ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Dec 8, 2021 14:51:11 GMT -5
Hi! I've got a really stupid problem, and it may be a defective dop station or I may be defective, I dunno. I just got a flat lap and a dop station, and the problem is....the dop station. I cannot get the wax to melt enough! It melts to a sticky consistency, but that is it. I thought I would post because I may be doing something wrong. I've tried a small amount of wax, and a large amount of wax (2/3 stick). I brought it inside, thinking that it wasn't able to get hot enough in the cold shed. Nothing seems to work. Also, how hard is the (green) wax supposed to be? No knife will cut it. I got it scored and chipped into smaller pieces after much struggling. LOL. Is that normal? Thanks for helping with my dumb problem.  Here is the dop station I have: hitechdiamond.com/collections/dopping-supplies/products/dopstation-complete |
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Post by Starguy on Dec 8, 2021 18:46:13 GMT -5
ericabelle They take some time to warm up. You don’t want it to get too hot. Mine is the same. I turn it on an hour before I expect to use it. Make sure to put your preforms on the edge to heat them up. The thick wax supports the cab. You’ll have less broken cabs with thick wax. I wet my fingers to form the wax to the back of the cab. That stuff is hot. You’re not the only one that has this problem. As with anything rock related, patience is a virtue. I poke mine with a dop stick to get it to melt faster. You’ll figure it out.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Dec 8, 2021 19:33:17 GMT -5
Hi! I've got a really stupid problem, and it may be a defective dop station or I may be defective, I dunno. I just got a flat lap and a dop station, and the problem is....the dop station. I cannot get the wax to melt enough! It melts to a sticky consistency, but that is it. I thought I would post because I may be doing something wrong. I've tried a small amount of wax, and a large amount of wax (2/3 stick). I brought it inside, thinking that it wasn't able to get hot enough in the cold shed. Nothing seems to work. Also, how hard is the (green) wax supposed to be? No knife will cut it. I got it scored and chipped into smaller pieces after much struggling. LOL. Is that normal? Thanks for helping with my dumb problem. Here is the dop station I have: hitechdiamond.com/collections/dopping-supplies/products/dopstation-completeNot stupid. Like Starguy said, they take a while to warm up. I use an alcohol lamp, but that's so old school it's not even funny. The old dop pots used a light bulb in them to get it hot, but they cooked the wax a lot. The more the wax is heated, the more it loses it's "stickability" because the shellac in the wax burns off.
Dop wax is extremely hard. Use a small hammer to whack it in a small cardboard box so it doesn't go flying all over to break it up into smaller chunks.
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Post by knave on Dec 8, 2021 19:38:11 GMT -5
The dental Dop pots work really good they are adjustable. And you can keep it at a mid setting and then crank it up right when you’re ready to use it.
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Post by Starguy on Dec 8, 2021 19:44:49 GMT -5
hummingbirdstones nailed your answer. Thanks Robin. You don’t want your cabs flying off the stick. I don’t even try to reuse it anymore. New sticks are cheap.
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Post by knave on Dec 8, 2021 19:52:06 GMT -5
If it really clicks off before the wax is soft try covering it with a dish to hold the heat in.
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 8, 2021 20:19:29 GMT -5
I use the same dop pot. I used to be impatient and bent a gooseneck lamp over the wax, with the pot on, to heat it up quicker. That worked- too well. It was VERY easy to overheat the wax and destroy it. Now, like everyone has said, I turn it on about 45 mins to an hour before I need it.
I love this thing. The wide lip on the outside is awesome. I clean it up after every use with a cotton ball and acetone. The teflon is as fresh as the day I bought it- many years ago.
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Post by mohs on Dec 8, 2021 20:23:49 GMT -5
very important not to forget  of course right now you have exactly the opposite problems can't get it to heat up lots of replies so you probably got good advice that looks like a good pot so once you do get it hot don't forget to unplug it !! overheating the dop wax ruins the wax |
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Dec 8, 2021 20:35:50 GMT -5
ericabelle They take some time to warm up. You don’t want it to get too hot. Mine is the same. I turn it on an hour before I expect to use it. Make sure to put your preforms on the edge to heat them up. The thick wax supports the cab. You’ll have less broken cabs with thick wax. I wet my fingers to form the wax to the back of the cab. That stuff is hot. You’re not the only one that has this problem. As with anything rock related, patience is a virtue. I poke mine with a dop stick to get it to melt faster. You’ll figure it out. Ok, I see - I can use the thicker wax. I'll try that, and I'll try poking it to see if I can get it to melt a bit faster and more consistently. Thank you! |
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Dec 8, 2021 20:37:18 GMT -5
Hi! I've got a really stupid problem, and it may be a defective dop station or I may be defective, I dunno. I just got a flat lap and a dop station, and the problem is....the dop station. I cannot get the wax to melt enough! It melts to a sticky consistency, but that is it. I thought I would post because I may be doing something wrong. I've tried a small amount of wax, and a large amount of wax (2/3 stick). I brought it inside, thinking that it wasn't able to get hot enough in the cold shed. Nothing seems to work. Also, how hard is the (green) wax supposed to be? No knife will cut it. I got it scored and chipped into smaller pieces after much struggling. LOL. Is that normal? Thanks for helping with my dumb problem. Here is the dop station I have: hitechdiamond.com/collections/dopping-supplies/products/dopstation-completeNot stupid. Like Starguy said, they take a while to warm up. I use an alcohol lamp, but that's so old school it's not even funny. The old dop pots used a light bulb in them to get it hot, but they cooked the wax a lot. The more the wax is heated, the more it loses it's "stickability" because the shellac in the wax burns off.
Dop wax is extremely hard. Use a small hammer to whack it in a small cardboard box so it doesn't go flying all over to break it up into smaller chunks.
Thanks for the great advice - I'm not crazy, this stuff is crazy hard! I'll be sure to take out my aggressions on the wax next time! |
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 8, 2021 20:37:50 GMT -5
very important not to forget of course right now you have exactly the opposite problems can't get it to heat up lots of replies so you probably got good advice that looks like a good pot so once you do get it hot don't forget to unplug it !! overheating the dop wax ruins the wax
I remember that thread we had about it way back when.  I only had one disaster leaving the pot on- that's all it took. The wax is a b**ch to get off stuff if it happens to fall in your pot. Don't ask how I know.
So, yeah definitely worth repeating ------ Turn off, or better yet, unplug, your pot when you are done.
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
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Post by ericabelle on Dec 8, 2021 20:38:15 GMT -5
The dental Dop pots work really good they are adjustable. And you can keep it at a mid setting and then crank it up right when you’re ready to use it. Ooh, I'll check into those - sounds interesting. Thanks! |
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Post by rmf on Dec 8, 2021 20:38:21 GMT -5
Different dop waxes melt at different temps red, green black. Most dop pots are not adjustable. I have a rock rascal one and it was taking so much time to dop just to have them fall off at about 50% of the time. I went to metal dops and use CA glue. This has resolved my problems and I am much happier.
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
|
Post by ericabelle on Dec 8, 2021 20:40:44 GMT -5
I use the same dop pot. I used to be impatient and bent a gooseneck lamp over the wax, with the pot on, to heat it up quicker. That worked- too well. It was VERY easy to overheat the wax and destroy it. Now, like everyone has said, I turn it on about 45 mins to an hour before I need it.
I love this thing. The wide lip on the outside is awesome. I clean it up after every use with a cotton ball and acetone. The teflon is as fresh as the day I bought it- many years ago.
Wow, that's great yours has lasted so long! |
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ericabelle
spending too much on rocks
Instagram acct: @erica_shoots_everything
Member since April 2021
Posts: 482
|
Post by ericabelle on Dec 8, 2021 20:43:53 GMT -5
very important not to forget of course right now you have exactly the opposite problems can't get it to heat up lots of replies so you probably got good advice that looks like a good pot so once you do get it hot don't forget to unplug it !! overheating the dop wax ruins the wax Great idea to make a sign- I am already paranoid about turning it off. It seems like it would be easy to forget! |
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Post by Starguy on Dec 8, 2021 20:46:05 GMT -5
You’re funny. Take your time with this stuff. It’s such a fun hobby. Tumbling is slow! Cabbing is a little faster. When you complete your first batch, you will be so proud. Just remember to post pictures here. If there aren’t pictures, it didn’t happen.
I think you’re kind of hooked on lapidary stuff.
Sincerely,
Brent.
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 8, 2021 20:49:45 GMT -5
very important not to forget of course right now you have exactly the opposite problems can't get it to heat up lots of replies so you probably got good advice that looks like a good pot so once you do get it hot don't forget to unplug it !! overheating the dop wax ruins the wax Great idea to make a sign- I am already paranoid about turning it off. It seems like it would be easy to forget!
The bumper switch makes it easy to accidentally turn it on. That's what happened to me. So, be careful.
But, like Brent says-- Have fun! We're always here if you run into trouble.
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Post by victor1941 on Dec 8, 2021 22:46:26 GMT -5
Ericabelle, I believe green wax melts around 150 degrees F. I made a homemade 100 watt light bulb pot with 3/4" insulation on the sides and bottom. This made wax melting much easier but still challenging in a cold Austin, Texas garage. If the wax slightly overheats you can add fresh wax that contains the varnish and it works ok. I scrape out wax that has been basically burned up. I now use Alexa for my timer.
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Dec 9, 2021 9:05:34 GMT -5
Hi. For breaking wax off a stick you can also use an old curved-jaw vise grip. Just be sure to keep your fingers clear of it. (Voice of Experience there.)
I hold my hand around it to keep the bits from flying all over when they break off. I guess a shop towel would be safer.
The adjustable jaws let you easily get the right amount of leverage.
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 476
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Post by herb on Dec 9, 2021 9:17:52 GMT -5
In our clubs workshop, they place a cardboard box over the dop pot to help it heat up faster. The box is removed once it gets up to temp.
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I only had one disaster leaving the pot on- that's all it took. The wax is a b**ch to get off stuff if it happens to fall in your pot. Don't ask how I know.
