For a number of years, I've been melting old comb and scrap wax in water to process it. After it's melted, I'll pour in through a strainer and let it solidify. The idea is, of course, that wax floats and everything beneath is rubbish. However, I always seem to get some wax that does not float but rather sinks. Some of it will even be stuck to the bottom of the pot. In other cases, there are little balls of wax that either sink or float on their own, separate from the cake of wax at the top. Do any of you scientific minds have any idea why this is and how to prevent it? Thanks.
-james
James,
If the wax sinks in water, I would not want it. Sounds like it is not actually wax.
Does it feel like wax?
Jim Altmiller
The little balls happen because you are pouring into cold or cool water (or you at not getting the mixture really piping hot). Make sure everything to include the container you are pouring into are hot, You want the cooling to all happen after it is quiescent again post straining. It is getting cool a tad to fast.
The sinking stuff is most likely frass not actually wax...as wax simply cannot sink in water.
Quote from: sawdstmakr on July 11, 2019, 05:19:10 PM
James,
If the wax sinks in water, I would not want it. Sounds like it is not actually wax.
Does it feel like wax?
Jim Altmiller
Thanks. Yes, I am sure it is wax. Looks and feels like wax, anyway. Nice pretty little yellow wax balls. -js
Quote from: BAHBEEs on July 11, 2019, 05:51:39 PM
The little balls happen because you are pouring into cold or cool water (or you at not getting the mixture really piping hot). Make sure everything to include the container you are pouring into are hot, You want the cooling to all happen after it is quiescent again post straining. It is getting cool a tad to fast.
The sinking stuff is most likely frass not actually wax...as wax simply cannot sink in water.
The water is boiling. When pouring through the strainer to get out the gunk, the pot I poured it into would be cold (or ambient temp) so that could account for that. But recently I did some where I put the scrap wax in a nylon bag, sunk it in a larger pot and boiled it to melt the wax. After letting the wax cool, I pulled the cake of wax off the top and again found bits of wax and balls of wax floating in the water and even sunk. If it is frass, it is the prettiest yellow frass I've ever seen. LOL.
I have metled wax with honey (melting cappings to get all the honey out) and the honey acted as an emulsifier and the wax didn't separate as well as it usually does. Usually I melt wax with water and it's not an issue. I don't know if this is related or not.