Re: [Harp-L] Sealing a comb with wax (was: plastic comb vs wood ?)

[Michelle LeFree <mlefree@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Robert" wrote:

> Some have been burned seriously while attempting to seal the comb of their
> harps themselves, melting beeswax on the stove. It's easy to spill, and as
> far as I recall, it's also flammable. You have to use a double boiler, and
> extreme caution. Not advisable for most.

Thanks for the warning, Robert. I felt it was important enough to merit 
its own thread so as to make it easier to find in the archives 
downstream. The hazard hasn't been mentioned for some time and doing so 
again might help avoid serious accidents in the future.

I remember years back when well known New Zealand on-line chromatic 
harmonica educator "G" severely burned his hand and set his apartment on 
fire heating beeswax directly on his gas stove burner. His burns 
required skin grafts and he was out of commission working on his chromes 
for months. In fact, he sort of faded away from the scene not long after 
that. He'd be the first to tell you that heating wax on a stove is 
definitely a No-No!

Please folks, there is no need to get wax anywhere near your stove, 
double-boiler or not. Use a microwave oven set on low power. No need to 
rush, it will take only a few minutes. Monitor the progress closely and 
as soon as the wax is fully melted you are ready to go. No need to heat 
it further. Wax can hold lots of BTUs so there's no need to push your 
luck by over-heating it. Once melted you'll be able to soak as many 
combs as you like. Just remember, even if it isn't on fire melted wax is 
still ~very dangerous~ stuff, so handle it like it is nitroglycerin. In 
fact it's best to not handle it at all. I just leave mine in the 
microwave throughout the process until it's re-solidified.

I store my sealing wax formula in a microwaveable container and just 
heat it up in the microwave oven when I need it. When I'm done, I let 
the wax solidify, put the cap on the container and put it away until the 
next time.

Please be careful with melting wax. In fact there are likely better ways 
to seal a comb anyway. Richard Sleigh advised me to ditch my wax and use 
several coast of lacquer. Others like polyurethane spray finish made for 
wood. Also, it's worth remembering that some folks have a skin contact 
reaction when they press beeswax-soaked wood to their lips for hours on 
end. Go figure.  ;^)

Michelle