Metal Melter

[Onoff]

@Kram , I'm intrigued by your idea of injecting rather than pouring the wax. First thought is how to keep it hot. I did find metal syringes online. Again, pouring from pot to syringe will cool things down unless I pre heat the syringe.

Pouring the wax straight in, as I have been, then the pot that comes with the melter is crap, has no spout etc. Maybe I can form one?

Pouring does work though the tendency is to over pour and then you end up with excess wax on the back. How to take that off without damaging the PVA?

Just random thoughts tbh.

 

[JMS1972]

@Kram , I'm intrigued by your idea of injecting rather than pouring the wax. First thought is how to keep it hot. I did find metal syringes online. Again, pouring from pot to syringe will cool things down unless I pre heat the syringe.

Pouring the wax straight in, as I have been, then the pot that comes with the melter is crap, has no spout etc. Maybe I can form one?

Pouring does work though the tendency is to over pour and then you end up with excess wax on the back. How to take that off without damaging the PVA?

Just random thoughts tbh.

I think a preheated metal cooks syringe is a cheap way but probably works better on a closed mold e.g. silicone type.

 

[Onoff]

I think a preheated metal cooks syringe is a cheap way but probably works better on a closed mold e.g. silicone type.

Tbh I'd be concerned applying any pressure might blow the thin PVA mould walls.

 

[Kram]

A plastic syringe is fine, metal will absorb too much heat. Mine are 60ml, have some spare. Warm syringe in the wax and much easier than pouring.

I had an accident There I was sitting at desk playing with parrafin wax. Warm day so I was wearing shorts. I had a stupid plan, I'd wrap a tiger ornament in a sandwich bag and cover in wax. Once cooled I could section the wax for removal, keeping the tiger clean. More of a test than anything - would have been better to use plaster and then wax from the negative.
It didnt work too well, So I tried part filling the bag and placing it on tiger sideways.

Pop. All down my legs, feet, socks, floor, chair. Splashed onto my pc/monitor. Everywhere. Lucky the wax was not hot enough to burn, and most of it could be scraped off without taking any hairs, but was red for a few hours.

 

[Onoff]

I had an accident

So you wax, get over it, no need to be ashamed and dress it up as incompetence. This is 2022, if a "shaven haven" is your thing, go for it!

 

[Kram]

Incompetence.. thanks
Wrong type of wax, while I might try doing my nose hair, I have no desire to wax anywhere else.

The candle wax took good detail, poured some in to a yougurt pot and it picked up the recycling symbol and text well. Quite easy to carve too, just messy.

 

[Onoff]

Incompetence.. thanks

True incompetence, not respecting the Parkside Precision Knife Set...

 

[Onoff]

Learning all the time!

Heated up some more wax. To aid pouring and keep it warm at the same same I pressed SWMBO's favourite little Pyrex glass jug into service, warmed by kettle full of hot water.

Let it get to about 65degC and went for a pour. Much easier and nearly perfect but not quite.

Hadn't infilled some edge details, what to do....put it under the grill! Set the grill to 11 and watched. The wax melts and levels itself out.

With a leg waxing stick I skimmed the molten wax off, level with the PVA mould. Near perfect, one or two tiny air bubbles but really good.

A couple of things have gone wrong through. As it cools it shinks (obvious now ). The whole thing has also got a tad concave. I reckon though that the wax model would flatten under its own weight if left in the sunshine for a bit. Thoughts are that as the wax has contracted it's allowed the mould to bend.

As for the shrinkage, how to fix account for that?

 

[prepman]

Onwards ever onwards.... lid cut down, cast and managed to use up some more scrap in the process. Additional rust.....Ah well.....
Need to make crucible stand to raise it up off bottom of furnace. Bentonite (kitty litter) and water glass, maybe. Problem with this type of furnace is the first bad spill is the last. Did try with a hole in the bottom to drain but it just made it worse.


View attachment 345909

 

[prepman]

Learning all the time!

Heated up some more wax. To aid pouring and keep it warm at the same same I pressed SWMBO's favourite little Pyrex glass jug into service, warmed by kettle full of hot water.

View attachment 345903

Let it get to about 65degC and went for a pour. Much easier and nearly perfect but not quite.

Hadn't infilled some edge details, what to do....put it under the grill! Set the grill to 11 and watched. The wax melts and levels itself out.

View attachment 345901

With a leg waxing stick I skimmed the molten wax off, level with the PVA mould. Near perfect, one or two tiny air bubbles but really good.

View attachment 345899

A couple of things have gone wrong through. As it cools it shinks (obvious now ). The whole thing has also got a tad concave. I reckon though that the wax model would flatten under its own weight if left in the sunshine for a bit. Thoughts are that as the wax has contracted it's allowed the mould to bend.

As for the shrinkage, how to fix account for that?

View attachment 345897

If all fails, you've at least got a future as a pastry chef.....

 

[Onoff]

If all fails, you've at least got a future as a pastry chef.....

Go on you pi**taker, choux!

 

[Onoff]

The molten wax I skimmed off has glued the mould to the old baking tray! Should have used one of her shiny non stick ones!

A kettle poured onto the tray sorts it!

Straight into a warm bath. Weighted down and due to the holes not so bouyant as last time. Hopefully not too hot:

Now we wait, I'm not going to mess around with it this time, just leave it to soak off.

 

[prepman]

Learning all the time!

Heated up some more wax. To aid pouring and keep it warm at the same same I pressed SWMBO's favourite little Pyrex glass jug into service, warmed by kettle full of hot water.

View attachment 345903

Let it get to about 65degC and went for a pour. Much easier and nearly perfect but not quite.

Hadn't infilled some edge details, what to do....put it under the grill! Set the grill to 11 and watched. The wax melts and levels itself out.

View attachment 345901

With a leg waxing stick I skimmed the molten wax off, level with the PVA mould. Near perfect, one or two tiny air bubbles but really good.

View attachment 345899

A couple of things have gone wrong through. As it cools it shinks (obvious now ). The whole thing has also got a tad concave. I reckon though that the wax model would flatten under its own weight if left in the sunshine for a bit. Thoughts are that as the wax has contracted it's allowed the mould to bend.

As for the shrinkage, how to fix account for that?

View attachment 345897

On a serious note. Does lost PLA not appeal?

 

[Anguz]

You look an expert with the wooden wax spatula

 

[prepman]

You look an expert with the wooden wax spatula

Et Tu Bruti

 

[Onoff]

On a serious note. Does lost PLA not appeal?

God yes! Started off with that. I've PLA models ready to go, as in ready to cast in investment plaster and burn out.

Have you done it?

I just wanted to try proper, "traditional" wax.

I get obsessed with stuff, I'll get bored soon!

 

[Onoff]

You look an expert with the wooden wax spatula

Yeah, the tea tree shower gel's going to tingle later.....

 

[prepman]

God yes! Started off with that. I've PLA models ready to go, as in ready to cast in investment plaster and burn out.

Have you done it?

I just wanted to try proper, "traditional" wax.

I get obsessed with stuff, I'll get bored soon!

No my attempts at casting anything were reminiscent of the orchestra on the Titanic ...well played out...but doomed....
I had aspirations of doing what myfordboy did....hence the printer...then I side-tracked...you know what's that's like? Into animation ..So I alloy copper to make bushes etc.
Very artisan I'm afraid.
But I do like puzzles (and speed chess), hence my interest.

 

[Onoff]

Looking like we're heading for a fail!

I won't know until all the PLA is gone but at a guess the wax was a bit hot and blew through the thin walls of the mould.

I'm wondering if when I "grilled" it, an air bubble(s) in the wax exploded?

Seem to be going backwards here!

 

[Onoff]

It may or may not be recoverable.

To stop the "wings" curling up I suggested adding some gussets. Lad's first stab.

Now sent him away to work on ones that actually do something!

Left in soak.