beeswax for prints Options

[Anthony Accardi]

I'd like to test waxing a few prints and I am wondering if anyone has any thoughts or tips on how to best go about it. I've got a hunk of beeswax but it seems pretty hard and is not going on very evenly. Do people mix it with oil or mineral spirits? Any and all ideas will be appreciated.

Anthony

[Gordon Mark]

I'd like to test waxing a few prints and I am wondering if anyone has any thoughts or tips on how to best go about it. I've got a hunk of beeswax but it seems pretty hard and is not going on very evenly. Do people mix it with oil or mineral spirits? Any and all ideas will be appreciated.

Anthony

I am not sure what type of print you want to wax. For platinum I used a wax, called "cold wax medium". It is used in oil painting to build up texture or impasto in paintings. You can get it in most art stores but be pepared to spend art store prices. ($16.00 for a pint can) It is white dries clear and is archival. You rub the wax in with a cloth and then after it sets buff it off with a clean dry cloth.

gordon

[Jim Noel]

Renaissance Wax also works.
I use Dorland's Print Wax - which is an old product and is basically carnauba wax. I rub it on, wait a few minutes an buff it off.

[richsul]

The Olde Timey Guys used beeswax dissolved in benzene. According to Wikipedia, benzene is not nice. Renaissance Wax (a brand) is often used to coat prints. It is even more expensive.

I'd like to test waxing a few prints and I am wondering if anyone has any thoughts or tips on how to best go about it. I've got a hunk of beeswax but it seems pretty hard and is not going on very evenly. Do people mix it with oil or mineral spirits? Any and all ideas will be appreciated.

Anthony

[Guest_bobherbst_*]

Gordon is correct about price. I paid $6.26 for a 4 ounce jar of Gamblin cold wax medium at Artisan's in Santa Fe a few years ago. It consists of unbleached beeswax and mineral spirits - no oils. It is fairly hard at room temperature and must be softened slight for use - just warm it up a bit. But if you ever flatten your prints in a dry mount press, don't use it. The heat will melt the wax into the paper. Depending on the weight and type of paper, you might end up with a waxed paper positive!

I am not sure what type of print you want to wax. For platinum I used a wax, called "cold wax medium". It is used in oil painting to build up texture or impasto in paintings. You can get it in most art stores but be pepared to spend art store prices. ($16.00 for a pint can) It is white dries clear and is archival. You rub the wax in with a cloth and then after it sets buff it off with a clean dry cloth.

gordon

[sklimek]

Gordon is correct about price. I paid $6.26 for a 4 ounce jar of Gamblin cold wax medium at Artisan's in Santa Fe a few years ago. It consists of unbleached beeswax and mineral spirits - no oils. It is fairly hard at room temperature and must be softened slight for use - just warm it up a bit. But if you ever flatten your prints in a dry mount press, don't use it. The heat will melt the wax into the paper. Depending on the weight and type of paper, you might end up with a waxed paper positive!

I use quite a bit of the Gamblin as well, Gordon turned me on to it and Bob is correct make sure you flatten in dri-mount press before applying.

You can see the effect of a waxed print if you take a reject print and lay down only half of the print (use tape and newspaper) and apply the wax. Also if you don't like the look of the wax sheen on the outside of the print, Home Depot sells some low tack (3M blue) painters tape and get a roll of butcher paper (2"wide) for masking and just encroach in on the image 1/8", if you're careful with pulling off the tape it will not damage the surface of your paper unless you are using a soft type like Rives BFK...

Best - Stan