[TheForge] Ren Wax info

[Mark Williams]

Thanks to all who responded. In cleaning out some trash, I came upon Brian Gilbert's original article. The Hammer's Blow Spring 2006 page 8. He attributes the formula to Mac Beal. The formula is 4 parts microcrystalline wax, 1 part polythene "A" wax are melted together and the result is poured into "white spirit" Store the finished product in screw top glass jars or a metal can with a tight-fitting lid like a paint can.
Polythene "A" wax is a hard polyethylene-based wax with a melting point of 98 to 108 degrees C. 
I found a source in General Wax and Candle, North Hollywood, CA https://generalwaxcandlemaking.com/
Micro Wax 175  10 lb is minimum cost about $40
Poly AC-6A (called wax additive) 1 lb minimum cost about $10 per lb
white spirit is odorless mineral spirit you can get at a hardware store.
The amount of white spirit determines whether you have a slushy semiliquid all the way to a hard solid. Brian used a hotplate outdoors to melt the two waxes. He then poured a little mineral spirits into the melted wax to thin it some. He then poured the mix into more mineral spirit,  stirring to even the consistency. A double boiler could work but 108C is higher than the boiling point of water.
 
Mark Williams
Snow Hill, Maryland