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What is the reason for heating wax in a pour pot in a pot of boiling water versus heating right on top of the stove not sitting in a pot of water if the wax is heated very slowly till it reaches the 185 degree mark b/4 anything is added to the wax.  Does it make that much of a difference?

 

Trappeur

Edited by Trappeur
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Yep, exactly as Dave said. Also, once wax starts heating up, it heats up very quickly and can reach the temp of ignition very fast. Think "blink of an eye" fast. 

 

After getting so frustrated with the double-boiler method that I used exactly ONE time, I switched to my presto and have never looked back. I still watch it carefully and never have the temp gauge set to higher than 195 - but I dont' feel I have to completely babysit it either. 

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If you want to heat your wax in your pour pot without using your stove try using a griddle. I have a flat pancake griddle I use to heat wax in my pour pot. For melting wax it works great for 1-2 lbs at a time. More wax than that and it starts taking longer and longer to heat it up.

 

I also use the griddle to keep my wax warm. I pour my wax out from my melter into my pour pot, then put the pour pot onto the warm griddle to keep my wax temp from falling while I add my scent and dye.

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The principle of the double boiler is quite simple: a container containing the paraffin is placed inside another pan filled with boiling water. Only the pan is placed on the heat source so that there's no risk of overheating the wax.

Result: the temperature of the paraffin will never reach higher than the boiling temperature of water, in other words 100°C (212°F).

Today's melters use water jackets or direct heat methods where temps are digitally controlled. Some folks are squeamish about using turkey fryers where the heating element is directly exposed in the wax, because there is a fear of overheating and possibly setting the wax on fire. The question of structural integrity being compromised by heating over 200 degrees has never been settled. I heat my wax in a turkey fryer at 200 degrees and have never had a problem.

I wouldn't recommend a stove eye unless it has digital controls for precise heating and even then have a digital thermometer in your pour pot. I use an oven probe (long silver cord) with an alarm that goes off if a temp is exceeded. Please have a working fire extinguisher that you know how to operate within reach of your work area. HTH

Steve

Edited by chuck_35550
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If you want to heat your wax in your pour pot without using your stove try using a griddle. I have a flat pancake griddle I use to heat wax in my pour pot. For melting wax it works great for 1-2 lbs at a time. More wax than that and it starts taking longer and longer to heat it up.

 

I also use the griddle to keep my wax warm. I pour my wax out from my melter into my pour pot, then put the pour pot onto the warm griddle to keep my wax temp from falling while I add my scent and dye.

I do this with my leftover wax for my pillar repours. It does work great for that! 

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Trappeur-- you don't make candles using the double boiler method do you? Just wondering why you were curious about it.

 

What I hated most using this method was when the water would boil and splash into my wax pot. Thank goodness for my wax melter! I never ever want to use the double boil method for heating wax again!

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Like Candybee I stopped using the double broiler method when i started getting water in my wax. I have the presto pot and a griddle in my workstation and I stay far away from water. You can heat your wax directly on the stove, but it just heats up too quickly for my tastes. I remember watching a YouTube video and a guy laid aluminum foil over the eye on his gas stove and put his poouring pot on top of that. There were so many "Oh my god, this is so simple. i can't wait to try this!" comments on his video, that it brought a little tear to my eye. Sometimes I think of him and I wonder if his kitchen is still standing.

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Actually I keep my wax melting in an 18quart roaster oven and scoop out what I need into my pour pot and yep (sadly) I put on top of the stove to heat up to the temperature it needs to be.....I know, I know that's not a good thing but for all these years I'v e done that....ok, you can all hit me now... *shudder* 

 

 

Trappeur

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  • 1 month later...

I know this thread might be dead already, but in case someone sees this...

 

So to confirm, if you heat your wax in your pouring pot on a griddle, you don't use the double-boiler method, correct? I'm asking because I've been using a double boiler so far but have a griddle as well. I don't have enough space in my kitchen to have both set up, and I'd rather not use the double boiler if possible just because of the water. (haven't had an issue yet, but would rather not have one at all) I'm not ready to invest in a Prestipot yet. If there's no danger of fire with the pouring pot directly on the griddle, then I'll try going that route so I don't have to mess with the water.

 

Thanks, everyone!

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Personally, I wouldn't use it to full on melt your wax. It would take an incredibly long time, and could possibly cause problems. If you are not ready for a Presto, I would stick with the double boiler method for now. 

 

Presto's are relatively inexpensive at Wal-Mart. You can get one for around $30.

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No, Phoenix.....hate to say this but I do the double boiler...but.....most of the time...I heat on low on top of the burner....I know, I know...I'm a very bad girl to do that....but I do in the kitchen and never leave it while I'm watching....I get impatient...but one of these days soon, I'm going to get a presto pot...I will..

Trappeur

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Thanks so much, Jcandleattic and Trappeur. I had a feeling the griddle would take too long to heat the wax, lol, but I wanted to double check. I will stick with the double boiler for now until I get more experienced, and then I'll do the presto pot. I appreciate your advice and feedback!

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I have a counter top two burner unit with seperate controls. I put my wax in a glass coffee carafe and stick a thermometer in it. It gets to the temp I want and stays there (monitored with thermometer). Bought it at wally world for under $30.00 and had several coffee pots in the cabinet.

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Thanks, Chuck. I actually was looking for something like that and checked Wal-Mart and Target but couldn't find anything in stock. Picked up an electric grill at a local Salvation Army for a couple of bucks, but every time I turn it on in my kitchen the smoke alarm goes off, lol. (I cleaned it thoroughly and everything...guess that's what I get for being extra cheap.)

 

I will keep looking at Wal-Mart for a burner because my husband wants to build me a place out back of our house for me to have for my craft area, and a burner like that is what I had thought would work best. Thanks for letting me know you did find one!

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