MissKasey Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 This is a hard wax! I use small amounts of it to make batches of 5 clamshells. I spent maybe 2-3 hours shredding a 2 lb chunk by hand on a cheese grater for easier measuring. I'm wondering if there is a technique or even a power tool/machine I could buy that could break it down to at least bits for easier measuring? All tips, tricks, and advice are welcome and appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChandlerWicks Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 Put a slab in a couple of plastic trashbags, then a pillowcase & drop on cement until it breaks into pieces. I then store broken up wax in a plastic tub. No need for shredding/grating. Pillowcase keeps plastic bags from tearing on sidewalk. If a piece is still too big, it's manageable to cut with a knife, carefully! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chefmom Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I wrap slabs in a piece of plastic and then put one edge on the cement and I hold the other. Then I whack the center with a hammer and then repeat until I have pieces that fit in my melter. It's harder to break if you lay it flat, but put it up in the air and it breaks a lot easier.I can't imagine trying to grate it. I would just smack it into pieces and then melt. It's fun to smack it with a hammer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksranch Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 Yikes!! I can't imagine grating it either!! I have a super thick plastic bag that I put like half a slab in, and a piece of a 2x4 that I lean one end on, and smack with hammer! Great way to work out frustrations, plus get pieces small enough to throw into presto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justajesuschick Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I had to giggle as I got an image of you wiping your brow grating and grating and grating!The suggestions you have received are good ones. I got a wooden cutting board, my own chisel and hammer (the chisel and hammer idea was from someone here but I cannot remember who!) and I chisel nice little half pound to pound size chunks. I can rip through a couple of slabs in a couple of minutes.Like ChandlerWicks, I also store my chunks of wax in a Rubbermaid container and then just pull out what I need when I need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktaggard Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I alway break mine apart using methods mentioned above, but you have me thinking, MissKasey. I have a salad shooter that is used to shred soap. I wonder if it would work for this wax? Hum, might try it. It sure would be easier to work with if it was shredded up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjdaines Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I break mine into chunks and put it into the Presto Pot, weigh it out later in the pouring pot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzy Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I take a hammer straight to it and clobber it into submission...ermmmm...pieces...yeah, that's it...pieces Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doglvr Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 It's much easier to just punch chunks in a Presto Pot and melt it, then measure out on a scale what you need for each clamshell. Much better to measure coming out of the pot melted than going in unmelted. I can't imagine shredding that wax. You'll save a lot of time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChandlerWicks Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 Yep, I also fill up my Presto Pot, melt & measure out as needed. Forgot to add that part!Karen, don't we just love our containers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puma52 Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I take a hammer straight to it and clobber it into submission...ermmmm...pieces...yeah, that's it...pieces Yep....hammer and screwdriver...works great...don't even break a sweat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justajesuschick Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 Karen, don't we just love our containers?Umm. Perhaps. Since I just bought 2 MORE at Home Depot late last night. Seems there is an 80% chance of rain for the event tomorrow. Gotta protect the wax cups after all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chefmom Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 I tried the hammer and chisel thing too. I broke two chisels and my favorite household hammer that I have owned longer than I've had my husband! I was pretty bummed. Hubby found me a heavy duty hammer at a swap meet and so I use that now. I just chunk it into pieces small enough to melt in my pots. When I'm working with small amounts I melt a large amount and just pour the small amounts off, like others have mentioned.I have also ripped up a couple of old pillow cases, so I just use the heavy plastic bag now. Then everything gets dumped in a rubbermaid tub. I keep all the hard paraffins I use in different tubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
se2653 Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 (I think you can take away from this thread that the users of 4625 wax may be prone to taking out pent up frustrations through hammer to wax therapy- no passive aggressives in this bunch!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puma52 Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 (I think you can take away from this thread that the users of 4625 wax may be prone to taking out pent up frustrations through hammer to wax therapy- no passive aggressives in this bunch!) Haaa!!! You know me so well....:laugh2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megandgarr Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 I use the chisel & hammer method as well. It breaks up really easy for me but it is really LOUD!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksranch Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 (I think you can take away from this thread that the users of 4625 wax may be prone to taking out pent up frustrations through hammer to wax therapy- no passive aggressives in this bunch!) :laugh2::laugh2: Who??? Us???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissKasey Posted September 28, 2013 Author Share Posted September 28, 2013 Oh justajesuschick, you had me laughing. I can just imagined how it looked sitting on my couch in my nighty just shredding away, busting a sweat, and wiping my brow. Especially since anyone could have walked in on me and not realized what I was doing if they couldn't see past the arm of the couch! LMAO!Back to seriousness....when you guys measure after melting, do you just use a large clear glass measuring cup or something? I always wondered how exactly to measure after pouring the wax. I also use 2 different waxes......will this method still work? Maybe one is denser than the other and would not pour out evenly? Maybe I'm just overthinking this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksranch Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 I use a blend of two waxes as well. In my system I have two presto pots - I melt the waxes in them (one in each) then I pour into pour pots and weigh. You should be measuring melted wax anyway - a pound of solid paraffin wax makes approx. 20 ounces of liquid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmc Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 I put 4625 on a cookie sheet into a prewarmed oven for a few minutes...slices easily! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam W Posted September 28, 2013 Share Posted September 28, 2013 I put 4625 on a cookie sheet into a prewarmed oven for a few minutes...slices easily!...and putting it in the freezer for a while will make it brittle & easier to break up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 I take a hammer straight to it and clobber it into submission...ermmmm...pieces...yeah, that's it...pieces Another hammer head here! Just whack it! I use a large plastic tub to hold a case of slab wax. As I get to a new slab I just hold up one side and hit it in the center to crack it in half, followed by several whacks to crack the halves into smaller and smaller pieces. Takes less than 30 seconds to hammer time a slab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChandlerWicks Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 That sounds easy, duh! Another hammer head here! Just whack it! I use a large plastic tub to hold a case of slab wax. As I get to a new slab I just hold up one side and hit it in the center to crack it in half, followed by several whacks to crack the halves into smaller and smaller pieces. Takes less than 30 seconds to hammer time a slab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QTsmum Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 I throw mine around! LOL! Or I give it to hubby and he gets at it with a hammer and chisel. You must be marvellously patient to grate so much! Wowzers! Sometimes even grating enough cheese for tacos gets to me. LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candybee Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 I throw mine around! LOL! Or I give it to hubby and he gets at it with a hammer and chisel. You must be marvellously patient to grate so much! Wowzers! Sometimes even grating enough cheese for tacos gets to me. LOL!Me too! I only buy grated cheese. About the only time I use my grater these days is to shred soap for laundry detergent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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