wax potting

[krankguitarist]

K, so i just put together a JB/59 hybrid that I'm gonna test out in my dearmond hollowbody...but during the process of the hybrid-making, I lost an assload of wax. So, now I get to re-wax-pot my pickup.

I read the tutorial on projectguitar.com, But i'm wondering, where do you go to get the paraffin wax and the beeswax? I guess I'm gonna need a candy thermometer too, anybody know where to get one of those?

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: wax potting

You can get parafin wax and beeswax at most craft stores. I don't think you need a candy thermometer. Also, I just use parafin wax and have never had any issues.

I put the wax in a pan and heat it very slowly....just barely to the point of melting and turning clear. I then take it off the heat and let it cool...just until I see the slightest trace of milky white. It should be cool enough at this point to stick your finger in and not get a burn. I just plunk the pup into the wax and make sure it stays under untill all the air bubbles come out of the baseplate holes. Take out and dry bobbin side down, and you're all done.

No need to go to a whole lot of expense.

 

[LPCustom]

Re: wax potting

You can get parafin wax and beeswax at most craft stores. I don't think you need a candy thermometer. Also, I just use parafin wax and have never had any issues.

I put the wax in a pan and heat it very slowly....just barely to the point of melting and turning clear. I then take it off the heat and let it cool...just until I see the slightest trace of milky white. It should be cool enough at this point to stick your finger in and not get a burn. I just plunk the pup into the wax and make sure it stays under untill all the air bubbles come out of the baseplate holes. Take out and dry bobbin side down, and you're all done.

No need to go to a whole lot of expense.

You need to be really careful in heating parafin wax. It makes fumes that are HIGHLY flammable (it's what burns from the wick when you light a candle). A safer way to heat parafin wax (and a mixture of beeswax and parafin is better because the vapor point of beeswax is higher) is to use a crock pot. This will not cause a fire because there is no exposed heating element. NEVER heat parafin on a GAS stove unless your aim is to burn your house down!

You should also put the pickup in the wax while it's hot. If you wait until it starts to congeal, then it won't penetrate the pickup very well (the whole point of potting it). It may take up to an hour for the wax to completely penetrate the pickup. For that to happen, the wax has to be heated while the pickup is soaking.

If you take the wax off the heat then put the pickup in it, all you will do is coat the outside of it with wax. It will not be potted properly.

The temperature you want is about 160 degress fahrenheit. Use a cooking thermometer to check the temperature. DO NOT stick your finger in it. Wax that hot is hot enough to give you third degree burns (160 degrees is the temperature of medium rare beef).

 

[bryvincent]

Re: wax potting

you can use ordinary candles. just scrape it to make it into smaller pieces for easier melting. the safest way is by using a crock pot as stated above or just take two pot one smaller than the other. fill the bigger one with water and put the wax on the smaller one. and then suspend the smaller pot on the water. its easier to control the temp that way. and remember, do it outdoors.