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Post by Lady B on Jul 18, 2007 14:15:10 GMT -5
I'm at it again...questions, questions,questions. This time it's about dop-pots & dopping wax. I've been checking the dop-pots out on ebay and at the Internet suppliers recommended in the Vendors section here at RTH. They are a bit costly and I was wondering if anyone with experience has found a less expensive way to keep wax at the right temp for dopping. In the PT clinics we always had paraffin baths that we used for treatments involving wax but they are BIG. Which leads me to the second question...is dopping wax the only kind of wax that can be used or are other paraffins acceptable? I look forward to hearing from you experienced RTH members. You are all so very helpful and for no other payment than "Thank You".  Lady B |
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luv2hound
freely admits to licking rocks
I try & I try, but dang it! Those rocks just keep ending up in my pockets
Member since June 2007
Posts: 890
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Post by luv2hound on Jul 18, 2007 19:00:36 GMT -5
Wish I could help but being a newbie too, well you know.
These experienced members sure are great aren't they? I'm looking forward to the answer too.
~~Mitzi~~
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Jul 18, 2007 19:03:23 GMT -5
Dopping waxes are much harder and I believe their properties are quite a bit different than beeswax for example, or for that matter any other paraffin type waxes.
I also think the temperature window is pretty tight, it needs to be hot enough just to melt the wax, but not so hot as to make it too runny- I'm sure there are other pieces of equipment that are up to the task, but I think spending a few bucks on a real purpose-built dop pot has got to be a lot cheaper in the long run than rolling your own, unless of course thermal control systems are "your bag, baby".
I ponied up for a RockRascal model D ($51) and a couple pounds of green wax, which has generally served me pretty well, but next time I might try something different because when it gets cold (like <65 degrees in my basement) I have to re-dop stuff that falls off quite a lot.
I understand that cleaning the stones with alcohol is supposed to help, and pre-heating is crucial but I'm generally too lazy to mess with cleaning- I just pop them in a toaster over at 250 for about 5 minutes and and just dop them up again (sometimes- a few times) instead.
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yogibear
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2006
Posts: 100
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Post by yogibear on Jul 18, 2007 20:22:51 GMT -5
I use an old electric frying pan and a small aluminum pan for the wax. You can put the rock in the frying pan to heat and then apply the wax to the dop stick and then on the rock. I use an old piece of cold iron to mold the wax on the dop stick and then to cool the rock after dopping it. It works for me and the cost was practically nil.
Bill
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Post by BuiltonRock on Jul 18, 2007 21:08:21 GMT -5
LadyB, I use a tart burner my wife has dozens. I'm sure you know what it is! I do stack two tea light candles in it and it works perfectly. I have an old iron turned upside down to heat my rock and stick up on. All I had to buy was the wax and a dowel to cut to lengths.
Some people use super glue, I have not tried that yet.
john
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Post by Lady B on Jul 20, 2007 12:29:47 GMT -5
Thanks for the tips and suggestions. I understand more about the dop waxes now--they melt at 160-165 degrees so I can see why they are important for working with cabs. I was telling John in a PM that I used to make handmade chocolate candies and if I can just figure out where I stored all my supplies I might have a solution to my dop-pot need. Chocolates have to be kept in the melted stage while the centers are being dipped/shaped and some chocolates are made with melted paraffin so I know I have melting pots in one of those still-packed boxes in the spare bedroom. I just know I have something in this house I can use until I can get around to buying the real thing.
Lady B
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Post by docone31 on Aug 9, 2007 9:34:45 GMT -5
Dop wax, is a shellac, not a wax.
Here is what I do.
I take an empty tuna fish can. Put the chunks of dop wax in it. I put the stove on the lowest setting I can.
I take a stone ware plate. I then place the stone on the plate. I keep the burner on the lowest setting.
The wax gets thick, and a few bubbles show. I do not let it roil.
I dip my dop stick in the wax several times untill I get a large bottom deposit, equal to the approximate width of the stone.
I remove the stone from the plate, press down with the dop stick, and then smooth the wax transition from the stick to the stone.
Using crazy glue, I use sodium bicarbonate on the stone, then put crazy glue on the dop stick. This I immediatly transfer to the stone being dopped. Be aware, that sodium bicarbonate and cyanoacrylate produces instant amazing heat! A drop of crazy glue and baking soda on the finger can make for an interesting moment. The heat only lasts for a milisecond, but it is intense. It does not hurt the stone, nor does it present a fire danger.
To remove a dop waxed stone, just put in the freezer for about two minutes and slide the stone off. To remove a crazy glue dopped stone, just pry off.
When I facet, I use crazy glue. It is able to hold small stones easily. The final pavillion dop, I use dop wax. I could use crazy glue also there, but I am used to it this way.
Doc
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Post by Lady B on Aug 9, 2007 10:47:31 GMT -5
I've been doing more reading up on cabbing tips and I think I'm leaning more and more to using crazy glue. It seems to work very well, by all reports, and it is less of a mess and far less expensive in the long run.
Thanks for your tips, Doc. They are appreciated.
Lady B
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,496
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 9, 2007 23:01:57 GMT -5
LadyB: Looks like folks have provided you with lots of good advice. I had not thought my dop pot cost that much and checked the catalog and you're right, those buggers are pretty darn expensive now, close to $40. Wow! They do last a long time though. I've had mine for like 30 years and it is pretty convenient as it not only keeps the wax at the right temperature with little trouble, but it also has surfaces and little ledges for warming the cabs to the proper temp too. You don't want to dop a cold cab because the wax often won't stick properly...Mel
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Post by rocklicker on Aug 10, 2007 17:34:27 GMT -5
I found an electric skillet at a second hand store for around $5 and keep the wax in a small metal container and put the rocks on a piece of aluminum in the skillet to keep them slightly off direct heat. It has worked fine. I've also been using the same wax over and over again. I think I spent $7 on a box of dop wax (the black kind) that's lasted me a year and a half. And I still have half the box left. If done well, you have very few rocks flying off dop sticks also (like one rock every few batches). Others like epoxy because it's easy to use and you don't need a way to melt the wax. It's up to personal preference. I prefer the intricate art of dop wax.
Steve
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