Melting Sealing Wax

[Northwoods]

What I like about a torch lighter is a directed flame and no soot. I don't hold the wax in the flame, just close enough to melt it gently. It's not like I'm reaching for the MAPP torch. Not for the small sticks...

[Chevalier]

@Chud

 

I don't think the chances are high, but it happened twice to me using the soldering jet torch (ok, I sealed a lot in the past). I overheated a stick once, because I didn't pay enough attention. This formed a bubble that bursted. The second time was with a heating spoon made of glass (I used a wax granulate), basically the same thing happened. I've been lucky and I only burned my fingers slightly, but it squirted around quite a bit. I still have a small scar on my left hand, wouldn't be so nice to have this in my face, that's why I had to shoot out a little warning. I think most of the waxes won't burst out in that way, but this stuff keeps the heat always pretty good. There gotta be a reason why those professional sealing units are so damn expensive.

[Stargazer34683]

Professional sealing units? I didn't know there was such a thing!

[jbb]

Professional sealing units? I didn't know there was such a thing!

Me neither.

[DavidHandmade]

Hello. I'm new to the art of letter-writing and sealing wax -

 

New to this thread, I noticed that the wax seals on letters appear to be rather "bulky" and obtrusive on the surface of envelopes...

 

Have you any experience with "sealed" letters getting stuck, mangled, torn, etc. by modern Mail-sorting equipment?

[Stargazer34683]

Hello. I'm new to the art of letter-writing and sealing wax -

 

New to this thread, I noticed that the wax seals on letters appear to be rather "bulky" and obtrusive on the surface of envelopes...

 

Have you any experience with "sealed" letters getting stuck, mangled, torn, etc. by modern Mail-sorting equipment?

 

I have not been doing it as long as some of the others. However no I have not experienced it. They always arrive safe on the other eend. I am sure it can happen however with the new supple sealing waxes they are pretty indestructable. If you have concerns you can always have your letters hand cancelled. Or you could do as I sometimes do and put a seal next to my signature inside the letter.

[Chevalier]

Those sealing units are basically a heatable plate with held on a long grip by a metal arm, almost like a modified soldering iron. The producers claim the heat control is somehow special and they charge a absurdly high price. I never thought about getting one, but I've seen it multiple times while browsing for tools and wax. It might be that nobody bought this stuff and it got discontinued, because most people used those gluegun like things when doing a lot of seals.

 

Oh, I found one, and it's considerable cheap. The name means electric sealing pen. here

Edited October 13, 2010 by Chevalier

[Rena]

Hello. I'm new to the art of letter-writing and sealing wax -

 

New to this thread, I noticed that the wax seals on letters appear to be rather "bulky" and obtrusive on the surface of envelopes...

 

Have you any experience with "sealed" letters getting stuck, mangled, torn, etc. by modern Mail-sorting equipment?

 

I have not been doing it as long as some of the others. However no I have not experienced it. They always arrive safe on the other eend. I am sure it can happen however with the new supple sealing waxes they are pretty indestructable. If you have concerns you can always have your letters hand cancelled. Or you could do as I sometimes do and put a seal next to my signature inside the letter.

 

David, just adding my experiences to what Stargazer has already said, supple wax goes through the sorting machines very nicely. The U.S. requirements for a standard letter state that an envelope must not be thicker than 1/4 inch. Sometimes I have a big fat letter with lots of pages, so that applying a wax seal may take it over this limit. Then I get it hand cancelled. Thicker than 1/4 inch also requires additional postage.

 

Occasionally I have received letters with wax seals showing some scrape marks (but still pretty). Maybe this happens sometimes with mine as well, but no one has reported it. Also, these supple waxes adhere very well to paper and will not just come off through handling or going through sorting machines.

[DavidHandmade]

Hello. I'm new to the art of letter-writing and sealing wax -

 

New to this thread, I noticed that the wax seals on letters appear to be rather "bulky" and obtrusive on the surface of envelopes...

 

Have you any experience with "sealed" letters getting stuck, mangled, torn, etc. by modern Mail-sorting equipment?

 

I have not been doing it as long as some of the others. However no I have not experienced it. They always arrive safe on the other eend. I am sure it can happen however with the new supple sealing waxes they are pretty indestructable. If you have concerns you can always have your letters hand cancelled. Or you could do as I sometimes do and put a seal next to my signature inside the letter.

 

David, just adding my experiences to what Stargazer has already said, supple wax goes through the sorting machines very nicely. The U.S. requirements for a standard letter state that an envelope must not be thicker than 1/4 inch. Sometimes I have a big fat letter with lots of pages, so that applying a wax seal may take it over this limit. Then I get it hand cancelled. Thicker than 1/4 inch also requires additional postage.

 

Occasionally I have received letters with wax seals showing some scrape marks (but still pretty). Maybe this happens sometimes with mine as well, but no one has reported it. Also, these supple waxes adhere very well to paper and will not just come off through handling or going through sorting machines.

 

Ok - I see, now.

 

Sounds good - ! I'll experiment with the seals and waxes with more confidence, then.

 

Yes - I thought to use a seal with my signature on the correspondence, as opposed to outside on the envelope itself.

 

Thanks for all of your comments, everyone!

[Chevalier]

I am so jealous, chances are pretty high that your seal doesn't make it in Europe. Only the wax from the glue gun makes it most of the time.

[Stargazer34683]

I am so jealous, chances are pretty high that your seal doesn't make it in Europe. Only the wax from the glue gun makes it most of the time.

 

Really? What an interesting thing. It would be cool if we could mail a seal to all the countries FPN represents and see how europe fairs against america, south america, Singapore etc.

[pas5960]

I use a creme brulee torch as recommended by others on this board. It melts the wax without any soot.

 

what a great idea!

[jbb]

I use a creme brulee torch as recommended by others on this board. It melts the wax without any soot.

 

what a great idea!

AND you can make creme brulee with it!

[Enai]

I use a creme brulee torch as recommended by others on this board. It melts the wax without any soot.

 

what a great idea!

AND you can make creme brulee with it!

 

On topic, please, on topic.

 

LOL

[jbb]

I use a creme brulee torch as recommended by others on this board. It melts the wax without any soot.

 

what a great idea!

AND you can make creme brulee with it!

 

On topic, please, on topic.

 

LOL

That wasn't on topic? :hmm1:

Edited October 15, 2010 by jbb

[Enai]

 

AND you can make creme brulee with it!

 

On topic, please, on topic.

 

LOL

That wasn't on topic? :hmm1:

 

Hmmmm, they both do conjure images of a good life (the creme brulee and wax seal, not the torch!). Or something burning. Okay okay you win. It's on topic. Carry on.

[Rena]

I use a creme brulee torch as recommended by others on this board. It melts the wax without any soot.

 

what a great idea!

AND you can make creme brulee with it!

 

On topic, please, on topic.

 

LOL

 

 

 

 

 

Too funny!!! LOL!

[DavidHandmade]

Have any of you tried to make your own Sealing Wax?

 

I've poked around on the Net & found a few interesting recipes, one of which included "Crayola" crayons...

 

- others include shellac, mineral spirits, etc. - those ingredients are part of my woodworking practices, so they're on-hand, anyway.

 

- interesting info, to say the least, but all sound feasible.

 

I just wondered about the sealing wax-making experiences of those here on this thread.

 

Or, please pass me a thread that's more On Topic.

 

Thank you!

[Stargazer34683]

Have any of you tried to make your own Sealing Wax?

 

I've poked around on the Net & found a few interesting recipes, one of which included "Crayola" crayons...

 

- others include shellac, mineral spirits, etc. - those ingredients are part of my woodworking practices, so they're on-hand, anyway.

 

- interesting info, to say the least, but all sound feasible.

 

I just wondered about the sealing wax-making experiences of those here on this thread.

 

Or, please pass me a thread that's more On Topic.

 

Thank you!

 

 

I know several brides that have melted crayons to make seals. I doubt that is what you mean though! lol

[Chevalier]

@DavidHandmade

 

I tried it several years ago but I abandoned this project. It's hard to make it cheap like the cheapest wax made in mass production and it's even harder to make really good wax that would pay off the work. It might be possible though with enough time and ambition, but there are so many good waxes at a reasonable price out there ...

 

I prefer making ink, because it offers more possibilities to create something unique or exceptionally good. I'd suggest vintage thorn ink, made from blackthorn or thornapple, or iron gall ink. I make a batch every year (thorn ink) and I really like it. It might be possible to make an ink for FP, that would be a nice task. Sorry for OT, but I am working on it this weekend.