Thread: rice cooker? waxing timber

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.

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.

doesn't need to be deep fryer, I'm using one of those square sunbeam frypans that were popular in the 70's.

Originally Posted by _fly_

doesn't need to be deep fryer, I'm using one of those square sunbeam frypans that were popular in the 70's.

Same here. The thing to avoid is heating the wax over an open flame.

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

Thanks. My local K-mart has rice cookers for under $10 so will be worth it to try with some small stuff.

Originally Posted by Wrongwayfirst

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.

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.

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.

Don't melt wax in best small sauspan while simmering in the water inside best large sauspan unless you can get way with it!

I use a large Wok, it is bigger than a frying pan, plus being curved can fit larger bowl blanks

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

Originally Posted by springwater

Don't melt wax in best small sauspan while simmering in the water inside best large sauspan unless you can get way with it!

And we know this how?

And don't use those scented candles in your rice cooker - it makes the rice taste a bit weird.

Originally Posted by TTIT

...I use a about 20 or 30 parts Parrafin wax to 1 part Beeswax and it works very well for me..