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Removing wax

S

Scott Olex

Joined
Dec 8, 2004
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I was hoping someone could help me with removing wax from a cap that I have. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Am not sure what kind of "cap" you are trying to remove wax from. If it is cloth - xylene will disolve wax. I have seen xylene in hardware stores, but only in 1 gal. containers.
Hugh
 
Scott, try a brown paper bag and an iron, more bags if it's a lot of wax, otherwise the iron will melt and spread the excess wax.

Ruth
 
Scott,

If the "cap" in question is a BURL cap, mount your piece on a face plate with a few small screws into the cut face, thread on your spindle, take a blow drier or heat gun and simply melt the wax off into a drip pan or bowl. [DO NOT use power to rotate the lathe - the piece will fly 😱]You can trun the piece to get 95% of the wax melted off. Then rinse the piece with mineral spirits or (better) naptha and a bristle paint brush to remove the rest of the residue.

If, on the other hand, someone waxed your hat, never mind . . . 🙄
 
Last edited:
What about taking the "cap" to the car wash and power wash the wax off? If the cap is wet wood, it should not hurt it. If the wood is dry, it still might work. Just a thought. Sorry I did not know what kind of "cap" in my first reply.
Hugh
 
I have a pressure washer and never thought of using it. A bit f care is needed as the pressure can cut wood. I bought some naptha and will give that a try before I drag out thge pressure washer in this weather, living in NE PA.
 
Steam!

Should you have a friend who happens to own an engine/transmission rebuilding shop, and has a steam cleaner, take your waxed burls down the next time he fires that puppy up. Bye, bye wax! Hello clean burl. Maple caps are expecially fond of this wash. 😱
 
Thanks again. I'll have to ask around at the next meeting, dirt bike club, and see what I can find out. I'm sure one of the guys has access to a steam cleaner.
 
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