August 2000's
Glue of the Month

Microcrystalline Wax

Wax has been used as an adhesive since the beginning of time, so why change a good thing? Microcrystalline Wax is a wax made from the refinement of crude oil. It is stickier and more pliable than regular paraffin or beeswax because its molecular structure is more branched and circular, making it an excellent adhesive. Microcrystalline Wax has many uses; in book binding for laminating papers and foils, for sculpting and foundry work and for conservatory purposes. For this reason you can find this product packaged and marketed in a variety of forms and at many different retail outlets, from art supply stores to museum supply stores. The most useful for adhesive purposes is the large brick format sold in art supply stores in the sculpture department. It usually retails for about C$20 for a 10 pound brick, which is a lot of wax!

Microcrystalline wax is a strong but not permanent hold, it is water proof, (remember those Roman boat builders) it is a great gap filler, adheres instantly and is not toxic unless it is burned. It works on any material, porous or non porous. It is acid free and will not wrinkle fine papers. It is great for sticking irregular organic objects such as rocks and seashells. It softens in heat which makes it easy to work with these hot summer days (but remember not to leave your work out in direct sunlight, or it may just melt away completely). Microcrystalline Wax is also good to use as a clamp to hold two difficult to clamp objects together, while you wait for a more permanent adhesive to cure, such as silicone or epoxy. This adhesive wax has many uses, here are few sites we have found about the varied uses of microcrystalline Wax:

Past Glues of the Month

If you've discovered a glue that you've grown attached to, please let us know. Maybe we can honor your glue in a future month.

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