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Thread: Machinable Wax Experiments
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9th Apr 2012, 03:37 PM #1
Machinable Wax Experiments
Hi All,
I had a go at making some machinable wax, and here's a bit of a run down on how it went.
First attempt, I thought I'd try polystryene foam, since I had plenty of package foam laying about.
Didn't work, the polystyrene didn't mix with the wax..
Second attempt.. I followed what this guy did.. pages:machwax [Dale Short]
Melted some wax, and added a bit of layout blue for colour
So now , off to the supermarket to try and find some polyethylene (shopping bags) These were $2.50 per roll I think..
These passed the polythene test, burns with a blue flame with yellow tip, smells of paraffin, drips when burning.. it has a filler of some kind to make it opaque white, but I can live with that.
Each roll is 400grams, so I put a full roll into 3 liters of wax, I might try and add more on the next mix to see what happens..
Now you get out the IR thermometer and try and get the temperature stabilized at around 280-320 degrees F, 450 degrees F is the self ignition temperature for the wax, so you probably want to keep under that..
I noticed that if the wax started smoking it was getting too hot. But you have to be above the melting point of polythene 230F and keep it there for a couple of hours while the polythene mixes into the wax. You need to stir it a fair bit as well..
It starts to thicken and goes "goopy"
Finally pour into a mold, this is 300x200x50
A few blocks later..
I notice white blobs here and there through the mix, and I'll break these up and remelt them to try and get all of the polythene mixed in a bit better, might add a bit more layout blue to get a darker blue colour.
Machines nicely for the little bit I tried..
Regards
Ray
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9th Apr 2012, 03:52 PM #2Most Valued Member
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Hi Ray,
Firstly, why? what makes it better than just wax? Just a stronger mix?
Secondly, do you think the checkout plastic shopping bags polythene?( have a small mountain of them I collect for another reason)
I guess its really something for the CNCers amongst us?
Best part would be I can melt the swarf down and start again when I stuff up
StuartLast edited by Stustoys; 9th Apr 2012 at 04:29 PM. Reason: spelling
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9th Apr 2012, 04:00 PM #3
Hi Stuart,
The check out bags are polythene, and would be perfect I just didn't have a whole heap of them..
I've found some plastic foam packaging that seems like polythene that I'll try later.
The idea is to make the wax harder and machine better.
Regards
Ray
PS... why are you collecting shopping bags, the South Australian black market perhaps?
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9th Apr 2012, 04:08 PM #4
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9th Apr 2012, 04:25 PM #5Golden Member
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Hi Ray,
Here is a thread on machinable wax. There is a couple of PDF's worth reading in the thread. I have included them below.
I believe plastic milk bottle lids make a good mix and I got hundreds by asking at work and family. Seems people want to recycle and I ended up with heaps more than I needed but unfortunately they ended up being recycled in a more conventional manner.Cheers,
Rod
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9th Apr 2012, 05:02 PM #6
Hi Rod,
Thanks for that, I'd forgotten about that thread.
Remelting those blocks seems to have gotten the remaining polythene mixed in as well.
Regards
Ray
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9th Apr 2012, 08:34 PM #7Intermediate Member
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Hi Ray, where did you source your wax from?
Thanks
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9th Apr 2012, 08:42 PM #8
Hi Marty,
I got it years ago, for sealing the ends of green timber, so I can't recall the exact supplier, it might have been this one Paraffin 60J Slabs - All Australian Candle Making
But since reading that thread that RodM linked to, someone there suggested that it might be a good idea to ask Neil ( the owner of this forum, and the maker of Ubeaut wax) he probably buys the stuff in 10 tonne truckloads...
Report back on how you go.
Regards
Ray
PS.. If you choose to use layout blue for the colouring, add it before you start melting the wax, the stuff I've got uses acetone as the solvent, and you don't want to go adding acetone to hot wax, it will bubble up and possibly overfow.
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9th Apr 2012, 08:58 PM #9Golden Member
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This is interesting reading Ray, thanks for the tip. I need some wax like this as I'm running out of my older stuff.
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15th Apr 2012, 02:54 PM #10Most Valued Member
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Hi Ray,
Tried anything else yet?
I'm thinking of the first batch being 5kg wax, 600-700g plastic bags.
I have 50g of chrome yellow pigment that I was going to mix up for spotting but as I have some CanodeI might tip some pigment in and see what color I get.(or does that sound like a bad idea?)
Also have you tried "gluing" blocks together to make larger ones? I'm wondering just what size to make the model, I'd be thinking about making some sort of slipform form to make multipour blocks but I think that would be a little over the top if its easy enough to stick two blocks together with a little extra melted wax.
Also does the melting/mixing smell much?
Stuart
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15th Apr 2012, 03:07 PM #11
Hi Stuart,
Experiment and see... I thought about using canode, but the bottle of layout blue was closer... the canode blue (or yellow) might not mix with the wax, but try it and see..
I haven't tried "gluing" blocks together, but I don't see why not.
I made a box out of MDF, but I think the teflon coated baking trays are a better bet, if you can get ones that are the right size that is..
The smell is that burning waxy smell, so it's best done outside, as far as I can tell none of the stuff is toxic or gives off toxic fumes, but allow for something to cover the pot if the stuff catches fire.
I think the more polythene you can get in there the better (the harder the end product will be) , but it takes time to mix, at least 2 hours I guess.
Regards
Ray
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15th Apr 2012, 03:13 PM #12Most Valued Member
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wouldnt you know it
dont tell me paraffin wax is useful and expensive
aaron.
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15th Apr 2012, 04:34 PM #13Golden Member
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Isn't green Chrome oxide a polishing abrasive?, it might be like tipping a fine abrasive into your wax that could dull, or at least polish your cutters as they machine the wax. I have an old jar of sodium fluorescein powder which I think is solvent soluble, would make the plastic a dishwashing detergent fluorescent green.
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15th Apr 2012, 05:20 PM #14Most Valued Member
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Hi Ray,
Sorry I think I confused you. I meant adding some chrome yellow powder pigment for mixing with oil(?) to make paint.
The only eletric elements I have are inside...... might just have to wait until the boss is at work and the weather is fine so the doors etc can be open.
I might try putting the bags through a paper shreader(though I dont hold out much hope for that idea)
Hi Aaron,
There is a guy in Bentleigh or Port Melb selling parraffin, $100 for 25kgs
Hi Graziano,
I dont think its really chrome oxide(I can only find green and black chrome oxide).
Earth Pigment 50g Chrome Yellow / Bright Mars Yellow | eBay This is the stuff
fluorescent green would be great! lol
Stuart
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18th Apr 2012, 04:31 PM #15Most Valued Member
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Well here is my first effort.
The yellow was working great until I started to add the bags. I was expecting to loose some color but not all of it. Maybe if I'd added enough yellow it would have worked but I'm fine with grey. Maybe next time I'll sort the bags by color lol.
5kg wax
710g bags.
I gave it over two hours at about 320F and there was still the odd little lump. I gave up and poured it through a sieve.
Not sure how to go about testing it?
In a "drop a knife into it" test it seems to only go in about half as far and the lefts over's "snap" more like hard plastic than wax.
The block is 340 x 200 x 70mm with a 13mm drip in one side from shrinkage.
With luck I'll get a minute tonight to drop it on the mill.
Stuart
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