Wax sealing has been popular for a very long time. It is something that has survived the sieves of time and is still used until today. Since people no longer really send out physical letters nowadays, the use of wax seal has quite shifted. Instead of being used for sealing envelopes for correspondence purposes, it is more familiarly known for crafts or decorations now. If you are interested in wax sealing, here are a few things you need to know about wax sealing.
First up, wax types.
There are a few different types of waxes that are used for different occasions or used with different tools. You have to understand this thoroughly so that there won’t be misuse and so that you can get the best result possible.
Wax types may vary in flexibility or suppleness. Since waxes are machine produced, companies have come up with different wax formulas so that the seals produced can be made with automated processing.
One of the most well-known types of wax is the traditional wax. This type of wax is the most similar to the one that was used in hundreds or even thousands of years ago. Traditional wax is best known for its ability to preserve confidentiality, so it is made to dry hard and break easy if tampered. This could be an advantage to some people, but some other see it as something that is a downside because it breaks off easily. Some people just don’t like the little pieces that break off. Not only that, this type of wax seal is not suitable for being sent out in the mail due to these characteristics.
Another type of wax seal is the type of wax seal that is made to be used with a glue gun. Sometimes this type of wax even comes with pre-made adhesive as well. This type of wax resembles plastic and is very supple so that it is easy to apply. It is best for mass mailings as well as wedding invitations.
If you want a type of wax that has a quality or characteristic between the two of the aforementioned wax, then you should consider using regular candle wax. However, remember that this type of wax lacks resin so this type of wax will not stick so well on the surface of the paper.
Now, you probably have heard about wick. Some waxes are wicked, some are wickless. What does that mean?
Usually, traditional waxes and flexible waxes are shaped in a stick. Sometimes they come with built-in wick, sometimes they don’t. The most traditional type of wax comes wickless, most of the time. It is more convenient to choose a wicked wax because if you don’t have wick in your wax, then you have to hold the wax stick with one hand and heat source in the other to melt the wax, which is less convenient compared to melting a wicked stick where you can simply light up the wick with a fire source until it melts completely.
However, there is a downside to the wicked wax stick as well. The wicked wax stick is slower to melt compared to the wickless wax stick. Moreover, they are more likely to produce soot residue that can result in a marbled appearance in the seal that you make. Although this is a downside to some people, some others actually like the result. So, you just have to see it for yourself and decide whether you like it or not.
Another thing that you should consider as you choose your wax for wax sealing is the wax color. There are so many different colors that you can choose for your wax. You can freely choose any as long as it is suitable for the occasion and the item that you are wax sealing. These days, you can even get a transparent wax seal that looks pretty with various decorations and embellishments.
Of course, when it comes to wax sealing, you can’t forget about the stamp.
Stamp for wax sealing is different for stamping papers with ink. You don’t need ink for this type of stamp. Usually, the stamp for wax sealing is made of metal seal that is attached to a handle.
You can choose any shape for your wax seal stamp, and of course, you can have the signet ring to be craved with any symbols or logos. Commonly, the wax seal stamp is round-shaped.