Orchidians: If anyone is interested, I have a reostat, pen and 3
special tips for a wax pen that I made myself. I supply a set of
three sizes that can be used for building up, or removing wax from a
model. You can also use a common hardware screw to made your own
custom shapes. This is economical, it works really well, I have
used it for years, and I have two employees that use them, and they
really like them. Once you use this type of pen, you will never go
back to an alcohol lamp, and some of the wax pens with wire tips can
not do what this pen will do. If anyone wants one, contact me off
line. Richard in Denver
John, could you post more info on the wax pens you make? The few
homemad e ones I have seen did not have very good temp control. Wahl,
don’t they do a lot for the electronics industry? The pens I’ve seen
just had small iro ns you get at the hardware store. How far will it
drift as the iron heats an d cools trying to stay at the set temp? I
use my pen for texturing and wax removal in tight spaces(.1MM). A
drift of 20 degrees for me would not be good. Using Wahl irons is
I’m sure a great choice as the electroni cs probably needs tighter
temp control then even jewelers do. all the info you can post would
be great!
thanks, Jerry
I made myself a wax pen based on the cauterizing pens surgeons
use…a tip(wire from hair dryers or old toasters), a handle(hollow
fiberglass fishing rod), micro switch( Radio Shack)…and small
copper tubing to hold the filament tip that is set in place with a
wooden end plug. More off line if interested. I plug it into my
plater at work and use that for the temperature control and at home
made a rheostat box (with some help from a electrical guru friend).
I have made several of these and given them to friends and they love
them. To have the control at your finger tip is the best part and
have been in use for many years now. There are some wax pens on the
market with foot pedals but when you turn down the temp and want to
build up prongs or lay down a ribbon of wax in a byzatine design the
finger control can’t be beat. Ron Kreml
A variable transformer with a range of 0 to 120 volts (rather than a
rheostat that varies the amperage) allows a much finer degree of
control for your shop made wax pen. There is no temperature
oscillation. I bought a hefty and beautifully made variable
transformer in its original carton from a computer parts surplus
store for about $15.00. An off the shelf motor controller might work
too.
Allan Wilkinson
small potatoes studio
Hi Jerry,
It turns out that Wahl used to carry the irons I am referring to,
but they were actually made by a company called Oryx and sold by
Wahl. It has been a number of years since I bought one of these
since they don’t tend to wear out (in fact, the last couple I bought
were for other jewelers and the one I use on almost a daily basis is
over 10 years old), so I thought I would find them online for you,
but I have not had any luck. It looks like Wahl no longer carries
them. I did find a similar product at
http://www.mmnewman.com/antexsi/antexpm.htm , but I have no
experience with these. The Oryx irons are very small, like a pen or
smaller, depending on the model, and come in a range of temperatures
and voltages, from 4.5 to 24 volts, thus the transformer. I would
simply use a standard dimmer switch for heat control, and they are
very stable, holding the same heat at the same setting when used
hours at a time. Call around to your local electronics supply houses
and ask for miniature soldering irons and you should come up with
something similar. Good luck!
John