Introduction: Homemade Wax Seals Part 2
How to make wax seals for invitations, gifts, or other stuff. Everything besides the seal wax is homemade from super easy to find stuff.
Step 1: Placement
Put a small mark where the seal will be. I made a big mark so you can see it.
Step 2: Paper Weight
Use something(s) to weigh down the envelope flap. We do not want hot wax getting under it.
Step 3: Hot Wax
Drip the hot wax onto your mark. When you get a blob the size of your thumbnail stop and blow out the candle.
Sorry about image quality
I don't pay my camera men enough
Step 4: Impress
Gently but firmly push your stamp into the wax. Wait about 10 seconds or until your sure the wax is cooled before you remove the stamp.
Such awful quality images!! blek!
Step 5: All Done
I only used a small amount of wax because I don't want to waste it.
This image is better because I took it and not my camera man
I fired him
ps: I'm working on a way to make homemade sealing wax. I think I've figured it out, keep your eyes open for an Instructable on that.
28 Comments
10 years ago on Step 4
Maybe you should fire that so-called camera man and hire another one. :) It's okay, we can still see what's gonig on.
11 years ago on Introduction
Hi. I have a suggestion. Put a crayon in a hot glue gun. LOL that'll make nice, controled wax blobs and you can pick out of the 5000 crayon colors
12 years ago on Introduction
Oh my goodness! I love this! Thanks for sharing your hard work and great talent!
16 years ago on Introduction
Where do you buy sealing wax? I'm assuming that a normal taper, plumbing, or birthday candle wouldn't have the right adhesive properties.
I've always wanted my own personal seal. Maybe I'll make one into a ring. Or I'll try sculpting that cool skull used by the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Cameron S S I hope you are able to make that skull seal I'm trying everywhere to find one Please post how you did it. :)
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I'm thinking of using a little plastic skull I have (attached to a little plastic skeleton) and actually casting the seal. I'm not sure what to use for a casting material, yet, though, I think the wax would stick to plaster. Actually, I might make a mold using either a couple negatives or positives, or with a positive using the lost-wax process, and casting it in lead. Then the seal would look like death AND be toxic.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I've said before that polymer clay would not work... but I actually think it would! just moisten it slightly using a sponge before you stamp.
If you want to use metal, try tin plumbing solder. it's quite cheap and alows you to avoid toxic chemicals like lead.
To make a metal seal form your plastic skull, here is the process I propose:
1: Coat the part of the skull that you want to make into a seal with rubber cement or silicone caulk. be sure to put some kind of release on the skull first, like oil.
2: Remove the rubber cement or caulk from the skull (be careful not to tear it). fill the cavity with plaster of paris and let cure.
3: take a cardboard toilet paper tube and cut it to about 1 inch in length.
4: give the inside of the 1" long toilet paper a coating of thick plaster of peris and let it cure.
5: arrange everything as shown in the picture below:
I hope this picture makes sense...
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
If you want to use metal, try tin plumbing solder.
Except that both of our melting pots are filled with solidified lead...
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
uh-oh I guess lead will have to be a go.
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
its not about adhesive properties, its about durability. sealing wax bends, not breaks.
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
I was able to buy some at "Barnes and Noble" book store around the section where they sell notebooks for journals, and writing material. You could possibly also buy them from craft stores.
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
How much?
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
They were expensive, they were about 13 dollars. Each box had four sticks of wax.
Reply 16 years ago on Introduction
I used plain old taper candles from the dollar store on our wedding invitation seals. They made it through the US mail service just fine. My only regret was that the candles were mostly white, just coated with red wax, so the color was not as intense as I would have liked.
14 years ago on Step 5
cool another good instructable
14 years ago on Step 2
interesting... Coughlan's magnesium fire starter!
14 years ago on Introduction
crayons work really well (check out my awsome instructable)
https://www.instructables.com/id/flame_throwing_altoids_guitar
15 years ago on Introduction
I've only done this once but I liked the result...Maker's Mark Bourbon Whisky comes with it's own handy stash of wax. It actually takes it's name from wax stamping! Of course, more expensive and not available to minors but if you already have a bottle...and the name seems fitting for this site.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
lols yeah, i will keep that in mind :)
16 years ago on Introduction
i'm thinking about doing another instructable that will be about making a really nice seal stamp.... out of jade or something ... :)