How to Wax Your Gears

A brief description of the type of wax and process I use to wax wood gears for laser cut wood kits. This video specifically uses gears from the Rokr Pendulum Clock

[@smilesinframingham5461]

Thank you for this. The instructions were not clear at all on how wax should be used. (I have the train model). A comment on another video said the wax could not be shipped to some locations, probably because it is a flammable material. It also said the wax could be purchased at most hobby stores. Mine came with the wax.

[@jeanward6468]

Have assembled your clock and is it working ours keep stopping on the hour

[@CaptRon817]

I use a small shallow tray with warm/melted wax just deep enough to roll the wheel and cover the teeth. The wax will adhere to the wheel well enough for its intended purpose. Standard paste wax, like floor wax works well too.

[@edclune5357]

Cool. Thanks for the tip.

[@TomHaneyArtwork]

I've been using Johnson's Paste Wax for almost 30 years. It works so beautifully well on metal and wood, I've never tried anything else. Brush it on with a small stiff paintbrush, wait 20 minutes, and wipe off excess. Make everything slick as a whistle. Also good for table saw tops, etc.

[@Will-bh8mu]

Thanks for the tip excellent idea.

[@gerimondvogel4195]

You can use also a silicone spray. It makes the wood a little darker, but everything works as it should.

[@drew2c659]

What helped me was also using a hair dryer to melt down the wax so that it spread evenly across the gear teeth

[@rydon5603]

Thank u so much for this

[@Paul-sh7bx]

Graphite would make a smooth running clock. Even use a graphite pencil to apply after paint/stain.

[@danielscott1749]

I am planing on using melted sealing wax and bristle brush, then once sealed a chain wax.

[@macmicmacmic1414]

Sir is it okay to use floor wax as alternative cause no wax included to my parcel. Than you.

[@baitcommajail]

Due to the audio quality, I couldn't quite hear the one word I needed: what kind of wax are you using? Thanks! (My kit is missing even the wax they said they'd supply...)

[@edclune5357]

Hi, I use a Glade air freshener candle wax. You can probably find it at Bed, Bath and Beyond or similar store or section of a department store.

[@andrewrurak9540]

Mine was missing the wax also

[@nigelsethack7205]

@@andrewrurak9540 So was mine

[@demonnohalo8458]

same

[@baitcommajail]

Now I just wish I could get it to run for more than 30m at a time (and that only if it’s perfectly level. No, perfectly...)

[@kairi99roxas]

Do you need to heat up the wax (that comes with the kit)? Cause its just flaking off right now

[@edclune5357]

Nope. Both the wax I get in the kits (usually a candle) or the wax I prefer to use are applied at room temperature.

[@dl4511]

Ed Clune: might be easier and get a better result by heating the wax and dipping or using a lit wick just drip it on the gears.

[@lesrayner4644]

Why don’t you just gently heat the ordinary candle wax and brush it on ? I’ve been doing it that way for years, so easy

[@vett2]

Maybe one of you would be able to help me as I hit no reply from ugears. I lost the gauge for my timer to set the axel length could someone please tell me the sizes of the gauge slots do I can set my axles.

[@edclune5357]

Hi, I'm not quite sure which kit you are referring to. Is it the UGears Locomotive kit?

[@Beery1962]

That gear looks nothing like a guinea pig. Guinea pigs are soft and furry.

[@irynamyroliubova1152]

Can you use technical vaseline? Its a bit easier to spread.

[@edclune5357]

I haven't tried it, so I can't make a definitive answer. The two things I would be concerned about are whether the stickiness causes more problems than the lubrication helps and whether it either stains or is absorbed by the wood over time.

[@davidgarston3353]

Could you heat wax and paint it on gears ?

[@edclune5357]

Hi. I don't think paint would be a problem on non-gear surfaces. I'd be a little more concerned about wax, both because it would have mass and depth and because it might tend to flake off and get in places it shouldn't. That said, I've only ever seen pictures of the clock just as wood (and metal) without any paint or adornment.

[@davidgarston3353]

@@edclune5357 Hi Ed, I was thinking down the lines of melting wax and painting it on gear surfaces ect to get good lubrication ?

[@edclune5357]

@@davidgarston3353 Hah, I didn't notice what video your comment was in. I have not tried that but it seems like it should work. I'm guessing you would still have to scrape off excess wax here and there.

[@thomashughes4859]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I don't think those gears look epicycloidal, nor the pinions radial, which would negate the need for any lubricant. The design is then flawed, but the good news is that you now have "plans" for your own build. Cut those gears properly, and your clock will run 100 years.

[@more_yasnotsi]

Could you recommend where can I learn more about what places need lubricant? And what exactly is "properly" in this case? Thanks!

[@thomashughes4859]

@@more_yasnotsi Do a search for clock books from the turn of the 20th century and previous. Lots are free online. The idea is that using epicycloids for the wheel teeth and radial leaves for the pinions requires ZERO lubrication because the gear teeth and leaves _ROLL_ on each other; there is no friction (a few exceptions to be sure, as always). Now the only place you might need lubing is at the pivots. That's where the arbors meet the plates. Of course, you might not depending on the torque in the system. Anyway, good luck!

[@more_yasnotsi]

@@thomashughes4859 thanks a lot!

[@thomashughes4859]

@@more_yasnotsi No worries!

[@luisalonsocoralpalma4972]

Buenas tardes. Cuál es el precio de el reloj. Materiales y planos. Gracias. Para país Colombia

[@AedanBlackheart]

Look it up..

[@JeremiahBurns]

Ignorant question: if the wax doesn't help stuck gears move, what purpose is it serving?

[@edclune5357]

Thanks for your question. I believe what I was trying to convey that adding wax is not a cure-all. It won't make a gear train that has a lot of friction magically run smoothly by applying wax. Adding wax would be useful if the gear train runs but has a few glitches or rough spots. It's all about expectations.

[@charlesjesudason6723]

Hi Ed, thanks for your response, my gear train does run but only for a small amount, then it gets stuck and can’t seem to locate where it is getting stuck? I believe it could be due to friction, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[@robertonascimento850]

Boa tarde amigo! Como faço para adquirir um mecanismo completo igual à este? Posso saber o preço, formas de pagamento e o processo de envio pelos correios? Você teria outros modelos tipo pêndulo grande com correntes e pesos? Por gentileza me retorne! Grato !

[@edclune5357]

Olá Companies: Wood Trick, Ugear, Rokr Amazon.com: wood pendulum clock kit Price: $40 to $100 (200 to 500 R$ if your in Brazil)

[@fernandexjoseph]

Oi Roberto! Comprei o meu pelo Aliexpress, não fui taxado.

[@robertonascimento850]

@@fernandexjoseph nossa amigo! Eu ando louco pra comprar

[@robertkattner1997]

Why not melt wax in frying pan 1/4 inch deep and roll the gear teeth in it.

[@powwerfoxx]

does candle wax work ?

[@JustNeutral]

Yes

[@lukefisher1858]

My kits missing its wax, wtf

[@heatshield]

You're not alone. My kit is missing the wax, and I've seen lots of others saying the same. Did you find a solution?

[@lukefisher1858]

@@heatshield I ended up using a chunk of candle lol. I guess there's like a law about shipping flammable materials in airplanes or some shit

[@taishwarya]

To everyone whose kit is missing the wax.... it says on the rokr website that the wax might not be supplied to kits shipped to some countries because of customs restrictions

[@AedanBlackheart]

Using screw lube

[@Koaxerist]

omg :-/