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.
Miscellaneous tips.
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.
Miscellaneous tips.
Getting the most wax bang for your buck.
Many years ago, before we started making our own sealing wax, Ward received gifts of sealing wax from the his friends who were police detectives. They would hang out at the café where he bartended (drinking espressos or whisky), and would notice that when Ward wasn’t busy making flaming cocktails or pouring draft beers, he was melting sealing wax onto postcards and making impressions in the wax with antique seals. The cops got interested, and realized it was the same kind of sealing wax they used to seal up packages of narcotics that were being saved for “evidence.” A curious use of sealing wax, you might think, but remember, traditional sealing wax is brittle and will break if tampered with. It was the ideal substance to provide a good measure of “security” on this kind of evidence. The cops started bringing Ward the small ends of wax sticks that were left over when most of the stick had been used. They said they didn’t like burning their fingers when the sticks got so short! Ward discovered that he could heat the ends of these small pieces until they started to melt and get quite sticky, and then press two heated ends together to form a grafted (and longer) stick. We have been using this technique ever since to get every last ounce of wax out of our sticks, and we suggest you try it too. Sealing wax is expensive stuff, you want to be sure you get the most out of it.
Conviviality.
Carry your seal-making paraphernalia with you when you go out to dinner with friends or family. Bring a few nice postcards, a fountain pen or two, a seal, a stick of wax, and a torch lighter. After dinner, as everyone is relaxing at the table with coffee and cake (or cigars and cognac), address the postcard to your host or to yourself. Get out your seal, and with a flourish, melt the wax and impress the seal on the postcard. Then ask everyone (including the host) to sign the card, and if so moved, to add a comment about the evening or a thank you to the host. Then pop the card in a mailbox on your way home. What a wonderful piece of memorabilia of a great evening spent with people you thoroughly enjoy! No doubt a conversation will start about your seal: “What’s the history behind it, and how did you get interested in seals and fountain pens?” No doubt someone at the table will say “Oh, please, do another card with a seal and send it to me! Or let’s send one to Max, who couldn’t be here tonight, let’s tell him how much we missed his presence. He’ll love the seal!”
• Lighters
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ATELIER GARGOYLE |
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