David Hendley on tue 30 may 00
OK, you professional hot waxers out there, where do you
buy your paraffin?
The only places I see it for sale are at the grocery store
(in 1 lb. boxes, for sealing jelly jars), and at the craft
store (in a 10 lb. block, for making candles).
There has to be a cheaper way to buy it.
Where can I buy a box of 10 lb. blocks or a case of boxes?
How about an oil distributor?
--
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com/
Andie on wed 31 may 00
(snip)>Make friends with a candlemaker. They usually have lots of scrap wax
they
>will sell at a bargain. They also have wholesale sources for new wax.(end
snip)
Also make friends with someone who casts glass or works in metal sculptures.
They often use various kinds of wax for lost wax molds, and I know when I
was working with cast glass, I would have paid someone to cart away the
heaps of melted but otherwise perfect wax I steamed out of my molds (it was
kind of like the garbage cans of reclaim clay I now wish someone would steal
in the night).
: ) Andie Carpenter
EMAIL: andie@princessco.com
OFFICIAL HOMEPAGE: www.andie.net
>
David Hendley on wed 31 may 00
Thanks to Jim and Craig for answering my question.
Sometimes you just miss the obvious - I didn't think
of going the candle making route for finding a good wax
source.
I spent an hour surfing around and found a dozen candle
making sites. The best deal I found for paraffin, in 50
pound quantity, was about 55 cents a pound (some places
were more than $1.00 a pound), BUT the shipping
from New York or California to Texas can add a whopping
40% to the total price.
Then I came across General Wax & Candle Co. at
http://www.genwax.com/
They are offering free shipping in the contiguous states
for webpage orders.
I ordered a 50 lb. box of 130 degree wax for $33.75. That
ought to keep me in wax for the foreseeable future.
I also got a quick education in the varieties of paraffin that
are available. Basically, you want a low melting point, less
than 130 degrees, for candles that stay in the container
they were molded in.
To make votives, you want 130-140 degree wax, and for
tapers you want 140-145 degree wax.
The lower temperature waxes will be more oily and supple,
and the high temperature waxes will be more brittle but
harder.
I decided on 130 degree wax because I think it will be just
right for waxing pots without adding any mineral oil, paraffin
oil, lamp oil, or any of the other stuff people have mentioned
adding to their wax.
Another interesting point: a couple of the websites stated
unequalivally that fumes from paraffin are not harmful.
--
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com/
Craig Martell on wed 31 may 00
Hi David:
Oil distributors are a good source of wax. I had a friend who was a candle
maker and he bought 50 lb boxes from a Chevron distributor. Then he found
a better source, The Yaley Co. in South San Francisco, Ca. He bought boxes
of a wax called 145 Taper, which meant it melted at 145 and was used for
taper candle making. A 50 lb case cost about 12 bucks and would last a
potter for centuries I think. I use this 145 Taper stuff that I got from
him with a bit of scented kerosene to make it more fluid and it works very
well.
You might try a craft supplier too or an art materials supplier. Sometimes
they can get large quantities of paraffin for you at reasonable cost. If
you can find a company that makes candles near you they might sell you a
larger quantity of wax too. If you do any fairs where there are candle
makers, ask them where they get wax.
regards, Craig Martell in Oregon
LFOXPASS@AOL.COM on wed 31 may 00
David,
Make friends with a candlemaker. They usually have lots of scrap wax they
will sell at a bargain. They also have wholesale sources for new wax.
Jim Larkin
Fox Pass Pottery
Hot Springs, Arkansas
71901
lfoxpass@aol.com
Lee Love on thu 1 jun 00
Bob Brisco uses a high temperature paraffin he bought from an oil company.
Didn't smoke or make fumes when he heated it. I had the address of the
Twin Cities oil company he bought it from (attended a workshop at his
house), but that's back in St. Paul.
--
Lee Love
2858-2-2 , Nanai , Mashiko-machi ,Tochigi-ken 321-4106 JAPAN
Ikiru@kami.com Voice Mail and Faxes (a USA number): (303) 256-0374
Help E.T. Phone Earth: http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/
Dan Bowen on thu 1 jun 00
Georgies on the west coast sells bulk candlemaking supplies, Im not sure
how compeditive thier prices. They also sell wax that melts at diffrent
temp's, that might eliminate the need additive's? They have online
ordering.
No affiliation with them, just had good service on candle making supplies .
Dan Bowen
Eastville Pottery
goldfrog@intercom.net
Cindy Strnad on thu 1 jun 00
David,
When you try out your new wax, would you please let us know how it works? If
you like it, I'll buy some, too.
Cindy Strnad
earthenv@gwtc.net
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
KLeSueur@AOL.COM on fri 2 jun 00
1-800-need-wax
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