Using Wax Seals For Letters Or Cards

[fountainpenlady]

Well, taking this love of fountain pens, ink and other accoutrements of writing one step further. I just dusted off my interest in using wax seals. I thought it would be difficult to reintroduce myself to the process, as it has been several years. Believe, before I also used the kind of wax which breaks in the mailing process. I just completed my first impression. I keep looking at it because it is not perfect, but not bad for a first impression after more than ten years. I have already ordered a couple more brass impressions, and a couple more wax sticks. I already have two short ones ordered from Goulet Pen Company in order to see whether this was something I was interested in doing.

 

I have three pen pals and a couple of others I write letters and send cards to on a regular basis. I tried the image stamping with the inked pads to decorate the paper and envelopes, yet remembering to decorate first, decide what color impression and the clean up are a bit much and still kind of mundane. This adds such a wonderful special touch. I will have to hand deliver to post office on Monday to see whether it will cost more due to using wax seals, but I think for now this renewed interest worth it. Do you use wax seals? Do you use them routinely, or only for special correspondence.

Edited April 19, 2015 by fountainpenlady

[episkey]

I LOVE wax seals but I admit I have a slight phobia of lighters which prevents me from using them that often! Hah!

 

Also, I don't know if it's the lighting technique or the wax seals that I have, but sometimes, when my wax drips, they drip flaming fire. It makes me really nervous and I always make sure I'm using thick envelopes...

[fountainpenlady]

I am so with you in your phobia of lighters. Years ago when I had an interest, I used a bic lighter. I did have the experience of the wax dropping lit and a flame. I suppose it was one reason I abandoned the idea of using wax seals. This time, I did not own a Bic lighter, so I went to the nearest discount store and found a three pack of 3 long stemmed butane lighters; three different colors. Each has a child resistant release button. In order for the lighter to work you have to move the lever back, while pressing down, while also pressing another button down at the same time. Not to mention I am left handed and this is awkward each time I try this dual technique. I am still in the early learning stage. So, each time I perform this technique to light the wax stick, I am nervous. Where do you put the other butane lighters not being used, which is safe? In the kitchen? They were very inexpensive and purchased at the local discount store. Does that mean they were defective and rejected at regular stores?

So far, I have only used wax sealing for one card and an envelope. I am in the off week of my pen pals receiving letters from me, so I will have to wait until it is my turn to write to them. In the meantime, hoping I keep my nervousness in check and always remain careful. I do already like the effect of wax seals on the rear of envelopes. Actually, one of my pen pals routinely uses wax seals and her envelopes are small and not thick. Also, one of the sites I am purchasing wax sticks from and on Youtube they are showing a clear cut way to simply heat the wax, let it drip about two or three times and then in a circle move the wax around slightly and then imprint. This seems kind of better for me to accomplish, since it does not require the wax being lit for very long or the lighter being used for much.

 

I skip the tracing step.

https://youtu.be/URGZLlJ3rkw

 

P.S. I am watching one video where a woman is using a hot gun wax instead of lighter.

Edited April 20, 2015 by fountainpenlady

[Tasmith]

Would an electric soldering iron work? No flames.

Edited April 20, 2015 by Tasmith

[stonezebra]

To avoid the whole lighter problem I only use one long enough to light a birthday candle which is secured to a fireproof plate. I use the candle to melt my sealing wax. Regular candles could also be used but I prefer the small, colorful and economical birthday candles.

[fountainpenlady]

Would an electric soldering iron work? No flames and they get hot enough to melt lead.

I am unsure of what a soldering iron can do. However, I am finding not much heat is really needed to heat the wax stick. In fact, it only takes seconds to heat the tip of the wax stick enough to experience it becoming liquid enough to give three or more drops for the image to work. Just finished reviewing several Youtube videos and actually, I have been a bit stingy in the actual amount of wax I am using. However, I am not going for a perfect dime shaped dollop of wax. Just enough to present a clear, crisp image.

[inkspot]

I have a melting spoon that I use to heat pieces of the wax over a candle or the small element on my cook top - that way you have more control over both the flame and the heat. Once its melted, you just pour the wax onto the envelope and make your impression.

[Tasmith]

Wax seal melting gun. Like a hot glue gun, but for wax seals:

 

http://www.letterseals.com/sealing-wax-glue-gun.html

[fountainpenlady]

Wax seal melting gun. Like a hot glue gun, but for wax seals:

 

http://www.letterseals.com/sealing-wax-glue-gun.html

Is it a special wax sealing gun? Or is it a gun one uses exclusively for wax sealing? For instance, I have in the past had a glue gun, could I have just used it for wax sealing? Or is the gun specific to wax sealing?

[inkspot]

There is a type of flexible sealing wax made specifically for use with glue guns - the "wax" itself is actually a form of coloured hot glue rather than wax. It has a plastic feel and appearance different from the traditional sealing waxes, but is more durable and flexible, so it is less likely to break in the mail.

[fountainpenlady]

There is a type of flexible sealing wax made specifically for use with glue guns - the "wax" itself is actually a form of coloured hot glue rather than wax. It has a plastic feel and appearance different from the traditional sealing waxes, but is more durable and flexible, so it is less likely to break in the mail.

So the gun which is being used is a regular glue gun?

[inkspot]

So the gun which is being used is a regular glue gun?

 

Yes. But it only works with the special sealing wax.

[Tasmith]

Is it a special wax sealing gun? Or is it a gun one uses exclusively for wax sealing? For instance, I have in the past had a glue gun, could I have just used it for wax sealing? Or is the gun specific to wax sealing?

Says work with any standard glue gun, not mini glue gun. So I would think any standard glue gun would work.

 

http://www.letterseals.com/aladine-glue-gun-sealing-wax.html

 

If web page doesn't come up, hit "Refesh" or F5.

Edited April 20, 2015 by Tasmith

[hbquikcomjamesl]

Keep in mind that there are different kinds of sealing wax.

 

There was a sealing wax fad back in the 1970s. I still have a very small amount left of the stuff from that era; it seems to actually be more of a polyethylene or even polypropylene base, than any sort of actual wax. It worked rather well, on its own wick, except for a certain amount of soot getting into the seal. But it was more cohesive than adhesive: it tended to fall off the page, rather than breaking.

Then, there was some stuff I bought around the turn of the 21st century, around the peak of the "retro gift shop" fad (mine was purchased at a now-defunct establishment called "Combest General Store"). This stuff had an extremely high natural resin content, with the result that (1) it burned with a very erratic flame, that was both difficult to keep going and difficult to put out (and would frequently drop flaming bits of wax on the document, (2) it produced massive amounts of fly-ash, which would rain down over a wide area, (3) it tended to soak right through the paper, and stain the next layer, and (4) it was extremely fragile (you probably wouldn't want to send it through the mail unless you put it in a padded envelope).

 

Then, there was some stuff I bought the last time I did the L.A. Pen Show, and have yet to actually try. No wick at all, but the feel of it reminds me of the stuff from the 1970s.

 

Personally, I've had good luck using a heat-gun (the same one I use to activate heat-shrink tubing, or force-dry wet metal objects), rather than a live flame.

Edited April 21, 2015 by hbquikcomjamesl

[fountainpenlady]

hbquikcomjamesl

I am thinking I may have also acquired what you described for the 21st Century. Much of what you described, I vaguely remember happening in terms of the wax used. Believe it is why I abandoned wax sealing. Kind of seem too erratic and the seals broke in the mail.

 

btw: Just sent out my first card with a wax seal, you have to buy an additional stamp. for 0.21 cents. I purchased 10 of them for $2.10. I am still going to hand deliver them to the post person at the post office counter. If only because there is little sign with the one I delivered the card to for mailing today, she had ever seen one before. For now, I am using the flexible sticks. I just ordered a couple more colors and another brass wax symbol.

 

If anyone thinks of it, post a site where you are getting your wax seal supplies, (no official affiliations of course) so we can have an idea of different places to check out. I know Goulet Pen Company, (no affiliation) is one company. There are more and some may give discounts for whatever reason.

 

https://www.nostalgicimpressions.com/

Edited April 21, 2015 by fountainpenlady

[episkey]

 

btw: Just sent out my first card with a wax seal, you have to buy an additional stamp. for 0.21 cents.

 

Did someone at the post office tell you to add additional postage? I've always sent letters with wax seals through the post box and I've never gotten them back with insufficient postage... They have all managed to go through with a forever stamp.

[fountainpenlady]

 

Did someone at the post office tell you to add additional postage? I've always sent letters with wax seals through the post box and I've never gotten them back with insufficient postage... They have all managed to go through with a forever stamp.

Yes. There was another thread some months ago, maybe last year where I read someone had added .20 cents. I went to the post office to inquire if there was an additional cost. I think someone wrote about presenting what you put the seal on to the post person instead of putting it in the box. Something about hand stamping. Yet, the person I gave the card to didn't appear to hand stamp, but there was a line behind me. Well, when I showed her what I meant last week, today with an actual card with the wax seal, she said yes it would cost me .21 cents more because of the seal. Do you think it might be able to slide through if I simply dropped it in the mailbox instead of mailed it by handing it to a post person behind the counter?

[fountainpenlady]

Does anyone not use the flexible wax? I found a place on Etsy with some beautiful colors. The seller says they are not flexible, however she has not had any of them to break yet. I thought in order for you to mail these without them breaking, they have to be flex. Is this true? Can you use regular wax and they will mail fine?

[inkspot]

I don't like the flexible waxes in general, so I tend to use the traditional brittle wax most of the time. I've only heard of a couple breaking in transit, but most arrive intact. I think the trick is to not be overly generous in the application of the wax - you want enough for a lovely impression, but not a big enough pool to create a large lip that might get caught by sorting machines. Hope this helps!

[fountainpenlady]

I don't like the flexible waxes in general, so I tend to use the traditional brittle wax most of the time. I've only heard of a couple breaking in transit, but most arrive intact. I think the trick is to not be overly generous in the application of the wax - you want enough for a lovely impression, but not a big enough pool to create a large lip that might get caught by sorting machines. Hope this helps!

Thank so much! It certainly does help much. I am going to use what I have already and what sticks are on their way and then I am going to order some other colors which are not traditional. I was wondering why the Pen Pal I have who uses sealing wax has not used much, but I can as you said make out the image. Wonderful!