Wax question

[kanutripr]

I picked up a block of beeswax? (the label said it was beeswax) at the local sewing shop. It was hard to tell through the package just what the quality was but it is a brand name. Anyway it seems too hard and too yellow to be straight beeswax plus there's no smell. I figured rather than just throw it away I would experiment with it. Does anyone have any specific recipes when mixing or do you just add things that seem like they'd give you what you're looking for? The only experience I have with wax is the stick that I picked up at the flyshop. It works but it's a little iffy.

Vicki

[GlassJet]

Hi Vicky.... funny you should ask that...
Check out the last few posts on this thread, plus the link out:

http://www.flymphforum.com/phpBB3/viewt ... ?f=6&t=973

So, it is essentially a bit of olive oil to soften it, and, the article says, rosin to make it tacky. Depends what you want it for. Mine is for waxing silk thread, so I am not so bothered about stickyness, I am more interested in the rosin for colour (it is that that gives cobbler's wax its dark colour, apparently).

One thing though - the article says to melt the wax in a pan - I used an egg cup, standing in a shallow pan of simmering water, which I think is a better method. Edited to say: I'll re-phrase that - it *is* a better method - you don't need / want to get things too hot.

But basically, melt your block of bees wax, pop in a bit of olive oil and mix, let it cool, and you'll have something you can have a play with.

Andrew.

[William Anderson]

there is a lot of great information regarding mixing your own waxes on this forum. A lot of people with loads of varied experiences. Off the top of my head, Paul Ainsworth has a great recipe that works great. Jim Slattery makes a batch of wax following Jim Leisenring's method (I think that's right...), and Narcodog (Bob Kern) has been round and round with different formulas.

Was it on this forum or the flymph forum before the switch that had that that lengthy thread on waxes?

w

[Soft-hackle]

Hi Vicki,
As William said, there's lots of info, here on wax. The Formula given in the Global Flyfisher link works well. Beeswax can get hard as it gets older, and it is a it can be pale yellow to golden amber in color. Running thread through the wax, carefully, will coat the thread. It causes friction heat-enough to coat the thread. It's got to be done carefully so as not to break the thread.

Mark

[GlassJet]

Beeswax can get hard as it gets older, and it is a it can be pale yellow to golden amber in color. Running thread through the wax, carefully, will coat the thread. It causes friction heat-enough to coat the thread. It's got to be done carefully so as not to break the thread.

Mark

Not with coconut oil added it doesn't, you just whip it through with your finger on it... fine for the clear wax, it mixes fine, but I'm not sure yet how the coconut oil will mix with the rosin and bees wax, for the coloured. we'll see.

andrew.

[kanutripr]

Thanks guys.

Yeah Mark, I tried running the thread through and it just seemed to flake off, more like paraffin. We used to have bees when I was a kid and maybe I'm just more accustomed to fresh wax. It was unmistakable. So wonderful smelling with a smooth soft texture and a beautiful honey colour. Ah the good old days

Anyway I'm gonna do some experimenting, wish me luck and Andrew thanks for the egg cup thing ( the hubby wouldn't appreciate it if he had to paint over any more burnt cupboards )

Vicki

[William Anderson]

Vicki,

Someone suggested cutting the top off of an aluminum can and using that in a pan of boiling water to melt/mix the wax. It worked great and I could pick it up and pour it with a pair of pliers. You can also crimp the top and make a perfect little spout to pour the hot wax into small containers.

Again, you can take a very small pinch of a caramel or brownish crayon and toss it in to color the wax. It worked perfectly. Just be very careful to not add too much. Once it's too dark, there is no lightening it.

Send Paul Ainsworth an email for his procedure. It was an illustrated file I believe. I know Jim has posted his process as well, but I can't find either on this site.

w

[flyfishwithme]

I have placed a answer to this in our 'links' section so we can recall it easier.

[kanutripr]

My next question was going to be about cobbler's wax.

Thank you Philip!



Vicki

[GlassJet]

Yes, great idea to do that, stuff just gets buried on forums in the threads...