How to Use Sealing Wax &
Other Sealing Wax Information
How to melt the wax and make an impression.
Why we like torch lighters for melting sealing wax.
Regarding the use of matches to melt sealing wax.
Regarding sealing wax sticks with wicks.
The differences between flexible sealing wax and traditional sealing wax.
Dealing with the postal service.
A special note to brides and their fiancés.
Why use sealing wax? A little philosophic meandering…
Historic trivia about sealing wax.
The scents used in Atelier Gargoyle Flexible Sealing Wax.
Regarding the use of matches to melt
sealing wax.
Regarding the use of matches to melt sealing wax.
Ordinary matches work quite well to melt sealing wax, but there are a few things to keep in mind. A paper match produces a small amount of carbon soot, and a wood match produces a little more. These carbon soot particles will fall into your puddle of hot wax in little black blotches. Use the end of the wax stick to stir the puddle and blend it all together. A small amount of carbon soot actually enhances some colors, turning red to burgundy, light green to forest green, pink to dusty rose, and blue to midnight blue. But with lighter colors of sealing wax, such as ivory or yellow or pastels, this added darkness is usually downright ugly, muddy, and nasty. With colors of wax that are already dark before burning, such as eggplant or burgundy or navy blue, the carbon soot may make the wax appear almost black. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, you may want to try both matches and torch lighters, and decide for yourself what colors are appealing. Another factor to consider is that the flame produced by an ordinary match does not burn for very long before it starts to burn your fingers, and the flame from a match is not as hot as the flame from a torch. If you have a large seal that requires a lot of wax and you want to use matches, we suggest you tear about 5 matches out of the pack, line them up in front of you, and also put a burning candle and an ashtray in front of you. Light the first match and start melting the tip of your wax stick. When the flame gets close to your fingers, quickly blow it out and toss it in the ashtray. Do not put down the stick of wax, but continue to hold it in your more-dexterous hand right over the unfinished puddle. Then pick up the second match, stick it in the candle flame to ignite it quickly and one-handedly, and continue to melt your wax stick. Unbelievably, Ward has developed a technique of blowing out that part of the flame that is near his fingers, while allowing the head of the match to continue burning. He can make even very large puddles of wax with only one match, but he has made hundreds of thousands of sealing wax impressions over a period of 45 years, and admits to having burned his fingers more than once.
Regarding fireplace matches and barbecue lighters.
Though they seem like they’d work because they’re long, they don’t. Trust us. They both produce a huge sooty flame that’s hard to control.
• Lighters
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