Has anyone tried "paraffin wax".

It is (was) commonly used to seal jars of jams and preserves for many years: pour the hot jam into the jars, let it cool a "little" and then pour molten paraffin wax over the top. Screw on the lids when the jars are cool enough to touch (otherwise they are almost impossible to remove). Stores in a dark cupboard for a lifetime!

The paraffin wax sets quite hard and does not smear all over the place like pure beeswax does when "warm".

Being a petroleum derivative (hence "paraffin" wax), it was probably not generally available before about 1900.

And furthermore, has anyone tried Teflon plumbers / gasfitters tape wrapped tightly around the lube grooves? Teflon is tough, very slippery, fire-resistant and non-greasy.