What is the easiest way to make wax seals?
At Imagine DIY, we've seen a huge explosion in the use of wax seals in invitations and wedding stationery. To be completely honest, it's not surprising! They are environmentally friendly (plastic free and biodegradable) and they are a relatively low cost way of adding beautiful details to your designs. They are also pretty fun to work with.
If you're new to wax seals and stamps, this might be a bit of a minefield. So we thought we'd write a few brief blog post to answer some of the most popular questions we get asked. In this post, I'll be looking at the easiest method of making wax seals. I'll look at the pro's and con's of using a Wax Furnace; Wax Gun and Wax stick with a wick.
Hopefully this article will help you make the right choice for you.
Wax Gun vs Wax Furnace vs Wax with wick
Wax Gun
Personally, I LOVE using a wax gun, If you've ever used a glue gun before, the principle is exactly the same. When you've heated up the gun, just point the trigger, squeeze and press your wax stamp into the freshly melted wax.
A low temperature of adjustable temperature glue gun is perfect for making multiple wax seals quickly.
PRO'S
- A quick way of making multiple wax seals in a short time
- Temperature can be adjusted so the wax is melted to the consistency you like (this can be particularly useful in hotter weather)
- Quick and easy to master the technique
- Easy to control the amount of wax used, allowing for a more consistent finish when making in bulk.
- Perfect for use within a business.
CON's
- A slightly higher investment than some of the other tools you can use
- If you are planning on creating different colour wax seals, you can expect to waste 2 - 3 wax sticks when changing from one colour to another. (if you're a business, we normally recommend purchasing one gun for each colour wax you use; or keeping one gun for light colours, and another gun for darker colours)
Wax Furnace and Spoon
These are beautiful tools for any wax seal enthusiast. Just light a tea light, place the furnace over the top; fill the spoon with wax and place in the cavity. You then just need to let the flame do the work.
PRO's
- Perfect for making a few wax seals at a time (or just one)
- Pretty
- Easy to clean between use (so you can easily change wax colours without too much wastage)
- Perfect for hobby use
- Can be left to melt for a short while (so you can get on with other tasks while the wax is melting)
CON's
- Can take a while for the wax to melt and the wax will need to be stirred throughout to ensure and even temperature
- Not so easy to control the amount of wax dispensed so wax seals tend to be less consistent (which I actually quite like)
- It's a very slow method to use if you're making a lot of wax seals.
Wax Spoon
Wax spoons are pretty little tools that can be great to use if you're just making one or two seals at a time. They are low cost and can be easily stored away. Simply fill with the desired amount of wax and hold over a lit candle or tealight.
PRO'S
- Low Cost
- Pretty
- Easy to store
- Easy to clean
CON'S
- Need to be constantly held over a heat source
- Can take a while for the wax to melt and the wax will need to be stirred throughout to ensure and even temperature
- Not so easy to control the amount of wax dispensed so wax seals tend to be less consistent (which I actually quite like)
- It's a very slow and laborious method to use if you're making a lot of wax seals.
Wax with Wick
It is possible to purchase sealing wax sticks with a built in wick. These are a good low cost way of making a few wax seals but there are definitely down sides!
PRO's
- No additional tools needed
- Relatively low cost
CON's
- Slow melting time so it can be hard to produce an even wax stamp (especially in colder temperatures)
- Soot from the wick can stain the wax as it drips
- Takes a while to make each seal
- More wastage as it is almost impossible to burn the wax to the end of the stick.
- Needs to be held throughout
SUMMARY
In summary, here's what I would recommend:
If you're a business making multiple wax seals, then a low temperature of adjustable temperature glue gun is definitely the best tool. I would also recommend investing in one of these if you will be using a wax seal on your DIY wedding stationery. It will save you so much time and you'll get a lovely consistent result
If you are only making wax seals occasionally; only making a few wax seals at a time OR are planning on using multiple colours within a project I would definitely recommend the Wax Furnace and spoon. It's a great way of making wax seals without being too labour intensive. The hand free nature means that you can work on other parts of your project while the wax is melting.
I hope that's helped you make a choice.
Happy stamping everyone
Bye for now
Leah
