Today I just bought 10 pounds of white microwax. My first tests have really impressed me, although I have yet to assemble a decent focusing screen with it (mostly since I'm lazy). But it's clearly much better than beeswax. It reminds me most of the wax that they have on cheese that is chewy and malleable. I'm just wondering (since ten pounds is about 9.9 pounds more than I need) if anyone would be interested in buying some. A lot of people seem to be having trouble getting it (and it's very hard to get, except in bulk, in most places) so I might be willing to ship out small quantities. Just wondering if there's much interest. I'm not deluding myself into thinking I'll actually make some money.

Matthew,
I may be interested in buying a small amount off you. I did some test with wax in the very very early stages of my adapter, then i just bought the optosigma ground glass. However, i would still like to try the microwax technique. Im in the UK, so hope shipping to the UK would be ok? I have a paypal account, so that maybe the easiest for payment.

Let me know how much your looking for? I would love to share knowledge and experience in this technique.

Let me know mate!

Wayne.

I'm not sure what shipping to the UK is like, but if it's not too much trouble, I could see about sending an envelope of it over. The cost of the wax is pretty nominal compared with shipping probably, so it probably wouldn't cost too much more than shipping alone. I'll see if I can fit a reasonable amount in a standard envelope (wrapped in cellophane or something).

Even if one envelope is not enough, maybe TWO will do.... Just make sure it does not show, so pips do not get paranoid about anthrax or something. You could use some from the stationary (air foam or bubble). Just for the sake of knowing, (and testing it) I might get some...

Matthew,
I am still interested in buying some from you.

Please could you email me the details at waynekinney@hotmail.com

Do you have a paypal account?

Thanks,
Wayne.

I do have a paypal account. I'll try to get some pictures of the wax up later today. It seems to be really good (perfect neutral white, melts at 174 degrees F but soft at room temperature, much finer grain than beeswax).

I'm not sure how much I should charge since I'll admit the wax is pretty cheap (and I have more than I need), but shipping could be a pain with delivery confirmation and everything.

I think I would be interested as well. I really have a hard time even getting decent bee's wax here.

Count me in too!

Mathew,
Please let me know about how much the wax and postage will be and i can paypal you.

im hoping the more of us testing out this technique the more we can learn from each other.

Let me know,
Wayne.

I wouldn't mind trying some also. I have Paypal also.

Wow, I never expected so much interest.

Well, the cost of shipping (priority mail--two days) looks like about $4.50 including delivery confirmation. Shipping to Europe (which is much slower--just over a week) looks like it's about $7 or so. I'd probably ship somewhere around half a pound (way more than you'd ever need unless you go crazy with it) and would wrap it in cellophane and/or a ziplock bag.

What price sounds fair? I'm thinking around 8-9 dollars, which covers cost plus a couple bucks since shipping stuff out and making sure it arrives is always a headache, plus paypal fees. The cost of the wax is almost nominal (and I have way more than I need, anyhow), but shipping is quite expensive. I could probably cut the cost to about half that if I found a way to ship in a normal envelope, maybe with two stamps on it (this would only apply to domestic shipping, though.) Of course, that probably wouldn't be as durable.

Anyhow, 10 bucks or so isn't much in the long run, it's just a shame that shipping and handling is considerably more than the actual cost of the wax. Then again, I did buy from a wholesaler, so it cost me about half of what some art supply stores sell for, and they sell in 10 pound increments, too.

And, yes, I'd definitely like to see what people do to get more even focusing screens since I certainly think it's possible to make very good ones, only the current methods are a bit time consuming and could be more reliable. I'm going to ask my genius friend what he recommends (he really is a genius--maybe the smartest person I've ever met) since he knows a great deal about physics and is quite practically-minded as well.

OK, so how do we throw the mon(k)ey at you? where do you live, what's your address, ph no, how old are you, what do you eat, when do you sleep, beepbeep , fb I can u hold the line? thanks, and how did you end up buying sooooo much white stuff and now you're selling it over the net? (off screen: he'll talk any minute now!) Sooo, is PayPal OK?

I don't need priority mail nor confirmation. That'd cut the shipping cost.

Just tell us a price for the wax that you feel happy with.

<<<<<only the current methods are a bit time consuming and could be more reliable>>>>

That would be my method.... It takes a bucket and a flame and is done in 5 minutes. I've done it three times and 3 times succes. People have worked on this for months and months trying to find the best method, even tried to use vacuum pumps.
It just sounds nice that people can make a wax screen wile rolling a sigaret if we just get a better method, but it's not that simple. You'll just start over again and stumble on the same little obstacles Jim, Frank, Keith and me had.


I also found microwax in a (big) art suppliers store this week. It's used for batik's I guess. Also check hobby shops, they use it for candle making. Don't forget this stuff cost nothing...even at small stores.

Didn't mean to insult your method--it's definitely the best thing anyone has thought of thus far, but I think it's something you have to get the feel for to make sure it works every time. I wonder how the guys who make the bosscreens pull this off?

Regarding pricing, I know what I'm asking is too expensive, but it's the shipping cost which is the issue. I'm going to go to Staples now and buy some cheap envelopes and see if I can't lower the price. I never expected there would be so much interest. I also need to find a scale and a sharp, clean knife to cut the stuff.

mathew....

if you use priority mail the boxes are free...

you can go to the post office and get the boxes, or if you need a lot of them you can go to their web site and have them delivered to your doorstep for free....

if you do the postage online then deliv confirmation was free thru paypal last time i checked....

I'm interested in buying some. Please PM me or email me at jephang@gmail.com with total price, including shipping.

Thanks -- Jeff

<<<Didn't mean to insult your method--it's definitely the best thing anyone has thought of thus far, but I think it's something you have to get the feel for to make sure it works every time.>>>

That's OK. But every other method will need 'the feel' too, because of the nature of wax and glass. Another professional method, like the Boss guys probably used (they stopped I think, which makes you wonder..) most likely use equipment that most of us can't afford.
But how many would you make if it has to work every time. I only need (have) one. There is a patent on these things, you know...

Make more of them and sell them Oscar. Get a weight of some people's chest here... Since the results only come at the end of a long trial and error period, everyone will understand the price, especially since most results are "just about right" but not quite there...

But I'd have to calculate the price of my lawyers too. I'll get Boss screens on my back! Get them off!

Don't worry about legal matters. This continent has the best lawyers money can buy (;-)<

Here's the latest. I'm going to the post office this afternoon to get an idea of how much this will cost to ship. Here's a picture of the size of a half pound block (actually this is about 9oz, others will be slightly smaller):

http://home.comcast.net/~wauhkies/wax.jpg

It's really pretty big. One problem is that it takes FOREVER to cut. It's REALLY hard. I'm going to have to figure out a better way to cut it.

Mathew,
Take a thin wire and have it connected to a car battery charger (or any other 12-24v power supply providing over 3A). The wire gets warm (hot?) and all you have to do is slide the "cheese" and get the samples done clean and in no time flat. Add a A4 paper after the cutting, (so it does not bond back)

http://home.comcast.net/~wauhkies/wax.jpg

That is probably the wrong object to place next to the "brick of white substance."

It's the secret ingredient. Now people will buy more.

Matthew,

I have been looking every where for some of this. Would you be able to take a strait money order? I would love to get some ASAP but I don't have a paypal acoount (and will not get one) so I would have to send money. Could you PM me please if this is possible?

Thanks.

Thinking about it, email would be better. BennisHahn@yahoo.com

Matthew,
Did you manage to get to the post office to find out shipping costs? So you want $9 for the wax plus postage to the UK around 7$?

I can paypal you instantly. Just let me know. Im very egar to get my hands on this.

Thanks again,
Wayne.

As it turns out, the post office was closed when I got there. Apparently they close early on Saturday.


Anyhow, shipping to the UK looks like about 7 dollars, probably a bit more, but I'll charge less than 9 dollars for the wax. It's worth about a dollar or two, although cutting and wrapping it is a huge pain. Sorry this is going so slowly, I've just been kind of busy.

<<less than 9 dollars for the wax. It's worth about a dollar or two, although cutting and wrapping it is a huge pain.>>

I don't want to sound offensive, because I'm sure the intentions are good, but getting $1,5 worth of wax for +/- $15 is absurd. I'm a sculptor and cut wax and clay all the time, so please don't say it's hard to cut (or read Dan's post). If your local art suppliers or chemical store doesn't have it, ask them to order it.
When I posted on this board that I couldn't find it, two people volunteered to send it only for the shipping costs. That's the spirit on these boards. Later on I found microwax the corner of my own street, so it wasn't necessary.

There's a place in L.A. that sells it in 1/4 lb bags, for $1.79.

There's a place in L.A. that sells it in 1/4 lb bags, for $1.79.

Do you have a link?

Oscar, I'm takin some serious hating from you on this thread and you've subsequently ignored my posts on all others and I'm not really sure why, but I think it stems from the fact that I said your method was "imperfect," even while admitting that it's the best thing we've got so far.

I've repeated OVER and OVER and OVER that the price I'm charging is not a good deal, and I'll repeat it: you can find microwax for much, much less elsewhere. The only issue is, everyone may not have an "elsewhere" down the street as you and I do. So, in the benevolent spirit of the boards you've accused me of abusing, I offered to go through a great deal of trouble to ship this stuff out to other people. I didn't say I was going to ask for 9 dollars for a dollar or two worth of wax, either, I said I'd charge shipping, plus a dollar or two to cover the cost of materials, plus a couple dollars to cover how much time it takes for me to hack this stuff up and wrap it, then go down to the post office and mail it out. I'll add that I work the exact same hours that the post office is open, so I'll have to do all this during my lunch break. I'm not trying to profit form this--the most total profit I would make under these circumstances would be about 10-15 dollars for a couple hours work, which is less than minimum wage. And, given that something could go wrong/get lost in the mail/unexpectedly cost more than I'm assuming (also accounting for paypal fees) I may very well not make any money for going through a great deal of trouble. And I'm okay with that. I'm not a sculptor, I don't have a car battery charger, and for me this is a considerable amount of work.

Tomorrow I'm going to go to the post office (during my lunch break) and get exact price quotes for shipping domestically and overseas. I'll then post my paypal address on this forum and ship either Tuesday or Wednesday. Again, during my lunch break. I'm sorry I can't give out freebies as Oscar seems to be suggesting I should--I'm not a company sending out a sample to a prospective buyer, just someone trying to do people a favor without losing too much money while I'm at it.

If there is a company in LA that will ship for $1.79 a bag, please do post the link. Honestly, I'm doing this as a favor, and would rather not have to go through the trouble. The ten dollars I could make from this (but probably won't) are not worth all the time, effort, and insults.

If they don't ship overseas, I would be more than willing to ship to Europe, though, and I will quote prices tomorow as soon as I stop by USPS.

EDIT: The 9 dollar estimate I made covered shipping fees. Rereading what I wrote, I can see how this would be confusing. Although my latest guess is that to Europe the final cost would be about 9-10 dollars, domestically would be 6-7. I'll know better tomorrow. Again, not a good deal, but not a good deal for me either, if you know what I mean!

Come on Matthew, you are misreading my posts. I said:"I'm sure the intentions are good". Don't talk about serious hating, please.
What I'm saying is, that we are writing on a thread dedicated to microwax for almost a year now. If someone is writing there for sometime and struggles on finding microwax, then all of us will suggest to sent some wax for free. I even wrote someone that I'll sent him my test glass for nothing.
You have to be dedicated to make a good wax glass, so I'm afraid people go and buy your wax and will be dissapointed if it doesn't work out. $15 is a bit much for that.

I understand, but I'm not doing this to make money. In fact, if people really want, I'll ship it out for cost (although if it gets lost in the mail/there are any additional charges, I'm not responsible), but there's a difference between shipping to one person as a favor and shipping to 8-9, some of whom live halfway across the world, and most people understand that difference by being okay with me charging a couple dollars for my time. Certainly I've been up front about where the money is going. Cost would probably be about 6 dollars to the US, maybe 9 to Europe, and I'm only asking for two dollars above that. I'll check with the post office and see if I can't lower this, and I expect I may be able to significantly but--either way--I'm not out there to make money. My time is worth a lot more to me than that, anyhow. It's my lunch break, after all! But I see where you're coming from, I just don't agree.

Also, I just got capillary action working, so good results aren't impossible by any means. Capillary action is fast and a promises to be a very reliable method, although I'll have to experiment a bit more to get a thinner screen (I used thick tape). Admittedly, it's not perfect, but the wax is perfectly even and 100% free of air bubbles.

I went to the post office. Shipping in the US is $3.85, I think delivery confirmation is another 55 cents. So about $4.40.

Shipping to the UK was 7.55 plus delivery confirmation, which I think is a dollar or so to Europe. So, maybe 8-9 dollars.

I'll charge 3 dollars on top of this to cover the cost of wax, make sure I don't lose any money on this thing, and to cover the cost of possible screw ups or unexpected shipping charges/paypal fees. If you don't think this is fair, you don't need to buy any. In fact, considering the trouble this is taking and the fact that the most money I'd stand to make is about five dollars (I expect to make less than that), I'd almost rather people didn't.

So $7.50 in the US. $12.00 to Europe. I know this is pretty exorbinant (I'd sell the wax for a dollar if you came over here and cut a chunk out for yourself), but if you've been desperately looking for the stuff, at least you can buy it now. If you can find it elsewhere, buy it there. It's cheaper and less work for me. But if you've been looking all over and can't find it, send me a PM or an email at mwauhkonen@wesleyan.edu . The main reason I'm offering this is because--prior to finding a wholesaler nearby--I had been hoping someone else would set something up like this. If you're offended by my price, I apologize. I'm honestly doing this as a favor and am hurt by the negative response.

Paypal is rwauhkonen@comcast.net by the way. The other address is for email only--sorry for the confusion. Also, don't email the comcast account, as I don't check it regularly.

Matt,

I applaud your efforts and the spirit of generosity. But it doesn't always fly around here. Oscar is like this all the time, only, it's never him, it's always the other person. ;-)
We can cut him some slack. He's a sculptor and you know how they are!


;-)

Matt,

I applaud your efforts and the spirit of generosity. But it doesn't always fly around here. Oscar is like this all the time, only, it's never him, it's always the other person. ;-)
We can cut him some slack. He's a sculptor and you know how they are!


;-)

Why are there like 2 or 3 people floating around here with 2 or more accounts?

That sounds good. how much wax would we be getting?

8-9oz is about what will fit into a priority mail envelope. I posted a picture earlier of 9oz worth--it's a little smaller smaller than a can of coke: maybe 1.5''X3''X4'' or so.

Why are there like 2 or 3 people floating around here with 2 or more accounts?

If you mean Oscar, I see him post enough good info that I don't care whether he has more than one account.

Same goes for Matt.

And If you mean me you're sorely mistaken, LOL!

That sounds good. how much wax would we be getting? (asked the "busy bee") <Just enough for a "King size honeycomb"> (answered the Queen) (sorry guys.... cough cough, I just can't help it here...rotf) no harm done... http://www.agr.state.il.us/programs/bees/images/bee_with_honeycomb.jpg
Now... bee good, don't sting and you'll live...
http://www.susanscustomcreepydolls.com/bee-sting-doll.jpg OK, ok, ENOUGH's enough!!!

And If you mean me you're sorely mistaken, LOL!

Obviously not.

Not to derail this thread, but, it's obvious huh? Betcha a hundred bucks right here in public that I can prove you utterly and totally wrong.

I'll call you and let my CA area code/number, and my name, pop up on your caller ID. Maybe you can even have Chris Hurd check my IP. It shows Ventura, CA. What a concept!

Get a grip on your paranoia.

Besides-

I ain't Matt: Matt's phone number is on his contact info on some website back east. And when I saw his offer to help people by divvying up some wax and shipping it on his own lunch break, I thought, Oh man, this guy is either naive, or a glutton for punishment... here come the posts saying he's ripping people off.

I ain't Jon: He uses way more lowercase than I do. And he's in Washington.

I ain't Oscar: Part of him still thinks I'm Jonathan. And he's in the Netherlands.

I ain't Dan: I'm not nice enough. And he's in Canada.

And I sure as heck don't care about what anybody on dvinfo.net thinks, so I have no need for alter egos. I'm here to learn and to share info, not care who thinks what of me.

Now email me your number so I can call you and you can send me your - sorry, MY - hundred dollars.



Back to the Matt's microwax thread....

Bill Houser is just making fun of me, I'm sure. But again for the record....I don't say Matthew is ripping people off. Not at all. I say that the price itself is too high this way for a piece of wax. I'm trying to help people here (obviously, because I have two working 35mm adapters for some time now).

Yup. You ain't half bad, Oscar. Especially for a sculptor!



;-)

WOOD

Seriously man, you are dense. I WAS AGREEING WITH YOU! I wasn't saying you were two people on the boards. Man.

Back to wax.

I found the link to the $1.79 for 1/4 lb wax:
http://candles.genwax.com/do_not_index/___0___Z40M75W.htm

It's not listed so you gotta contact them for it in that quantity.

I also found this in my notes:

http://www.artstuf.com/waxes.html

1 lb for $4 for white.

Hopefully this gets Matt out from under the hassle of having to orchestrate it and hoof it. But good on ya for trying to be nice, Matt. Next time you'll think twice before offering to help your fellow man though! LOL

Wish I were kidding...

P.S., Kyle, you still owe me the hundred bucks

Matthew,
Just to let you know I have paypaled you the $12 for the micro wax.

Thanks again m8.

Cheers,
Wayne.

I checked my paypal account and got it. I'll ship tomorrow.