Sealing wax

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Letters sealed with sealing wax in a painting by Cornelis Norbertus Gysbrechts (1665).

Sealing wax was used to seal "letters close" and later (from about the 16th century) envelopes. It was also used to take the impression of seals on important documents, or to create a hermetic seal on containers. Now mainly used for decorative purposes, it was formerly used to ensure that the contents of the envelope were secure.

While exact recipes vary, they can generally be divided into those before and after the commencement of trade with the Indies. In the Middle Ages it was typically made of beeswax melted together with "Venice turpentine", a greenish-yellow resinous extract of the European Larch tree. The earliest such wax was uncoloured, somewhat later the wax was often coloured red with vermilion. From the 16th century it instead was compounded from a mixture of various proportions of shellac, turpentine, resin, chalk or plaster, and colouring matter (often still vermilion, or else red lead), but no actual wax. The proportion of chalk varied; coarser grades were also used to seal wine bottles and preserves, finer grades for documents. Originally the sealing wax was red, but later it might also be black (tinted with lamp black or ivory black) or green (tinted with verdigris). Some users such as the British Crown assigned different colours to different types of documents. Today a range of synthetic colours are available.

Sealing wax is usually available in the form of sticks, sometimes with a wick, or as granules. The stick is melted at one end, or the granules heated in a spoon, normally using a flame, and then placed where required, usually on the flap of an envelope. While the wax is still soft, a seal with a design (often of metal) is impressed in it, sealing the envelope.

[edit] How to use sealing wax

Traditional Sealing Wax Candle

10-14 seals with a 3/4" embossing coin from one 4" stick of wax.

1. Light the wick and hold the wax stick at a slight 20 degree angle (lit end down).
2. Holding the stick directly on & over the area where you wish to make your seal, allow the melting wax to pull itself onto the project creating a pool large enough for the sealing coin.
3. If you find the wax begins to set while you are still melting the wax, move the candle around the area to mix hot wax with the cooler wax.

Notes about Sealing Wax Candles:
This method of sealing wax is great to use for one or two seals.
One can use this style of wax easily while on the go.
Available in a large assortment of wonderful colors.
Can be slow to use for large projects unless you melt down the sticks.

Glue Gun Sealing Wax

10-14 seals with a 3/4" embossing coin from one 4" stick of glue gun sealing wax.

1. Insert your wax stick into standard sized glue gun. Use a second wax stick in the gun to help advance the first.
2. Bring the gun to temperature. Resting the gun on a piece of foil will help keep any drips or strings off of your work area.
3. Use a few test pulls to get a feel for the quantity of wax you would like to use with your seal. Two good pulls of the trigger will produce a full seal for the larger sealing coins.
4. Waiting for 10-15 seconds before you emboss the wax with you seal will create better definition in the wax. Experiment to find the correct waiting period for the conditions in your area.
5. Emboss with your seal and lift straight up.
If you find the wax won't let go of the seal, simply let your seal rest on the wax until the wax is completely cool, then lift your seal off.
You can also use highlighting ink on your seal prior to embossing to help the wax release the seal, as well as creating a dimensional look on your seal.

Notes about Glue Gun Sealing Wax:
This method of sealing wax is useful for large or small projects.
Glue gun wax is very economical to use.
To change colors in a glue gun, use a neutral color - or use a stick of clear hot glue to push out one color before using a new color.
Alternating 1" plugs of different colors of glue gun wax will create a unique marbling effect.

Faux Sealing Wax

10-14 seals with a 3/4" embossing coin from one 4" stick of Faux Sealing Wax.

1. Insert your Faux Wax Stick into standard sized glue gun. Use a second stick in the gun to help advance the first.
2. Bring the gun to temperature. Resting the gun on a piece of foil or glue gun pad will help keep any drips or strings off of your work area.
3. Cool you seal on ice or in ice water before and during use to prevent the seal sticking to the faux wax.
4. Use a few test pulls to get a feel for the quantity of wax you would like to use with your seal. One pull of the trigger will produce enough wax for a standard 3/4" seal. Two good pulls of the trigger will produce a full seal for the larger sealing coins (1.1").
4. Waiting for 10-15 seconds before you emboss the wax with you seal will create better definition in the wax. Experiment to find the correct waiting period for the conditions in your area.
5. Wipe any moisture off of the seal and emboss the faux wax before your seal cools. If you are using a highlighting ink (which can help with the releasing of the seal from the wax), dab onto the ink pad before embossing the wax.

Notes about Faux Sealing Wax:
This method of sealing wax is useful for large or small projects.
Faux wax is very economical to use.
Faux wax handles the mailing process better than true waxes.
Faux wax will adhere to almost any surface without failing.
Faux Wax is a plastic polymer, which creates a bright and shiny appearance.

Bead Sealing Wax & Melting Spoon

1. Have a heat source available, such as a candle or heat gun.
2. Place 3 or more wax beads into a melting spoon and hold over the flame or heat gun until the wax melts.
3. Pour the melted wax onto your project and emboss with seal. Waiting a few moments before embossing may create better definition in the wax. Experiment to find the correct waiting period for the conditions in your area.

Notes about Bead Sealing Wax:
Useful for large or small projects.
Bead wax is very economical.
It is easy to practice seals on aluminum foil, then remelt the wax in the melting spoon to use again.
Create new colors and marbling effects by melting colors together.