Disclosed is a drive apparatus for a device for applying paraffin wax to yarn. In the device, a solid block of paraffin is mounted on a polyhedral bolt which is driven by a whorl or drive pulley. The whorl, in turn, is driven by a continuous drive belt. Advantageously, a plurality of similar devices are mounted on the same open-end spinning machine so adjacent devices may be driven from the same drive belt. Bracing elements hold the yarn against the rotating face of the paraffin block of each device to ensure uniform application of paraffin.