How to Apply Sealing Wax
Securing a handwritten letter inside an envelope closed with sealing wax is an elegant, old-fashioned way to send a message to a friend or loved one. Sealing wax also adds a touch of prestige to packages containing legal documents or other important paperwork. The wax seal can bear a wide variety of embossed images: from decorative hearts and flowers to filigreed initials. Applying sealing wax is easy and does not require a lot of tools. Consider replacing modern, gummed envelopes with ones sealed with embossed wax and add a little old-world charm to the next letter you mail.
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Instructions
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Set the closed envelope on a workspace in front of you. Hold the wax stick in one hand and a lighter in the other. Ignite the lighter and hold one end of the wax stick in the flame.
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Position the inflamed end of the wax stick directly over the area of the envelope you want to seal, about 2 inches above the surface. Continue heating the wax stick.
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Allow the wax to drip directly onto the envelope until it forms a puddle big enough to accommodate the seal. This will probably be about the size of a dime or quarter. Set the lighter aside once the wax puddle is the appropriate size.
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Use the melted end of the wax stick to stir the wax puddle into the correct size and shape using the dimensions of your seal as a guide. Continue stirring until you can feel the wax begin to harden.
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Create a moisture barrier on the seal to ensure ease of removal from the hot wax. Find your preferred method by experimenting with a few options: breathe on the face of the seal a few times, lick the face of the seal or run the face of the seal over your face to pick up some oil.
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Firmly press the seal into the puddle of wax for about five seconds. Slowly pull the seal out of the wax.
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Tips & Warnings
Wait for the wax to change from shiny to matte in appearance before impressing the seal. A matte surface is a sign that the wax is at the correct consistency for embossing.
Practice makes perfect. After you become more familiar with this process, you will start to recognize the perfect moment for pressing the seal into the hot wax. For your first few attempts, use a piece of scrap paper for practice before using an envelope.
A candle or grill lighter may be more comfortable to use than a regular cigarette lighter because your fingers are farther away from the flame.
Be extremely careful when using any type of lighter to prevent burning yourself or accidentally setting fire to any objects. Heated wax becomes extremely hot and can burn your fingers. Take care not to touch the wax until it has completely cooled.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Set seal on envelope image by Franc Podgor...¡ek from Fotolia.com
