Water Jacket Melter???

[budda]

Hi everyone!

Thinking about purchasing a water jacket melter. :undecided Any input would be appreciated. We are now using presto pots without spouts.

Thanks!!

[NoOneSpecial]

I personally prefer the melters by either Rite Heat or Wenesco. I have used both and prefer the Rite Heat. They are well worth the money and I will never ever switch to a water jacket melter. Way too much trouble.

[Candle Man]

Water jacketed wax melter's work just like an electric home water heater. If the water level gets below the heating element then the element burns out, and you have to replace the element. So you have to keep an eye on the water level. Heating elements are not cheep to buy.

With direct heat wax melter's they have a heating element on the bottom, not un-like a heating element on an electric stove top. Some of the direct wax melter's also have a heater on the drain pipe, where you open the valve to dispense the melted wax. You need to make sure you can keep a constant low temperature, just above the melt point of the wax.

Some wax melter's can not go to a low enough temp because when the tank is on and at the lowest temp. setting the drain heater is also on and it is not controlled by the thermostat. So yo may only be able to get a low temp. of only 170*F, which is a little high to keep wax at for hours on end.

Hope this helps you in your decision of which melter to buy.

[David Fields]

We use direct heat melters and absolutely love them. We use the 65 pound, 110 voltage. Takes about two to 2 1/2 hours to melt container wax and about 3 to 3 1/2 to melt pillar/votive. Ours has two heating elements if we want the wax melted any quicker. They are over five years old and work great.

[budda]

Thanks for all the information!! One more question...I read somewhere not to use a direct melt heater with a container wax because it will discolor it. We use J223 wax. Is this a problem or a sales pitch??

[Candle Man]

Thanks for all the information!! One more question...I read somewhere not to use a direct melt heater with a container wax because it will discolor it. We use J223 wax. Is this a problem or a sales pitch??

Direct heat wax melter's can discolor or scorch wax. You need to make sure you can adjust the temp low enough so the wax is melted, but no so high a temp that it will scorch it.

Just make sure, which ever brand you choose that you can control the temp. very accurately , or at least +or- a few degrees.