Mixing wax and paraffin to burn
Discussion
re: those mini hot air balloons I have (which are made from a ring of very thin wood to form the circular base) and a tissue paper dome. The wood has cross-wires on it, to which the fire/wick is attached.
I have plenty, but am gonna have a go at making my own, and need advice :)
The wick is made from a thin slice of a bogroll (round obviosly, perhaps 1-2cm thick slice) which has been submerged in wax.
I cut a sliver of bog roll :spin: melted down some wax in a pan, submerged the roll and it came out fine except my wick is double the weight of those I bought. And the ones I bought smell like paraffin (or maybe Im imagining things, Im not sure what they smell like)
What might have been added to the melted wax, and why might their wicks be lighter than mine after beign submerged in wax? The wicks I got are dry and dont need to be kept sealed to avoid evaporation. And expert wick makers inhouse?
I have plenty, but am gonna have a go at making my own, and need advice :)
The wick is made from a thin slice of a bogroll (round obviosly, perhaps 1-2cm thick slice) which has been submerged in wax.
I cut a sliver of bog roll :spin: melted down some wax in a pan, submerged the roll and it came out fine except my wick is double the weight of those I bought. And the ones I bought smell like paraffin (or maybe Im imagining things, Im not sure what they smell like)
What might have been added to the melted wax, and why might their wicks be lighter than mine after beign submerged in wax? The wicks I got are dry and dont need to be kept sealed to avoid evaporation. And expert wick makers inhouse?
paolow said:
this has fired my imagination. have you got a link for further info on said balloons?
As kids we used to build our own balloons out of black plastic bags. You can cut them up and stick them with sellotape. One about the size of a BTphone bog gives loads of lift. A bent coat hanger around the bottom and a toilet roll covered in tin foil were used as a burner. Cotton wool dipped in thinners can be supported in the tube and a hotair paint stripper gun used to make 2 ft flames to heat the thing (don't burn top of ballon). Set it off and watch it fly.
One of ours landed on a patio in the village and burst into flames. So, be careful with the amount of thinners you use in the burner and the wind direction.
Z
JonRB said:
Paraffin and wax. That's napalm, isn't it?
You can make napalm quite effectively by dissolving polystyrene or plain soap in petrol.
It's nasty shit though, and I wouldn't bother these days lest a visit from
is required. Edited to correct brain fart.
>> Edited by Tank Slapper on Saturday 13th August 01:20
Kentish said:Im exploring my feminine side with tissue paper creations kentish
Rob mate, I think you need to get out more 
Go for a drive in that lovely Cerb
coupled with mans desire to control the skies 
Im keen on learning to make them as I hope to build one the size of several phone boxes
and send some fireworks up into the clouds on a cigarette fuse 
(which I'll do if i can build smaller ones which get airborne ok) paolow said:We designed the website for the UK importer, but they are not selling to the public yet. Basically, I was told not to give anyone the link
this has fired my imagination. have you got a link for further info on said balloons?
I will post it though, when they start selling to the public. 
There is such a thing as Parafin Wax - www.thorne.co.uk/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/millhouse/thorne/shop/shania?ACTION=SHOP&THISPAGE=page34.html&ORDER_ID=!ORDERID! (googled) 
We used it back in the scouts to make pie-tin cookers. Fantastically evil stuff!
>> Edited by docevi1 on Friday 12th August 21:21
We used it back in the scouts to make pie-tin cookers. Fantastically evil stuff!
>> Edited by docevi1 on Friday 12th August 21:21
don't you get paraffin wax from craft shops in pellet form (for making candles with)?
double boil it (ie pan of boiling water with a container in it, containing the pelleted wax) to melt it and then dip your erm... wick... in it to coat it (or in the case of candlemaking, pour it into a mould, set a wick in it and let it cool)
double boil it (ie pan of boiling water with a container in it, containing the pelleted wax) to melt it and then dip your erm... wick... in it to coat it (or in the case of candlemaking, pour it into a mould, set a wick in it and let it cool)
D_Mike said:I dont actually know if there is parafin in the wax on the stock wicks, Im not sure what it is im smelling.
COuldn't you dissolve some wax in some parafin? Or rather add parafin to the wax until it gets to the sort of viscosity you want?
I successfully launched a lantern with the wick I made last night, which we lost sight of after it dissappeared into the clouds - so it works ok without the paraffin
UKBob said:
COuldn't you dissolve some wax in some parafin? Or rather add parafin to the wax until it gets to the sort of viscosity you want?
I dont actually know if there is parafin in the wax on the stock wicks, Im not sure what it is im smelling.
I successfully launched a lantern with the wick I made last night, which we lost sight of after it dissappeared into the clouds - so it works ok without the paraffin
So you're the bugger who caused it to rain
I have a feeling that NASA were looking at using wax as a "safe" rocket propellant. Ovbiously they had an oxidizer on their side.
I don't know about mixing wax and paraffin, aren't they pretty much the same thing.
Obviously bee wax is different from candle wax.
Then you've got your AWACS.... No that's different!
I don't know about mixing wax and paraffin, aren't they pretty much the same thing.
Obviously bee wax is different from candle wax.
Then you've got your AWACS.... No that's different!
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff