Thursday, April 23, 2015

Make Liquid Wax Hard

Wax hardens as it cools.


Wax has the ability to change its physical makeup based on whether it is being heated or cooled. Known as a thermoplastic, wax turns to a liquid under heat and returns to a solid state when cooled. If you have ever lit a candle and watched the flame slowly melt the wax, you probably noticed that the wax dripped down the side of the candle and cooled again. This is because the heat from the flame turned the wax to liquid, but as the wax dripped down, it cooled and became a solid again. Cooling the wax is how you harden it.


Instructions


1. Place an old coffee can into a pot of boiling water and add chunks of wax to the can. Heat the can in the boiling water and stir the wax periodically so the wax becomes a liquid.


2. Gently pour the liquid wax into the container you selected as your mold.


3. Place the container in a cool place and wait for the wax to harden. The wax will harden on its own once it is in a cool place, but it may take up to a day.