Melodeon.net Forums

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  

News:

Welcome to the new melodeon.net forum

Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Fresh Wax removal  (Read 2935 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

John MacKenzie (Cugiok)

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2360
  • Fettling... Learning to reed and right.
Fresh Wax removal
« on: March 22, 2018, 01:32:21 PM »

When one makes mistakes, or spills new wax. Or even if one wants to practice waxing. How on earth do you clean the wax off  things, like tools and blocks, and reeds?
Stickily yours

Sir John
Logged
There is no beginning to my talent :)



: Hohner Club Modell 1. Bb/Eb, de-clubbed : Early Hohner Pressed Wood A/D : 1930's Varnished wood G/C:  Hohner Erika C/F: Bandoneon tuned D/G Pressed wood: Koch F/Bb; G/C Pre Corso

Theo

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 13730
  • Hohner Club Too
    • The Box Place
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2018, 01:39:58 PM »

Wait till the wax is completely cold.  I’ve never tried this but if you can’t wait fir natural cooling put the parts to n the fridge for 10 minutes might help.
Logged
Theo Gibb - Gateshead UK

Proprietor of The Box Place for melodeon and concertina sales and service.
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook for stock updates.

Malcolm Clapp

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1097
  • Loving my Hohner-reeded wet MMM CastaTommy
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2018, 02:02:46 PM »

Lighter fluid is a reasonable solvent for wax clean-ups (and for getting irritating price stickers from CD cases and such  :neigh: ).

Logged
Tuner/repairer, now retired, but still playing! Happy to offer advice on repairs etc., and might be persuaded to undertake the odd emergency job for local and longtime  customers. Selling a few melodeons from my collection currently....

Winston Smith

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3769
  • AKA Edward Jennings
    • "Our Luxor B&B" Luxor life, slice by slice.
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2018, 02:20:24 PM »

I would also recommend the fridge method. Marvellous things, fridges, I used to put cylinder liners in the fridge before dropping them into an interference fit bore. made the job twenty times easier!
Logged
At last, broken and resigned to accept conformity.
Oh, how I LOVE Big Brother!

DaveW

  • Regular debater
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 153
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2018, 06:58:58 PM »

Lighter fluid is a reasonable solvent for wax clean-ups (and for getting irritating price stickers from CD cases and such  :neigh: ).
A technical point here. I looked up Beeswax, which I have assumed is the major component of reed wax - please tell me if I'm wrong. Beeswax is said to be composed of long chain aliphatic acids - commonly found in nature. If this is the case, then petroleum solvents, (which will include lighter fuel), which are aromatic (akin to Benzene) are not the most compatible thing to use. Paraffin or Liquid paraffin (BP) might work better or even olive oil. I have not tried them, but will when I get some reed wax. I would think any type of wax will be difficult to dissolve. Paraffin combined with scraping sounds like the best method. A bit of heat would speed things up too.
« Last Edit: March 24, 2018, 07:02:29 PM by DaveW »
Logged
DaveW

Paolo Soprani b/c/c#, V Soprani b/c, Hohner Compadre adg, Roland FR-18, Hohner Merlin d/g

John MacKenzie (Cugiok)

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2360
  • Fettling... Learning to reed and right.
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #5 on: March 24, 2018, 07:02:41 PM »

Paraffin has a nasty smell, and if it soaked into a wooden reed block would stink forever and a day. I have tried pure alcohol, and that didn't work. Just a matter of scraping until it's gone I'm afraid.

SJ
Logged
There is no beginning to my talent :)



: Hohner Club Modell 1. Bb/Eb, de-clubbed : Early Hohner Pressed Wood A/D : 1930's Varnished wood G/C:  Hohner Erika C/F: Bandoneon tuned D/G Pressed wood: Koch F/Bb; G/C Pre Corso

Steve_freereeder

  • Content Manager
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7511
  • MAD is inevitable. Keep Calm and Carry On
    • Lizzie Dripping
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #6 on: March 25, 2018, 12:57:51 AM »

Paraffin has a nasty smell, and if it soaked into a wooden reed block would stink forever and a day. I have tried pure alcohol, and that didn't work. Just a matter of scraping until it's gone I'm afraid.
I use acetone to clean residual old wax from reed blocks. Use a small decorator's paint brush to apply, then use a blunt knife or scraper followed by rubbing with a cloth soaked in acetone to easily remove the wax. Let any excess acetone drain into a metal or glass container. Avoid prolonged saturation of the reed block with acetone as it may possibly weaken glued joints (though I've never found this to be a problem).

If you have only a small amount of wax to remove, you can use nail-polish remover, but for cleaning up entire reed blocks, it's more economical to use industrial (i.e. non-analytical) grade acetone. I bought a litre of the stuff a couple of years ago and still have plenty in reserve. See here:
http://www.mbfg.co.uk/acetone.html

It's also good for cleaning old wax and gunk from reed plates. I put a layer of reed plates (without valves) in an aluminium foil dish (i.e. take-away containers) and just pour on enough acetone to cover the reed plates. Leave for a few minutes and then use a stiff brush to remove any stubborn klingons. The same acetone layer can be used two or three times before it has too much dissolved wax to be of further use.

Obviously use in a well-ventilated zone and away from any source of ignition.

Spent acetone can be stored in a glass bottle with a screw top, then best disposed of by carefully burning outside. I use it to start garden bonfires. Don't pour it down the drain.
Logged
Steve
Sheffield, UK.
www.lizziedripping.org.uk

Malcolm Clapp

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1097
  • Loving my Hohner-reeded wet MMM CastaTommy
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #7 on: March 25, 2018, 11:26:07 AM »

Hmmm. I'll have to give acetone a go. Lighter fluid works out at around A$50 a litre, (8 x 125ml cans) which makes it a bit expensive if using it in a reed bath.

Never too old to learn new tricks....
Logged
Tuner/repairer, now retired, but still playing! Happy to offer advice on repairs etc., and might be persuaded to undertake the odd emergency job for local and longtime  customers. Selling a few melodeons from my collection currently....

Dr. Diatonic

  • Member
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2018, 07:06:01 PM »

At The Button Box, we use CitraSolv to remove new wax.  It's made from orange peels, is much less toxic than petroleum products, and does a great job.  Plus, it leaves a pleasant citrus smell!  You'll also find that the odd drop of wax will pop off many surfaces when it has cooled.  But for tools - and hands - CitraSolv is the ticket.

Doug
Logged

Kimric Smythe

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 708
    • Smythe's Accordion Center
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #9 on: April 03, 2018, 08:09:10 AM »

I use rubbing (wood) alcohol to clean off wax from tools and hands, works great does not smell to bad. We did use a batch of stuff from my still where the mash got burnt (undrinkable)  for awhile it worked great.
Logged
Smythe's Accordion Center
Pinole, California
Sales and repairs since 1997

malcolmbebb

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2609
  • In dampest Dorset, on the soggy south coast.
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #10 on: April 03, 2018, 08:12:41 AM »

Or Isopropyl alcohol, which may be the same thing. But I've only used it for tools and local cleanups, not wholesale wax removal.
Logged
Dino BPII.
"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire."

Rog

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2296
  • Repair and tuning in Hants
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #11 on: April 03, 2018, 12:56:04 PM »

I use meths.

Rob2Hook

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2278
  • Castagnaris, Hohners & Baffetti
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #12 on: April 08, 2018, 09:50:03 AM »

If I'm right then meths, as it is called in UK, is methanol or wood alcohol.  Trouble in the UK is that it has a stink agent added (to discourage drinking).  I have found that scraping is sufficient on wood items, then paper kitchen towels remove the bulk from the metal tools and a wipe with iso-propyl alcohol (IPA) does the rest.  The important part as with all cleaning is that the cloth or towel you wipe with must be clean so as to provide a more accommodating substrate for the wax than the item being cleaned.

Rob.
Logged

Winston Smith

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3769
  • AKA Edward Jennings
    • "Our Luxor B&B" Luxor life, slice by slice.
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #13 on: April 08, 2018, 10:04:43 AM »

A little thread drift, if you don't mind; Has this IPA swag anything to do with the beer with that name?
Logged
At last, broken and resigned to accept conformity.
Oh, how I LOVE Big Brother!

Henry Piper

  • Respected Sage
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 367
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #14 on: April 08, 2018, 10:40:35 AM »

A little thread drift, if you don't mind; Has this IPA swag anything to do with the beer with that name?

I.P.A.=  India Pale Ale, beer that was originally brewed over strength in Britain, for the Troops in India, then shipped out to India where it was diluted to normal beer strength for the thirsty squaddies !! The reason for brewing over strength was to ensure that it survived the sea journey in drinkable condition. Nowadays used to refer to a "Best Bitter" I.e  one that is slightly stronger with more depth of flavour,!!

Apologies for contributing to Edwards thread drift.!!
Logged
From Ottery St Mary Devon. Currently Playing Dino Baffetti BP2 in D/G, Hohner Student 1 P.A conversion  in D/G,  Hohner 3515 Pre-Pokerwork in A/D,   2 row "Beaver Brand" in Bb/Eb, Hohner Pre- Erica in G/C .  Single row permanent 4 voice, 4 bass in C from old Hohner single row and bits of a cheap Cajun box !!,

Lester

  • MADman
  • Mods and volunteers
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 9111
  • Hohners'R'me
    • Lester's Melodeon Emporium and Tune-a-Rama
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #15 on: April 08, 2018, 11:10:09 AM »

A little thread drift, if you don't mind; Has this IPA swag anything to do with the beer with that name?

I.P.A.=  India Pale Ale, beer that was originally brewed over strength in Britain, for the Troops in India, then shipped out to India where it was diluted to normal beer strength for the thirsty squaddies !! The reason for brewing over strength was to ensure that it survived the sea journey in drinkable condition. Nowadays used to refer to a "Best Bitter" I.e  one that is slightly stronger with more depth of flavour,!!

Apologies for contributing to Edwards thread drift.!!

As opposed to Isopropyl alcohol which does not taste as nice but will get you drunk quicker (Don't try this at home as it may kill you)

Rog

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2296
  • Repair and tuning in Hants
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #16 on: April 09, 2018, 04:59:55 AM »

If I'm right then meths, as it is called in UK, is methanol or wood alcohol.  Trouble in the UK is that it has a stink agent added (to discourage drinking).  I have found that scraping is sufficient on wood items, then paper kitchen towels remove the bulk from the metal tools and a wipe with iso-propyl alcohol (IPA) does the rest.  The important part as with all cleaning is that the cloth or towel you wipe with must be clean so as to provide a more accommodating substrate for the wax than the item being cleaned.

Rob.
The smell v quickly disappears which is why I use it.

malcolmbebb

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2609
  • In dampest Dorset, on the soggy south coast.
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #17 on: April 09, 2018, 08:10:13 AM »

Not even sure I'd know where to get meths these days. Used to just go to local ironmonger or hardware store. Haven't a clue who sells it near me.
Logged
Dino BPII.
"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire."

Tone Dumb Greg

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4929
    • Dartmoor Border Morris
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #18 on: April 09, 2018, 09:00:01 AM »

Not even sure I'd know where to get meths these days. Used to just go to local ironmonger or hardware store. Haven't a clue who sells it near me.

It's like everything else, you can buy it on line

 https://www.restexpress.co.uk/acatalog/Methylated_Spirits.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwnqzWBRC_ARIsABSMVTMtPj8YviHysoygqpSvtirQ64CPqhWi_qce3U1qUKliMXNHC2M0hG0aArgaEALw_wcB
Logged
Greg Smith
DG/GC Pokerwork, DG 2.4 Saltarelle, pre-war CF Hohner, Hohner 1040 Vienna style, old  BbEb Hohner that needs a lot of work.

ACCORDION, n. An instrument in harmony with the sentiments of an assassin. Ambrose Bierce

Rog

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 2296
  • Repair and tuning in Hants
Re: Fresh Wax removal
« Reply #19 on: April 09, 2018, 09:25:09 AM »

The ceramics specialist on The Repair Shop advised me that meths is functionally the same as pure alcohol ( for cleaning etc). We both agreed that obtaining clear pure alcohol was increasinly difficult ( in the UK). Meths is a good substitute. You can buy it in hardware stores.
Pages: [1]   Go Up
 


Melodeon.net - (c) Theo Gibb; Clive Williams 2010. The access and use of this website and forum featuring these terms and conditions constitutes your acceptance of these terms and conditions.
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal