Can you use candle wax instead of bee wax to paint on fabric when dyeing?
I have plenty of candles. I just didn't know if you could replace bees wax for candle wax so that you can do imaging dye jobs on fabrics. I also forge...
I have plenty of candles. I just didn’t know if you could replace bees wax for candle wax so that you can do imaging dye jobs on fabrics. I also forget what this process is called anybody know what I’m talking about. : )
Using wax as a resist when dyeing fabric is called batik. You can use candle wax, which is usually 100% paraffin. Most batik artists prefer to use a blend of 85% paraffin with 15% beeswax. Paraffin is a hard wax which crumbles easily; beeswax does not crumble at all. A good mixture allows some of the veining seen in batik without crumbling off the fabric.
A big problem in batiking is getting the wax hot enough. If you melt your wax over hot water in a double boiler, the wax might not be hot enough to penetrate any thick fabric, such as a cotton t-shirt. It will work only on a very thin sheer silk. I melt my batik wax blend at 230°F in an electric skillet.
Some people like to use soy wax, instead of real wax, for batiking. It is less resistant to immersion in water (or dye), so you must paint the dye on carefully. Do not use the soft kind of soy wax that is used to make candles that stay in their containers when burned. Use the hardest kind of soy wax, used to make pillar-type candles.
Another problem in batiking is that you must not use hot water dyes, such as Rit dye. The heat required to set the dye will melt the wax, ruining the design. Use a cold water dye, such as Procion MX dye. A good tie-dye kit will contain all the dyes and chemicals you need. Avoid the tie-dye kits made by Rit, and the Magic Strings type of tie-dye kit because they require boiling hot water. A tie dye kit such as those made by Jacquard, Tulip, Rainbow Rock, or Dylon will be ideal.
See the link below for full instructions.
No, Candle wax is too hard and flakey, unlike bee wax. It won’t work. I know that it is tedious to get, but bee wax is the only way that I know of. I hope I helped.