Making string wax

[osage outlaw]

I recently made some string wax and thought I would post some pictures.  I normally get some wax from Chad at the BCY booth at the Classic.  He was out this year and I am down to my last small piece so it was time to make my own.  I traded for a 2 lb block of beeswax on here several years ago.  I can't remember who I got it from.  I used 2 of the cheap toilet bowl wax rings.  They were soft and tacky.  I was guessing at the mixture ratio.  I broke it up into small pieces and used a pan setting in a larger pan of water on a hot plate.  I let it melt slowly and added more wax as it warmed up. 








At this point it started to smell really good.






I spooned it into small condiment cups that I've been saving for a while.  I thought I would spill some if I tried to pour it.  I had the perfect amount of cups.  I filled every one to the top and didn't have any leftover wax.  I got lucky there.  I think the mix ratio is pretty close.  It feels about the same as the wax I get from BCY.  I'll test it out on the next string that I make.  If it isn't right I can always melt it back down and add to it until it's good.

[Knoll]

Nice.

[bjrogg]

That should do a quite a few strings Clint.
Bjrogg

[osage outlaw]

Knoll and BJ, remind me next year and I'll bring you guys a cup at Marshall.

[Pat B]

Nice Clint. Is that similar to what Chad makes. He gave me a few containers 2 years ago and I really like his wax.

[osage outlaw]

That's what I was trying for Pat.  He gave me his recipe but I didn't find his brand of wax rings.

[EdwardS]

I need to do this, I have the wax rings, I just need beeswax.  All mine is gone.  Does paraffin or soy wax work?  I have plenty of that.

[Deerhunter21]

on the scale, were the measurements by oz?

[Hawkdancer]

I have just used straight beeswax for a long time.  Recently found a recipe for one part resin:3 parts beeswax in the Boy Scout Archery Merit Badge book!  Haven't tried it yet,   Got to get a spare block of resin!
Hawkdancer

[osage outlaw]

on the scale, were the measurements by oz?

It's reading in lbs and ounces.  That is the default setting on the scale.  I can change it if I need to.

[osage outlaw]

I need to do this, I have the wax rings, I just need beeswax.  All mine is gone.  Does paraffin or soy wax work?  I have plenty of that.

I don't know.  I've never tried those.

[osage outlaw]

I have just used straight beeswax for a long time.  Recently found a recipe for one part resin:3 parts beeswax in the Boy Scout Archery Merit Badge book!  Haven't tried it yet,   Got to get a spare block of resin!
Hawkdancer

I think straight beeswax would work good for a string maintenance wax.  I like a softer slightly tacky wax for making strings.  It helps keep the bundles together. 

[JEB]

Good post, Clint. That is how I make it as well.

[Marc St Louis]

I've never bought string wax.  My current mix is Beeswax and Vaseline

[Mesophilic]

For string maintenance I use bees wax with a small amout of paraffin melted in to make it a little less sticky.

For string making I use bees wax melted with turpentine and a little resin.  It's a soft, almost creamy wax that I can work in to the string material easily.  When the turpentine evaporates it sets just like plain bees wax.