Shopsmith Forums

Several years ago, with my first maintenance kit from Shopsmith, I got a can of Minwax Paste Wax. Over the years it has hardened to a waxy brick with cracks. It was almost impossible to use.
I bought a can of Johnson's and, WOW! It was soft and spreadable; goes on like a dream, polishes easy, no visible residue.
Before I pitched the half can of Minwax, I decided to see if I could resurrect it. Added a small glug of mineral spirits, let it set a week. Opened it up and poked around with a stick. Mineral spirits had been absorbed and it was a little softer. Began stirring and adding more mineral spirits a little at a time. Gradually it became a paste again.
My question is: Did I mess it up and need to throw it out, or can I use it?

[quote="jimthej"]Several years ago, with my first maintenance kit from Shopsmith, I got a can of Minwax Paste Wax. Over the years it has hardened to a waxy brick with cracks. It was almost impossible to use.
I bought a can of Johnson's and, WOW! It was soft and spreadable]
I don't know if you messed up by adding mineral spirits but I think you could have just put it out in the sun to soften it. I have had Johnson Paste Wax do the same thing.

There is no need to throw away the Minwax. It is perfectly OK to use. You simply replaced the mineral spirits that had evaporated over time and brought it back to its original consistency. If you look at the MSDS, Minwax finishing wax is about 70 percent mineral spirits.