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Compounds and Cleaning · Compound · Candles, seals, fire starters

Paraffin Wax

An inexpensive wax for candles, airtight jar seals, fire starters, and waterproofing cloth and gear.

INDEFINITEMULTI-USEHazardousWorks without power

Quick facts

Melts at
~115 to 150°F
Form
Solid wax
Hazard class
Flammable when molten
Shelf life
Indefinite
Storage
Sealed container
What to avoid
Open flame, high heat

See everything paraffin wax must never touch

What it's good for

Candles

Light and heat

Jar seals

Seals jars and bottles

Fire starters

Wax fire starters

Waterproofing

Treats cloth and gear

A petroleum wax that melts low and burns steadily, ideal for candles, seals, and fire starters.

Good to know

Low melt, real flash point. Paraffin is a wax refined from petroleum that melts in a low, friendly range and resets hard and watertight. That low melt point is also the warning: heated directly it can pass its melt point and reach its flash point, where the vapor ignites, so it is always melted in a water bath. Poured warm over a jar lid it shrinks into an airtight seal.

Handling and safety

Melt it gently

Use a water bath, never direct high heat; hot wax can catch fire.

Airtight jar seals

Poured over a lid it makes a moisture-tight seal for storage.

Cheap candles

It is the standard inexpensive candle and fire-starter wax.

Waterproofs cloth

Rubbed in and warmed it sheds water from fabric and gear.

Eight jobs it does

  • Candles for light and heat
  • Waterproof boots, canvas, matches
  • Fire starter in cotton or sawdust
  • Lube saw blades and zippers
  • Seal canning jar tops
  • Coat cheese rinds for storage
  • Warm wax soak for joints
  • Coat bowstrings and thread

If it goes bad Does not spoil. May develop a slight odor. Still functional.

Recipes for paraffin wax

Questions this answers

Tap a question for the short answer.

What is paraffin wax used for?

Paraffin is an inexpensive petroleum wax for candles, airtight jar seals, fire starters in cotton or sawdust, and waterproofing boots, canvas, and matches. It also lubricates saw blades and zippers, coats cheese rinds and bowstrings, and makes a warm wax soak for joints.

How long does paraffin wax last in storage?

Paraffin wax has an indefinite shelf life. It does not spoil. It may develop a slight odor over time, but it is still fully functional.

How do I store paraffin wax?

Store paraffin wax in a sealed container, away from open flame and high heat. It melts at roughly 115 to 150°F and is flammable when molten, so when you use it, melt it in a water bath and never over direct high heat.

Keep going

Read nextBeeswaxA natural wax for candles, salves, wood finish, and waterproofing. It burns clean and keeps for years.Compounds and Cleaning · Compound

Related to this

Compounds and Cleaning · Compound Petroleum Jelly Shelf life: Indefinite. Storage: Any sealed container. INDEFINITEMULTI-USEHazardous Compounds and Cleaning · Formula Paraffin Wax Seal for Jars and Bottles A wax cap over a corked or capped bottle is a backup barrier and a tamper-evident finish: it slows air and moisture from creeping past the closure and shows at a glance whether a bottle has been opened. It is a secondary seal for finished bottles, not a preservation method, and never a substitute for proper canning. Hazardous Tools and Repair · Formula Wax waterproofing for canvas, tarps and rope (paraffin and camphor) Wax fills the gaps between fabric fibers where water would soak through, and the camphor adds some insect and mildew resistance. Hazardous Cooking, Fuel and Fire · Formula Paraffin Wax Fire Starters (Egg Carton Method) A wax fire starter is the difference between one match and a lit fire when your kindling is damp, cold, or marginal: it holds a slow, steady flame long enough to dry and catch stubborn wood, and it shrugs off water in storage. Hazardous
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