I took the cost of say Minnwax and deducted that from the OUTRAGEOUS price of $50.00 a can. Then the sting was not so bad. I have several proprietary finishes I learned how to make in college.JPW is part of my formulary.