Thanks: 0
Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 15 of 26
Thread: rice cooker? waxing timber
-
25th November 2013, 08:03 PM #1SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Oct 2008
- Location
- Syndey
- Age
- 38
- Posts
- 788
rice cooker? waxing timber
I would like to split some logs and create woodturning bowl blanks, pen blanks etc.
In order to wax the ends to avoid cracking, I was considering getting a cheap crock pot or rice cooker, and melt down some cheap candles and dip the timber in it.
Has anyone tried this? If so, will the wax re-melt again next time you turn it on to do more blanks, or is it a one-shot deal?
Thanks, simon.
-
25th November 2013 08:03 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Age
- 2010
- Posts
- Many
-
25th November 2013, 08:10 PM #2
I use an old electric deep fry unit, leave the wax in there and fire it up when needed.
My wife likes going to op-shops () and is always on the lookout for biggish candles and quite often picks them up for around a dollar or even less.
Any time I need more wax I just chuck in another candle or two.
The internal of the deep fryer is metal and it has a lid and thermostatic control, so easy to use and store away.
The wax can be used and re-melted over and over without any problems, I have had this thing going for a few years now.
-
25th November 2013, 08:18 PM #3SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Oct 2008
- Location
- Syndey
- Age
- 38
- Posts
- 788
Thanks Fred.
I hadn't considered a deep fryer. I suppose the important thing is that it is big enough (diameter) to fit the edge of bowl blanks in it.
-
25th November 2013, 08:21 PM #4
doesn't need to be deep fryer, I'm using one of those square sunbeam frypans that were popular in the 70's.
-
25th November 2013, 08:31 PM #5Retired
- Join Date
- May 1999
- Location
- Tooradin,Victoria,Australia
- Age
- 73
- Posts
- 11,918
-
25th November 2013, 08:44 PM #6Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jun 2013
- Location
- Geelong
- Posts
- 428
Glad you said buy a cheap rice cooker, SWMBO would hit the roof. But I like the idea. Our rice cooker has a not stick aluminium bowl so I guess you would get more than one use. Wouldn't a craft shop/Internet be a better source for wax? Would think you could buy a block of wax cheaper than a box of candles.
i can't see any flaw in the plan and for $12 can't hurt to try. I know people use bread makers and a heat gun to roast raw coffee beans.
cheers
-
25th November 2013, 08:46 PM #7SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Oct 2008
- Location
- Syndey
- Age
- 38
- Posts
- 788
Thanks. My local K-mart has rice cookers for under $10 so will be worth it to try with some small stuff.
-
25th November 2013, 09:00 PM #8
Some of the candles she picks up are large decorative ones, not your normal thin candles.
One particular block candle was about 250mm in diameter and about 150mm high, didn't weigh it but it was quite a bit of wax! She paid the princely sum of $1 for that one.
It is amazing how often the larger decorative candles turn up in op-shops.
-
25th November 2013, 09:01 PM #9
advantage of the big square frypan is its a sheet of wax and not a deep lump, quick to melt.
Other nice part is you can dunk big bits of timber into it.
The rice cooker may not be wide enough to dip into.
The square things is say 1 1/2 inch deep and I put it on floor and dip into it till I hit bottom, and lots or area to shake excess off.
Also available from op-shops for 5-10 bucks.
-
25th November 2013, 09:28 PM #10
Don't melt wax in best small sauspan while simmering in the water inside best large sauspan unless you can get way with it!
-
25th November 2013, 09:42 PM #11
I use a large Wok, it is bigger than a frying pan, plus being curved can fit larger bowl blanks
Neil____________________________________________Every day presents an opportunity to learn something new
-
25th November 2013, 09:53 PM #12
OK, I'll be the wet blanket this time (again?!??!). Candle wax is useless for the purpose! It has a sterate added to it that stiffens the parrafin wax so your candles don't droop like . . OK we won't go there . Even straight parrafin wax will peel off as the timber shrinks so you're exposing the timber to the elements again in no time. Best solution is to add something softer to it like Beeswax so the wax stays flexible and moves with the timber.
I use a about 20 or 30 parts Parrafin wax to 1 part Beeswax and it works very well for me - lost a hell of a lot of timber to cracking with the straight parrafin before I woke up . Only takes a couple of minutes in a big square electric pan before you can start dipping what ever you like in it
-
25th November 2013, 09:54 PM #13Retired
- Join Date
- May 1999
- Location
- Tooradin,Victoria,Australia
- Age
- 73
- Posts
- 11,918
-
25th November 2013, 09:57 PM #14SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Oct 2009
- Location
- South Africa
- Posts
- 950
And don't use those scented candles in your rice cooker - it makes the rice taste a bit weird.
-
26th November 2013, 10:41 AM #15
Similar Threads
-
Wellstood Cooker probs & poss solutions. Re re-bricking in an ancient thread of 2006
By Kiwi Bloke in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORKReplies: 2Last Post: 18th August 2023, 03:53 PM -
Timber and rice paper lamps
By Tack Hama in forum WOODWORK PICSReplies: 15Last Post: 20th November 2010, 09:39 PM -
Electric Pressure Cooker.
By issatree in forum NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WOODWORKReplies: 3Last Post: 5th November 2010, 10:00 PM -
rice paper????
By timberpassion in forum WOODWORK - GENERALReplies: 14Last Post: 18th February 2006, 03:27 AM