Candle wax for potting?

[KLINKDETROIT]

OK OK maybe I should have waited and used parafin wax and followed directions on this site but I didnt. If I go ahead and dip the pickup in parafin wax after I melted a candle around the pickups exterior and under the black tape will it still be ok or did I mess it up. It still howls and feeds back. I tried putting bubble wrap under the pickup and that helped but not entirely. Do I have to remove all the wax and start over or what?

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Candle wax for potting?

Following the directions is always the best way to go.

If you go the parafin route the temp of the wax should melt the candle wax in, but I'd suggest removing as much of the candle wax as is easily possible. It may have a different melt temp and it MIGHT (big might) cause problems.

I always send my pickups in need of potting back to SD. They are fast enough and cheap enough to make make it worth my while not to melt wax.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Candle wax for potting?

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=13398

 

[bryvincent]

Re: Candle wax for potting?

i think candles are also made of paraffin so it should be okay. i used candles too to pot my humbuckers(gibsons) coz its readily available.i used like 4 candles and its scented dipped it for 30 mins (without the covers ) or until the bubbles stop and then dipped the covers for 1 sec and put it immediately. and dipped it again with the covers on for about 5 mins. gibson bobbins or maybe duncans are pretty hard, you can dip them as long as you want but not dimarzios as evh said it easily melts if the wax is too hot! be careful though in wax potting follow instructions, use the lowest possible temperature and do it outdoors!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Candle wax for potting?

Gulf brand wax for home canning and preserving is available from most hardware stores. Cheaper and more conveniant than candles! Lew

 

[bryvincent]

Re: Candle wax for potting?

Gulf brand wax for home canning and preserving is available from most hardware stores. Cheaper and more conveniant than candles! Lew

yeah but the living room is nearer than hardware store and its free(its my mom's!) :laugh2: and candles already has beeswax in them which is recommended for wax potting.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Candle wax for potting?

I've been using glass wax for several years and I've had no problems...It's the temperature you allow the wax to rise to that is the main concern..

John

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: Candle wax for potting?

Waz up. Thanx for all your help and setting up my guitar. I did go back to Voodoo and they made my amp sound killer but still the howling. I put bubble wrap behind the pickup and it helped but still cant turn the gain up too much. How much does seymour charge for waxing?

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: Candle wax for potting?

Above message for Robert S

Following the directions is always the best way to go.

If you go the parafin route the temp of the wax should melt the candle wax in, but I'd suggest removing as much of the candle wax as is easily possible. It may have a different melt temp and it MIGHT (big might) cause problems.

I always send my pickups in need of potting back to SD. They are fast enough and cheap enough to make make it worth my while not to melt wax.

 

[devastone]

Re: Candle wax for potting?

after I melted a candle around the pickups exterior and under the black tape

Just dripping candle wax on the pickup won't help anything, you have to dip it in melted wax so the wax soaks into the windings. That will keep them from vibrating against each other and feeding back (howling).

Hope this helps,
Roger

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: Candle wax for potting?

What if I already melted the candle wax all over it. Do I have to remove it and start over with the parafin dip?

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Candle wax for potting?

What if I already melted the candle wax all over it. Do I have to remove it and start over with the parafin dip?

Yep. :burnout:

 

[devastone]

Re: Candle wax for potting?

I actually haven't potted any pickups myself, all the pups I use are already potted. I would guess that if you have dripped candle wax on the outside, and if it has the same melting point as the wax you are going to use, you should just be able to dip it in a pot of melted wax and it should just melt and become part of the whole concoction. In theory it sounds fine, but I can't guarantee the results.

-R