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Post by frane on Feb 8, 2011 5:55:13 GMT -5
I remember seeing a while back someone saying they put (?) into their dop wax to give it the moisture it needs once it dries out. I just realized I left my dop pot on for 48 hours so the wax is pretty sludge like and fairly solid in the pot. What can I put in the pot to bring it back so I can use it? Fran
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Feb 8, 2011 8:38:42 GMT -5
More wax and a little shellac. If there's not to much in the dop pot just clean it out and start fresh. I plug stuff like that into power strip along with a small lamp so I have to shut it all off. I have also used a timer to shut the dop pot off (along with the soldering irons and etc. etc.)
Dr Joe
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Feb 8, 2011 10:58:10 GMT -5
Wax is pretty cheap so I would just start fresh (I bought a pound a few years back and still have 3/4 of it left). If your really set on reusing this then some shellac (when Dr. Joe says a little he means a LITTLE like probably a teaspoon full for a 1/4 lb of wax). I left my pot on once (just overnight) and all I did was add a little more wax. seemed to work just fine.
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Post by frane on Feb 8, 2011 16:24:42 GMT -5
It was most of a stick. When I start dopping, I really dop! I was just too tired and must have walked away without unplugging it. Forgot it till I brushed against it next to my computer and realized it was hot. Tried to stick a stick into it and it looked like it was leathered on the outer layer and very little moisture inside. I don't think it will come out of the pot. Where do you get shellac? Fran
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Feb 8, 2011 19:35:05 GMT -5
Any good hardware store should have it.
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Post by phil on Feb 9, 2011 12:59:33 GMT -5
If it's that bad, you're better off throwing it away and starting with a fresh stick. The old stuff is going to be unreliable and pop off, stick too much, etc Just heat the pot a little and you should be able to scoop it out.
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Post by jakesrocks on Feb 9, 2011 13:11:45 GMT -5
Fran, if your pot will come off of the heater you can really clean it for a fresh start by first removing as much old wax as possible. Then soak the pan in denatured alcohol over night. The next day you can just wipe any remaining wax out with a rag or paper towels. Don
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Post by fishenman on Feb 9, 2011 14:00:15 GMT -5
I have a Raytech dop pot. I put the whole thing in my freezer for an hour. The wax came out of the pot in one big chunk. I used acetone to clean up the pan. If your freezer has enough room in it, you might want to give it a try.
Geoff
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Post by frane on Feb 9, 2011 18:48:00 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! It is off to the freezer it goes! Fran
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drjo
fully equipped rock polisher
Honduran Opal & DIY Nut
Member since May 2008
Posts: 1,581
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Post by drjo on Feb 9, 2011 19:41:51 GMT -5
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Post by fishenman on Feb 9, 2011 20:33:39 GMT -5
Mmmmmm Lac bug secretions Thanks Joe. I have a bag of flakes from my woodworking days. I was thinking that regular shellac has too much alcohol in it for mixing with our dop wax. Geoff
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