I have pure #1 Brazilian Carnauba. Teach me how to make a wax!

Things can't be that bad. As long as Porter performs his experiment away from anything flammable there shouldn't be any problems. I mean seriously how much kerosene/solvent is it going to take to make a batch of wax. Just think of it, the next cool autopian thing to will be making your own wax.
 
I don't think that Porter will be able to get much wax into solution at room temperature. To put the wax in solution he will most likely have to warm the solvent. The method with which he does this will be amusing as long as I am out of blast range. Warm solvents are highly volitile. Commercially this is done in a large reflux condenser. Do you think that Porter has one of these in his basement?
 
Thanks for the concern guys, it's very touching.





I'll be using an absolute minimum of aromatic solvents... I'm investigating the use of silicone and other water-compatible "mixers". If I can make this thing water based that would be best... but we'll see how it works. The silicone should add some serious glossing power in small amounts.





I really need to get my car repainted before I do too much shining on it... it has some scuffs from high speed rally excursions... plus there was apparently a partial repaint at some point that isn't great so I'm planning to have the whole car stripped and sanded and professionally repainted in the same color.



I'll test the "mix" on the beater XT6... :xyxthumbs
 
I would try a water based system first. It's not gonna work too well, and you will have to heat the mixture before applying it and use it on a hot day, but its a start and you will have all your fingers left!
 
rleven said:
Commercially this is done in a large reflux condenser. Do you think that Porter has one of these in his basement?
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Explain to me what a reflux condenser is and how it heats a mixture please?
 
if you are going to buy all this chemistry gear, study endlessly and risk blowing up your house I think the methlab would be much cooler than making your own wax. Can you have a methlab in a house or only in a trailer? Can you imagine the papers: Obsessed Detailer Blows Up House Trying To Get The Perfect Shine. When asked Porter responded with "I lost my house but at least my car didn't get touched."
 
DETAILKING said:
Explain to me what a reflux condenser is and how it heats a mixture please?
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:D Is it anything like the flux capacitor in the Back to the Future trilogy? :D
 
So, it's been a few months....anyone read about any labs exploding in South Carolina lately?



I wonder what ever happened with this little project....
 
Their is a book printed in the1920s called Dykes encyclopedia that will tell you how to make car polish and wax . It can be found in some librarys. This book will tell you a lot of interesting things on what your Great Grandfather used on his Model T.
 
hmm, I added him to my AIM or whatever he has....he hasn't been around that I saw...



:(



looking foreward to the results too......
 
Saw him on AIM today and asked him about the project...he said it worked, although over the counter waxes are probably better. We agreed that it was a fun experiment. The ingredients he used were carnauba wax, cocoanut oil, and mineral spirits. He estimated 50% carnauba content. "I melted the wax into a solution of coconut oil and a tiny bit of mineral spirits" Apparently, only a little mineral spirits were used. He said it turned out as a paste wax.

"the shine was great but it didn't last more than a week"

"it got dull pretty quickly"

He said that is where the technology comes in.

He's right. But for a cleanerless topper wax...you don't need great longevity.



I'm thinking of giving this a go also. My plan is to use parafin wax and some kind of cooking oil/grease unless someone can clue me in on some special trait of cocoanut oil, other than scent. Also, probably about a tablespoon of mineral spirits to start. I have most of the stuff in this formulation around, so it won't be a big project acquiring it all. If that turnes out, I might look to silicone/some acrylic to increase longevity. We'll see if/when the time comes.



He seemed pretty busy, so I hope it is ok with him if I give you an update, but now you can sleep at night knowing that he is still alive.



Kevin



Oh yeah, :bow to Porter for trying and being successful!
 
DETAILKING said:
Understand what FLASHPONT IS. Flashpoint is the lowest temperature at which a liquid fuel will give off vapors in order to ignite. Liquid fuels themselves don't burn, it's only when their flammable vapors mix with oxygen will they burn. While gasoline has a VERY low flashpoint making it ignitable at just about any ambient temperature, mineral spirits are nothing to take lightly. Mineral spirits have a flashpoint of around 100-110 F. If the liquid is heated to this temperature, if gives off vapors and is just as ignitable as gasoline. This occurs until ALL of the liquid is evaporated. While it needs a source of ignition, you would be suprised that even a static electric spark could be enough to ignite the vapors. In industry, when mixing such chemicals, they are often blanketed with nitrogen. Lack of oxygen in the environment makes it impossible to ignite...........



BE CAREFUL
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Absolutely. Your flash point for carnauba may be around 18 f. or so. and the melting point about 86. One of my other hobbies is candle and soap making by the way.



You may want to try beeswax, you can find bleached/ white at some hobby supply stores. Another wax that melts at hand temperature is cocoa butter. I do not really know whay type of protection it would offer, if any (probably none, just use as a carrier?). Coconut oil as well will melt at body temp.







Joe
 
Interesting discussion from the archives that I thought I'd dig up. Makes for a good read and shows how chemistry oriented this forum was in the early days.
 
David Fermani said:
Interesting discussion from the archives that I thought I'd dig up. Makes for a good read and shows how chemistry oriented this forum was in the early days.
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Good read, David...



Its funny... The two paste waxes I have in my product line were formulated by ME in my own small lab.



I am no "chemist," but Ive cracked the code.
 
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