Sealing Wax

[Wildoaklane]

Purchased some seals and wax at Michael's yesterday. This is the kind of wax that has the wick in it. I finally had the chance to use them tonight and I don't think I like them. How do I keep the pool from getting all sooty? I have gone through the other threads and could find no real defined way of preventing this.

 

My next step is to get some wax sticks without the wicks. I've also seen wax beads that can be melted in a spoon. Has anyone tried these beads? How do you keep the wax from sticking to the spoon?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

I use the sealing wax with a wick all the time. I find that if I'm careful about the angle I hold the wax and try not to hurry it, I don't get soot. Also, I believe it's the glue gun wax and the wax beads which are more flexible and thus more mailable. With the traditional wax (with wick in it), if I'm careful not to get it too thick, it mails fine. However, do be aware the post office may charge an additional 20 cents to mail an envelope that is either a non-uniform shape or has thicker wax on it. I get most of my supplies on ebay. There is a seller "sdwells" that I've found both informative and reliable.

[AfterMyNap]

I use it all the time, I just put wax-sealed envelopes inside a second envelope. My preference for sealing wax is the Colonial Williamsburg burgundy with no wick. I keep a curled-handle spoon and a votive candle exclusively for that purpose, and use brass seals also from C.W.

 

A little tip for a clean seal is to melt more wax than you need and never let the spoon touch the dropped wax. Also, after the initial pressure, leave the seal on the wax until it's totally cooled, the seal will pop right off and not pull up any of the imprint. For a large seal, 2" or so, I use a dedicated stainless creamer pitcher, it works like a charm.

 

To clean a seal that has gathered wax in the design, dip it in boiling water from a string or clothespin. Be sure to use a container you can pitch. Don't poor waxy water down your drain!

Edited July 1, 2008 by AfterMyNap

[Kittybear]

Hi! I don't know how sticky sealing wax is compared to other waxes such as the smelling wax chips that you put in a warmer to melt, but you could look into those, but again I don't know how well that would work

 

But the reason I say that is, when I need to clean my warmer, I stick the bowl in the freezer and the wax pops right out...sometimes with a little more force, but you could do that before the hot water to get most or all of it out of what you use to melt it in.

[nullnull10010]

My preference for sealing wax is the Colonial Williamsburg burgundy with no wick. I keep a curled-handle spoon and a votive candle exclusively for that purpose, and use brass seals also from C.W.

 

Hey, I have this stuff, too! Great to know that it works so well, and that the money goes to a great cause (preserving history, of course)!

 

[wvbeetlebug]

I stick the bowl in the freezer and the wax pops right out

 

Slightly OT, but I use tart warmers and this is what I do to get the wax tart out when the scent has gone away. I don't think regular scented tarts have a enough color in them to make a nice seal. Maybe the darker ones.

 

I've played around some more with my wax sticks and you definitely have to keep practicing and be patient.

[kudzu]

I lick my seals before pressing them into the hot wax to keep them from sticking to the wax or pulling any off. Works like a charm. For those who don't want to lick the seal, you could just press onto a damp cloth or sponge I suppose. The moisture allows the metal seal to easily release from the wax. Works for me anyway.

[AfterMyNap]

I lick my seals before pressing them into the hot wax to keep them from sticking to the wax or pulling any off. Works like a charm. For those who don't want to lick the seal, you could just press onto a damp cloth or sponge I suppose. The moisture allows the metal seal to easily release from the wax. Works for me anyway.

 

Hm, I never thought of that, I'm going to try it next time. Thanks!

[handlebar]

As has been mentioned here already,using a cigar torch lighter is the best.Gets it hot enough and leaves no sooty residue at all.I use Atelier Gargoyle's wax sticks as i have found the best colour range for the best price.I will be picking up some more this next weekend at the Portland Pen Show.

I use seals on all of my letters.

 

Jim

Edited July 6, 2008 by handlebar

[A2JC4life]

On some of the websites I've seen that sell sealing waxes they also sell or recommend an alcohol lamps.

 

How does one use one of these alcohol lamps? What do they burn, exactly? I mean, do you fill them with 70% alcohol (rubbing alcohol) from the drugstore, or is there something specific that they burn?

 

[Defacto]

I use seals on all of my letters.

 

Jim

 

And they always survive the route to my mailbox in The Netherlands.

 

I love them Jim.

Thanks!

 

Hugs

N

[JakobS]

I lick my seals before pressing them into the hot wax to keep them from sticking to the wax or pulling any off. Works like a charm. For those who don't want to lick the seal, you could just press onto a damp cloth or sponge I suppose. The moisture allows the metal seal to easily release from the wax. Works for me anyway.

 

For traditional waxes a moisture barrier between the wax and seal is often needed, but I have found with J Herbin's Supple wax that this is not necessary, the seal easily comes off of the wax. Atelier Gargoyle mentions that their waxes do not need this moisture barrier either.

Edited July 3, 2009 by JakobS

[fuchsiaprincess]

This is bringing back terrible memories about the first time that I worked as a presiding officer at the elections.

 

It was about 20 years ago, when things were still done the old fashioned way and you had to seal the ballot box up using pink ribbon and sealing wax. Well I got distracted when I was applying the sealing wax and dropped the lit taper through the slot where you put the ballot papers in. Cue scenes of panic as I rushed to the kitchen for some water which was then poured into the box after the taper. Thankfully that put out the flames but I got a lot of strange looks when they opened up the ballot box at the count that night.

 

Since then I have avoided sealing wax as far as possible. In fact, even typing those words has me coming out in a cold sweat

 

Did you spoil any votes in the process?

 

Regards,

Soki

[GHigley]

I just started with wax seals and find that the supple wax is great stuff. Check out Brian Goulet's and Stephen Brown's seal making videos on YouTube. Quality flexible wax seems a bit expensive at first, but you need very little to make a seal using Brian's technique. I expect several four stick packs to last my lifetime. The J. Herbin Cire Souple wax is amazingly flexible. I mailed my first card with seal this morning and it's hard to imagine that it won't make it through the mail completely intact. It will be interesting to see what my friend reports.

 

I think it's great that Goulet Pens offers J. Herbin wax by the stick, so there's no excuse not to have a choice of color on hand and it's great way to try a color without investing in an entire pack. I can buy more seals with the savings. ; )

[Kosmic-kowgirl]

Ive had great luck with Nostalgic Impressions and they have videos on thier site for using the different types. For wick'ed wax I use the bottom of the stick to stir the melted wax to get rid of carbon if i want to, but sometimes it looks cool to leave it. The only thing i didnt like about the glue sticks was if you switch colors in the glue gun it takes another stick and the effect can be strange. What I did was take a pocketknife and chop up the glue sticks to melt in a spoon and have none wasted.

As for the scented wax melts, Ive never tried them as a seal but the oil in them stains paper towels, so I figure it would do the same to a letter

[GHigley]

Ive had great luck with Nostalgic Impressions and they have videos on thier site for using the different types. For wick'ed wax I use the bottom of the stick to stir the melted wax to get rid of carbon if i want to, but sometimes it looks cool to leave it. The only thing i didnt like about the glue sticks was if you switch colors in the glue gun it takes another stick and the effect can be strange. What I did was take a pocketknife and chop up the glue sticks to melt in a spoon and have none wasted.

As for the scented wax melts, Ive never tried them as a seal but the oil in them stains paper towels, so I figure it would do the same to a letter

 

 

 

 

NI waxes are very highly rated and reasonably priced, K-K. I look forward to trying them.

 

I had heard of the switching colors in glue gun issue - interesting that retailers never mention it. Seems you need to dedicate a glue gun to a specific wax color which is fine if you only use one or don't mind investing in multiple guns. I think I'll put the color I use most in a gun and use sticks for the rest.

 

I strongly discourage using any wax not expressly intended for use as sealing wax, but especially the oily scented wax sold for use in warmers . I can't imagine they'd survive the postal service if they adhered at all and expect they'd make a terrible oily mess of the envelope. Who would think this is a good idea?

 

BTW the thin flex-wax seal on the card I mailed a friend arrived in perfect condition. Proof that you needn't waste wax on thick seals.

Edited July 14, 2014 by GHigley

[CraigR]

I use wax seals on most of my personal correspondence. The bills I pay by mail, not so much :-)

 

After trying just about every type of wax and method of heating it into a puddle on paper, I have settled on the wax bars with the wick and a bic lighter. Yes, I get some soot sometimes but mostly it is easily absorbed by stirring the puddle before making the impression. Much to my wife's horror, I just lick the business end of the seal just before applying it to the wax puddle. It helps the seal lift cleanly off the seal and I have suffered no ill effects from the practice. (please note - I am 67 years old and survived drinking from garden hoses when a child and from the football water bucket and single ladle when in school).

 

I use wax seals on the exterior of envelopes, at the flap, and have not heard of a problem when using the flexible wax designed to survive mail sorting machinery. With other types of was, I place the seal at the end of my letter or note so that it is protected by the envelope.

 

Your mileage may vary.

 

Craig

[Kosmic-kowgirl]

some people were curious about scented wax for warmers is all

[Octo]

An old post by tellyworth suggested wine bottle wax as sealing wax. The bottle wax melts at a higher temperature than the sealing wax, yet is thinner when melted. In should be allowed to cool slightly before the seal is applied. Both give good impressions. Soak through is about the same. Both are flexible. The true wax seal wax may give a slightly crisper image, but the wine bottle wax is significantly less expensive. (6 oz./$1.95)

[Kosmic-kowgirl]

Lol, I was gonna say, doesnt wine wax come by the pound? lol that'd do alot of letter seals!

[Tinjapan]

I'm am just getting serious about using wax seals and found this thread full of great information. Thanks all!

Edited July 28, 2014 by Tinjapan