Unquestionably Confused wrote:
On 2/16/2013 11:31 PM, Doug Miller wrote:
"Gramp's shop" wrote in news:effd5331-4ba2-44a6-9a68-
:

The woodworkers show was in town today and I brought one of the broken screws and a
sample to get some opinions from the graybeards. Here's what they had to say:

1. Square drive screws don't allow the driver to slip off -- like
philips head -- when the screw
is tight leading to breakage if I overtighten.
2. Screw should be lubed -- soap or wax.

Wax only, never soap. Soap will absorb water from ambient humidity, which promotes
corrosion of the screw.



Years ago I read a tip somewhere about using beeswax for driving screws.
I have in the shop a small jar (think it was creamed herring which was
good and the current contents are equally good but in a much different way)

Pick up the cheapest wax toilet seal you find at Menard's or wherever and
carefully melt it down - I did mine a little at a time in a Pyrex
measuring cup in the microwave. I think the original tip was to use a double boiler.

The full jar will last you a couple of lifetimes and the consistency is
just about perfect. Unscrew the cap, poke the screw into the wax and
drive it home. No flakes of wax like with canning wax and if you find
you get too many holes in the surface (I did... ONCE) just put it back
and heat it up and it's back like "new."

Just about any thing will work, I prefer a sealable can of what ever
furniture wax I have in the garage. I already have it and it can be closed
up, not terribly expensive. I have installed more wax rings than I care to
admit, while they make an excellent screw lube I find them way too sticky
for my liking.