# Waxing the wood axle on a wooden yo-yo? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Yo-Yo\ **Created:** [December 23, 2018, 1:06am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549 "2018-12-23T01:06:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/codinghorror/32/8052_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 1:06am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/1 "2018-12-23T01:06:46Z")
I’ve done a fair bit of searching and I can’t find a definitive answer on this. Some say yes, some say no, some say it doesn’t matter. [For example](https://www.reddit.com/r/Throwers/wiki/fixieguide): > Some players like to apply chapstick, lip balm, or wax to the axle loop when putting the string on a wooden axle. This seems to help responsiveness sometimes, but opinions vary. Ed does not use it, but Jenson does. Should you wax the wood axle of a wooden yo-yo so it spins longer / smoother / faster? Is there some other substance that works better, or a specific type of wax that’s recommended? I’ve experimented a bit with using chapstick on the string loop. I am interested in max speed :wink: ---
**Author:** ![jhb8426](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jhb8426/32/631_2.png) [@jhb8426](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jhb8426)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 1:30am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/2 "2018-12-23T01:30:57Z")
I t does not appreciably affect spin time, if at all. More likely to act as a response agent. You probably wouldn’t care for it. ---
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/codinghorror/32/8052_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 1:37am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/3 "2018-12-23T01:37:07Z")
I’ve been testing with the chapstick and I’ve noticed no _increase_ in responsiveness, at least… > #### Active ingredient > > White Petrolatum 45% > > #### Inactive ingredients > > arachidyl propionate, camphor, **carnauba wax** , cetyl alcohol, fragrance, isopropyl lanolate, isopropyl myristate, lanolin, light mineral oil, methylparaben, octyldodecanol, oleyl alcohol, paraffin, phenyl trimethicone, propylparaben, red 6 lake, titanium dioxide, white wax, yellow 5 lake So not really ‘wax’ though, it’s not a major ingredient. ---
**Author:** ![jhb8426](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jhb8426/32/631_2.png) [@jhb8426](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jhb8426)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 1:40am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/4 "2018-12-23T01:40:48Z")
It depends on the quantity used. Too much wax and it will snap back and bite you. Chapstick, probably not so much. ---
**Author:** ![AaronW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/aaronw/32/49251_2.png) [@AaronW](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AaronW)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 2:13am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/5 "2018-12-23T02:13:42Z")
I remember when I used to use it, and you’d over wax. That was miserable, not only because of how responsive it was, but you’d ruin your axle and need to save some money and find a ride to the mall to buy new axles. ---
**Author:** ![anon5341354](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@anon5341354](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/anon5341354)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 2:41am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/6 "2018-12-23T02:41:11Z")
Never put anything on your axle. It’s best to just leave it alone. Please tell me you haven’t used it on that lovely eh you just purchased… ---
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/codinghorror/32/8052_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 2:48am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/7 "2018-12-23T02:48:35Z")
I did multiple times (on the string loop so it’d go on the axle), I don’t notice any ruining going on. ---
**Author:** ![anon5341354](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@anon5341354](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/anon5341354)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 2:49am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/8 "2018-12-23T02:49:15Z")
Oh dear! ---
**Author:** ![Kieran](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/kieran/32/7959_2.png) [@Kieran](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Kieran)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 3:13am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/9 "2018-12-23T03:13:11Z")
I started using Burt’s Bees lip balm on my axles after seeing Jensen use it in a video. [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/9/d/1/9d109697fd67a671a0a73c5c2addf7fd0fb66a7b.jpeg "OVERSIZED OVERSIZEd OVERSIZED") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxymvKG8rq8) Makes any fixed axle smooth and responsive with neutral string tension, meaning you can throw kickflips in the middle of stall combos without getting all twisted up. As for spin time, I would say it doesn’t make much of a difference. I wouldn’t recommend chapstick though, or anything else for that matter. Burt’s Bees works really well but you shouldn’t really have to use anything on you’re axles unless you’re having serious problems getting your throw to respond properly. But seeing as you’ve already used chapstick on your eh, I would definitely recommend giving this a try :+1: ---
**Author:** ![jhb8426](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jhb8426/32/631_2.png) [@jhb8426](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jhb8426)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 5:58am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/10 "2018-12-23T05:58:27Z")
I’ve used straight bee’s wax, and was not overly impressed one way or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Kieran](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/kieran/32/7959_2.png) [@Kieran](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Kieran)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 6:07am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/11 "2018-12-23T06:07:31Z")
I’ve tried straight bee’s wax as well, it kinda worked for me but was far too responsive and turned solid in cold weather. Burt’s Bees has the perfect ratio of bee’s wax and natural oils, it’s as if it were made for fixed axle! ---
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/codinghorror/32/8052_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 8:18am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/12 "2018-12-23T08:18:25Z")
Cool I found some Burt’s Bees, raiding my wife’s misc drawer! :wink: > Ingredients: **cera alba (beeswax)**, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, lanolin, tocopherolrosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, glycine soja (soybean) oil, canola oil, limonene. Very different set of ingredients… will give this a go for waxing the loop and thus the axle. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![anon5341354](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@anon5341354](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/anon5341354)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 9:16am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/13 "2018-12-23T09:16:20Z")
A yoyo with a gap and axle species and diameter set up right shouldn’t need wax. It’s just best practise not to put anything on your axle. Wood can react significantly to this kind of treatment and usually not in a good way. ---
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/codinghorror/32/8052_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 11:10am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/14 "2018-12-23T11:10:21Z")
Doing a bit more research, I think the advice to use Burt’s Bees (main ingredient: beeswax) is correct, because **it’s often recommended as a wood finish**. Chapstick (main ingredient: petrolatum) on the other hand, has some kinda oddball utility uses for wood (search for “vaseline wood” if you’re curious), but never as a _finish_ for wood. So far I’ve tried both, with poly strings, and nothing weird or bad has happened, though I’m not entirely sure if the axle got any _smoother_ as a result. I need to test again with some other No Jives that haven’t been treated, or a replacement axle. My guess is this mostly improves longevity of the axle / string? ---
**Author:** ![Myk\_Myk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/myk_myk/32/63087_2.png) [@Myk\_Myk](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Myk_Myk)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/15 "2018-12-23T15:35:44Z")
I always put a bit of chapstick on my cotton string, right where the string comes in contact with the axle. For me it seems to make the yo-yo more consistent with its response. I believe if you buy an Orphan, it will have had wax on the axle, because Jensen puts in on the string when he tests them. IMO, this is totally user preference. I will say I think I may have ruined the response on couple of my fixed axle throws. My Play Simply No-Jive and my 2016 EH, don’t seem to respond very well. However, I have every axle for the EH, and I can’t seem to get it to work with any of them, wax or no wax. I’ll have to try a new axle in the No-Jive. Maybe it’s best to try first without wax, and to try it if you’re not getting it to play the way you want? ---
**Author:** ![smileypants707](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/smileypants707/32/19045_2.png) [@smileypants707](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/smileypants707)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 4:18pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/16 "2018-12-23T16:18:26Z")
> [@codinghorror](#): > > glycine soja (soybean) oil See!? Soy is in freaking EVERYTHING! Why is soybean oil in chapstick? Why? My son has a soy allergy, so we have to read the labels on literally everything. Eating out is off limits for us as a family because it sucks having to be _those people_ who ask about the ingredients in all our food. And even still, why risk it? Okay I’m done ranting about soy. Carry on, you fine yoyo people ---
**Author:** ![vegabomb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/vegabomb/32/199_2.png) [@vegabomb](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/vegabomb)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 4:52pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/17 "2018-12-23T16:52:13Z")
> [@codinghorror](#): > > My guess is this mostly improves longevity of the axle / string? When I was young Duncan sold wax as one of the extras you could buy for your yoyo. Strings and wax. I’ve always wondered if it was a bit of a sales up sell gimmick. I’ve tried it in the past and noticed zero difference in anything. ---
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/codinghorror/32/8052_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/18 "2018-12-23T22:01:15Z")
I would concur I don’t notice a big difference either way. I plan to test a bit more with new No Jive wood axle sleeves. ---
**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/codinghorror/32/8052_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/codinghorror)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2018, 12:35am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/19 "2018-12-25T00:35:26Z")
I got another No Jive (black/grey painted finish) so I can test more. I was going to say “man this sleeps WAY less than my Clean Machine with the waxed axle” but then I weighed them - No Jive: 50g - Clean Machine: 55g Pretty sure I was feeling the weight more than anything else. I’ll test using the same exact one since it came with spare axles. OK! Using the same exact No Jive yo-yo and (cotton) string it came with, here’s my methodology > 1. Throw 5 hard sleepers to break things in a little > 2. Throw a very hard forward pass to reverse around the world (forward, over my head, then behind my back, then looping around to my front) > 3. At the apex of the reverse around the world, when it’s facing me again and has completed one full circle, do a gravity pull > 4. Repeat steps 2-3 five times. I did this 5-10 times, granted there is some natural human variability here but I got a feel for it. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/d/3/9/d398ff9237c22501061962f0ada55ce9396eea73.jpeg) **With the stock config** : the NJ poops out before it can ‘snap’ back to my hand most of the time. I sometimes don’t even get a solid return, where the string can wind all the way back in. **After using Burt’s Bees on the string loop** : the NJ _always_ reliably returns to my hand, often with a very firm snap, depending on the throw. So yeah, I’m concluding that the beeswax on the wood axle does work. It’s not a night and day difference, or anything (I mean how much spin are you really gonna get on a wood axle, regardless of how smooth it is), but it _is_ a noticeable difference. ---
**Author:** ![anon5341354](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3ab097/32.png) [@anon5341354](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/anon5341354)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2018, 1:41am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549/20 "2018-12-25T01:41:23Z")
Before messing around with your axles, you should have quite a bit more experience under your belt. It’s common that a new player to fixed axle yoyos has difficulty getting the yoyo return. But hand the same yoyo to an experienced fixed axle thrower and they usually have no difficulty getting it to return. You simply need to get used to them in many cases. But go ahead. Try honey or lard next. [Next page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/waxing-the-wood-axle-on-a-wooden-yo-yo/296549.md?page=2)