SC Johnson Paste Wax
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- thunderbirdbat
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 834
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2015 11:23 am
- Location: Marion, Iowa
Re: SC Johnson Paste Wax
I'll resurrect this topic as the current cost of JPW was mentioned in a post on Shopsmith News and Announcements and did not think my post was relevant to that discussion. I found a wax that may be an acceptable alternative to JPW. I have tried it and it works as well as JPW as far as I can tell but it is still early days. The paste wax is designed to wax the floors at bowling alleys and is advertised for that purpose. There are several manufacturers that sell under different names but the one I purchased is from BWC Company simply called Bowling Alley Wax.
https://www.amazon.com/Bowling-Alley-Wa ... 607&sr=8-1
https://www.amazon.com/Bowling-Alley-Wa ... 607&sr=8-1
Brenda
1998 510 upgraded to a 520, upgraded to power pro with double tilt and lift assist.
1998 bandsaw
2016 beltsander
jointer
overarm pin router
1998 510 upgraded to a 520, upgraded to power pro with double tilt and lift assist.
1998 bandsaw
2016 beltsander
jointer
overarm pin router
Re: SC Johnson Paste Wax
I have tried that bowling alley wax and also found it works very well. It's a little softer than some of the other brands I've tried, so it's a little easier to apply.
Re: SC Johnson Paste Wax
I fail to understand the obsession with JPW. SS has not put JPW in the help kit or sold it individually for at leas 35 years. When I bought my 510 new in 1994 the help kit contained Trewax. I have not checked lately but I think it still does.
John & Mary Burger
Eagle's Lair Woodshop
Hooper, UT
Eagle's Lair Woodshop
Hooper, UT
- thunderbirdbat
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 834
- Joined: Sat Aug 08, 2015 11:23 am
- Location: Marion, Iowa
Re: SC Johnson Paste Wax
I believe the obsession with JPW is because even though Trewax was what was in the help kit, JPW was what was demonstrated and told by instructors at the classes and the demo's to use even after I got my 510 in 1998.
Brenda
1998 510 upgraded to a 520, upgraded to power pro with double tilt and lift assist.
1998 bandsaw
2016 beltsander
jointer
overarm pin router
1998 510 upgraded to a 520, upgraded to power pro with double tilt and lift assist.
1998 bandsaw
2016 beltsander
jointer
overarm pin router
- BuckeyeDennis
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 3800
- Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2012 10:03 pm
- Location: Central Ohio
Re: SC Johnson Paste Wax
I’m rich!!!
Shortly after I saw on this forum that JPW had been discontinued, I searched Ace Hardware to see if any was still in stock. Sure enough, their store in Johnstown Ohio still had a few cans.
As luck would have it, the Johnstown store was maybe ten feet out of the way on a weekend nature hike with my wife, so I stopped in and snagged a brand-new can. It won’t be needed in my shop for many years to come. But should street prices ever hit the $1000 per bottle that Pappy van Winkle bourbon commands, it’s definitely for sale or trade.

Shortly after I saw on this forum that JPW had been discontinued, I searched Ace Hardware to see if any was still in stock. Sure enough, their store in Johnstown Ohio still had a few cans.
As luck would have it, the Johnstown store was maybe ten feet out of the way on a weekend nature hike with my wife, so I stopped in and snagged a brand-new can. It won’t be needed in my shop for many years to come. But should street prices ever hit the $1000 per bottle that Pappy van Winkle bourbon commands, it’s definitely for sale or trade.

Last edited by BuckeyeDennis on Fri Apr 18, 2025 11:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: SC Johnson Paste Wax
I’ve had my can of JPW since 1985. Just now seeing the bottom.
- Matanuska
1984 Mark V upgraded to 520 PowerPro. Shopsmith cast iron table bandsaw, jointer, belt sander, and 60's vintage 610 jigsaw SPT's. Makita 2040 15" planer, JessEm Mast-R-Lift II router table.
1984 Mark V upgraded to 520 PowerPro. Shopsmith cast iron table bandsaw, jointer, belt sander, and 60's vintage 610 jigsaw SPT's. Makita 2040 15" planer, JessEm Mast-R-Lift II router table.
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- Gold Member
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 1:48 pm
- Location: North Central Massachusetts
Re: SC Johnson Paste Wax
The $1000 may happen… the price is increasing (I just looked again and it now $225.00) or offer to trade for a bottle of Pappy….BuckeyeDennis wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 9:11 pm I’m rich!!!![]()
As luck would have it, the Johnstown store was maybe ten feet out of the way on a weekend nature hike with my wife, so I stopped in and snagged a brand-new can. It won’t be needed in my shop for many years to come. But should street prices ever hit the $1000 per bottle that Pappy van Winkle bourbon commands, it’s definitely for sale or trade.![]()
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- chapmanruss
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 4184
- Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:16 pm
- Location: near Portland, Oregon
Re: SC Johnson Paste Wax
To answer John,
The current ad here on the Shopsmith Website catalog has MinWax in the Help Kit.
I bought a couple cans of JPW after the news of it being discontinued. Maybe should have bought all the cans the store had. I could be rich.
In a couple of years as the "value" increases I could trade them for a Mark 7.
The current ad here on the Shopsmith Website catalog has MinWax in the Help Kit.
I bought a couple cans of JPW after the news of it being discontinued. Maybe should have bought all the cans the store had. I could be rich.

In a couple of years as the "value" increases I could trade them for a Mark 7.

Russ
Mark V completely upgraded to Mark 7
Mark V 520
All SPT's & 2 Power Stations
Model 10ER S/N R64000 first one I restored on bench w/ metal ends & retractable casters.
Has Speed Changer, 4E Jointer, Jig Saw with lamp, a complete set of original accessories & much more.
Model 10E's S/N's 1076 & 1077 oldest ones I have restored. Mark 2 S/N 85959 restored. Others to be restored.
Mark V completely upgraded to Mark 7
Mark V 520
All SPT's & 2 Power Stations
Model 10ER S/N R64000 first one I restored on bench w/ metal ends & retractable casters.
Has Speed Changer, 4E Jointer, Jig Saw with lamp, a complete set of original accessories & much more.
Model 10E's S/N's 1076 & 1077 oldest ones I have restored. Mark 2 S/N 85959 restored. Others to be restored.
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- Gold Member
- Posts: 305
- Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 1:48 pm
- Location: North Central Massachusetts
Re: SC Johnson Paste Wax
A few weeks ago these were available in my area, 4lb cans and he had 18 cases. Not JPW, but I assume close enough. I was going to buy some when I got back from vacation but they were no longer listed. I guess you snooze you loose.
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Re: SC Johnson Paste Wax
Furniture waxes have evolved to provide better protection and ease of use. I personally like the Black Bison brand, but also have used Staples, Briwax, Renaissance wax, and another in a blue and white can I don't recall the name of. Generally waxes that are hard to apply and buff off have some carnauba plant based component. Some may even have paraffin as an ingredient.
The easier to apply and buff off have bees wax in them. I think my Black Bison is heavy on the bees wax, and it has a pleasant smell. I usually don't use the Briwax too often as it has a harsher odor due to it's solvent, which I think has some aromatic solvents like toluene, which is a little harsher than the aliphatic solvent such as mineral spirits. As a furniture restorer, I often use a colored wax to cover up scratches.
I do have a can of the Johnson Paste Wax, and when it is gone, will have no reservations or beliefs that it is better than the Staples or Min-Wax paste wax. Just my opinion.
The easier to apply and buff off have bees wax in them. I think my Black Bison is heavy on the bees wax, and it has a pleasant smell. I usually don't use the Briwax too often as it has a harsher odor due to it's solvent, which I think has some aromatic solvents like toluene, which is a little harsher than the aliphatic solvent such as mineral spirits. As a furniture restorer, I often use a colored wax to cover up scratches.
I do have a can of the Johnson Paste Wax, and when it is gone, will have no reservations or beliefs that it is better than the Staples or Min-Wax paste wax. Just my opinion.