How do you melt wax?

BigDaddyO

BigDaddyO

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So, i have recently been making a few leather sheaths and I melted the wax using an old small double boiler on the kitchen stove and waxed the sheaths right there.

Well, My wife has now banned me from ever doing it again since I apparently dripped a few times on the stove top and one of the burners that was off at the time. didn't find that out until she turned it on for tea later.
The stove top is white so it's next to impossible to see drips and I'm not the inspector she is when it comes to cleaning.

So, where do you do your waxing?
 
uh oh, you were a bad boy! I have used a pan in the oven set at 250F with a cookie sheet under neath for big jobs. I also have the side burner on the grill available but what I mostly use is a little single element electric hot plate. I do almost all of my "dirty" work with it. Melt lead, wax, singe paracord/rope etc. Picked up one for a few bucks at a resale shop.
 
at the spa! all jokes aside stuff like that I too can't do in the house, ends up generally being done on the propane grill side burner, or a sterno stove set up.
 
You can melt Lead on a burner? that's cool, never knew that.
I guess I'll need to move the "add outlets to the garage" a little higher on my home to-do list and keep my eyes open for one of those electric double burners.

hmm, i wonder if one of those electric roasting pans would work? i have seen a few of those at estate sales & 2nd hand shops.
 
Actually wife has one of those Homedics parffin/wax hand spa things she dips her hands in the hot paraffin on occastion. I commendeer it when I need to make firestarters or buddy stoves. Just lay out some newspaper on the table, plug in the dohicky, wait for the paraffin to melt, commence mad science / bushcraft preps.:18:
 
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They make pretty cheap chocolate melters. Wife has one for Christmas candy makin's. We are considering a second one for candles. Double boilers work great, thats how I do it now, just I use cans (think billy cans) so I don't have to scrub pots.

Just do not, ever ever ever use a microwave. Had to buy a new one when wife exploded the old one. Apparently some of the scented candles give off fume that will heat up and turn into a fireball inside a microwave. Blew the door OFF the machine! Lucky it didn't create enough of a flame ball to ignight the kitchen, but the inside was coated with burnt wax and the door...well, it was in the dining room. bad bad bad.
 
Gryphonblade said:
They make pretty cheap chocolate melters. Wife has one for Christmas candy makin's. We are considering a second one for candles. Double boilers work great, thats how I do it now, just I use cans (think billy cans) so I don't have to scrub pots.

Just do not, ever ever ever use a microwave. Had to buy a new one when wife exploded the old one. Apparently some of the scented candles give off fume that will heat up and turn into a fireball inside a microwave. Blew the door OFF the machine! Lucky it didn't create enough of a flame ball to ignight the kitchen, but the inside was coated with burnt wax and the door...well, it was in the dining room. bad bad bad.
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WOW, that could have been uglier, glad nobody got hurt!

Thanks for he heads up, I would have never imagined that candles would contain such nasties.
 
I've thought about going to Goodwill and getting an old crock pot and just tossing in candles that can also be gotten super cheap at Goodwill. I wonder if that would work or would it be too slow?
 
When I get around to it, a 5 gallon tank over a turkey fryer OUTSIDE as I had a valcano of molten wax melt through the soild cake-a heck of a mess.
Small batches in an old electric griddle, or double boiler all out side...sorry its the fireman in me.
Did I say outside?
to Keep love in the house do the mess outside.
 
While I don't wax leather that often I do melt parrafin for firestarters and waterproofing. I too used to do it in the kitchen but now I use my coleman stove out in the garage. You could use an electric hotplate also , but I think the garage or porch is the way to go.
 
I use a second hand crock pot as well. One of the oval shaped ones. Takes an hour or so to melt a full load but you can dunk the whole sheath.
 
BigDaddyO said:
So, where do you do your waxing?
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I also have been banned - so I use my folding propane camp stove in the garage or backyard.

I know I should use a double boiler blah blah... but I don't. I just watch the heat... keep the flame low, remain patient, and never the leave the flame on unattended. Seems to work fine.
 
I actually just melt chunks of beewswax in an old soup can in the oven. It doesn't spit and spatter like it might on the stove. When it's all melted, I grab the can with an oven mit, and put it on a plate on the counter. I make sure to have aluminum foil all ready to keep under the projects that I'm doing. When it needs reheated, just throw it back in the oven. Just another option.
 
A 5$ yard sale hot plate and a little boiler (AS i AM BANNED FROM KITCHEN AS WELL) :D

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Creek :42:
 
I do it in the kitchen, if the wife objects...She gets the look. She signed up for this stuff when she married me. I have a very understanding wife.
 
my wife has one of those too. I haven't worked up enough guts to commandeer that one yet.
WY_Not said:
Actually wife has one of those Homedics parffin/wax hand spa (see below) things she dips her hands in the hot paraffin on occastion. I commendeer it when I need to make firestarters or buddy stoves. Just lay out some newspaper on the table, plug in the dohicky, wait for the paraffin to melt, commence mad science / bushcraft preps.:18:

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Click to expand...
 
I take a coffee can and a pot filled of water half way. I keep the solidified wax in the coffee can and then turn on the stove. Walaah, melted wax :) and the only thing you get all messed up is your coffee can!
Al the best, john
 
For shame you bad bad boy... Next time use Tin foil over the stove.... its eazyer to clean up the mess that way.... Tell her she is beautiful, give her a kiss and tell her sorry for the mess... you promise to use tinfoil for now on.... other wise they have these little crockpots for waxing at the beauty supply store next to the picture of the women with the hairy lip....
 
If the kitchen is out of the question then a hot plate or camp stove seem the best alternative. All work fine. As I usually use beeswax as opposed to paraffin I try to keep my temperatures on the low side. I often use a double boiler for most of what I do. One item I've found recently to be very helpful is the new soft silicone pans. They work best in an oven, but they make clean-up a breeze and once the wax cools it pops right out. Recently found some silicone bread pans and meatloaf pans at a second hand store for a couple bucks a piece.
 
My wife used to have a candle warmer that i might be able to use if I can find it. She doesn't use it anymore since the wick on one of her big candles jars sank down and was tough/messy to get back out. I should be able to use that in the basement...
 
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