Sealing Wax preservation on Chung Ling Soo Limited

[Guest]

I know this may sound like a bizarre question..
but, i happen to have a limited edition of the Miracle Factory book on Chung Ling Soo.
Since i see that now a similar book is selling on ebay, but i read that the sealing wax is absent, i wondered..
what could be a method of preservation..
since i don't want my sealing wax in the future to ruin itself.
Do some of you know what could be a method to preserve it?
Maybe put a plastic translucid little bag around it?
Or some paper?
Or maybe is it better to leave it as it is in the air?
I don't know if materials in the air could ruin it.
Since it is great, as usually are the whistles and bells that characterize Miracle Factory Limited Editions,
i'd never want one day, to see the wax ruined.
Regards
Mattia

[Richard Kaufman]

The wax seal on my copy cracked into pieces and fell off. I suppose it might be possible to coat it with polyurathane.

[Guest]

Thanks very much for your answer Mr. Kaufman.
What exactly is the substance you suggested me?
Like a transparent coat?
Where do you buy it?
Till now my wax sealing is o.k,
but i'm beginning to be afraid that my too will soon crack!
And since i love the Chinese Symbol on it lightly brushed with cinnamon colour,
i'd never want one morning to see my sealing wax in too pieces like Mr. Kaufman's one!
Did you manage to restore your?

[Guest]

Hi..
sorry if i bother again with this strange question.
But is polyurathan the only method suggested for coating and preserving the was seal?
What exactly is this polyrathane ?
A polish coat, or something similar?
I live in Italy, and i can't understand exactly what this substance is.
Best regards

[Richard Kaufman]

Polyurathane is liquid plastic. It will leave a coating of plastic over the seal and keep it in one piece.

[Guest]

WHOA! WHOA! STOP!

Crim, call a museum (or a dealer in old paper) and get some names of people who do ancient document conservation, in particular old deeds, royal and governmental orders, etc., which frequently had wax seals affixed to them. And you should also determine exactly what material was used for this "sealing wax."

Richard's heart is in the right place, of course, but I don't think you want to do something that bascially amounts to varnishing the seal. For one thing, the chemicals in the polyurethane might cause damage to the chemical integrity of the seal.

Clay

[Guest]

Thank you for all your suggestion.
I will try to contact someone who preserves paper documents.
I wouldn't like to see my Chung Ling Soo deluxe book to loos its "precious" cinnamon powdered sealing wax!

[Guest]

you know, it doesnt sound like wax was used to create the seal. Wax doesnt usualy crack, because its a soft material.Wax seals last thousands of years with no troubles. This book was published in 2001.


However, if it is wax i would be tempted to lift it, and re join the pieces from behind, by using a warm knife to melt a little of the wax.
then, id store the doccument in a cool envioroment.

[Marco Pusterla]

Mattia,
Why don't you ask Todd Karr what substance the sealing "wax" actually is and if he knows about ways of preserving it? With the name of the material, you should be able at least to search the Internet or ask some expert in chemistry about how to preserve it...

Ciao!

[Guest]

Thank you very much for your suggestions!
Grazie Marco!

[Richard Kaufman]

What? It's SEALING WAX. Sold in every stationary store across the US.

[Guest]

Richard, i believe that old fasioned sealing wax, was made from beeswax.

the stuff you get all over the place, seems to have something added to it, which makes it hard and shiny.
thats the only reason i wondered if if would melt or not. :)

[Pete Biro]

Contact Todd Karr.

[Richard Kaufman]

Contacting Todd won't help: the seal on mine cracked into several pieces and he had no extra seals and wasn't able to do anything about it.

[Guest]

Guys;
All true Renaissance men make their own sealing wax rather than buying the modern "sealing wax" found in the malls.

The commercial makers of commonly found sealing wax discovered that customers were complaining when the sticks of their product arrived broken. These original versions were rather brittle - so the makers removed components and added resins to prevent breakage in shipping. In addition, many of the current products are basically hardened glue. This is similar to glue sticks. In fact, it is possible to buy current forms of sealing wax in stick form intended for low melt glue guns.

Below is a typical formula for old time red sealing wax:

Orange shellac ... 39 pounds
Rosin ... 78 pounds
Turpentine ... 14 pounds
Whiting ... 56 pounds
Silex ... 35 pounds
Pale vermillion ... 5 1/4 pounds

That should mix up enough for any of you :D

The newer products on the market are not intended for long term durability. They, like most items mass marketed today, are intended for show and that is all. Once you have bought the product, the makers are done with you. If it does not hold up, tough.

Crim, I think you can count on your seal falling apart as it will contain few items to keep it together. Many things that were readily available in a quality form when I was growing up are no longer being made anywhere in the world. I do not see the situation improving - ever. It is not Todd's fault. It is the way the world is becoming - disposable.
Jim

[Richard Kaufman]

It's true ... remember when Ritz crackers really tasted good and buttery? Can't say that anymore.

[Guest]

Are you claiming things DON'T taste better when they're sittin' on a Ritz?

[Dustin Stinett]

Not anymore Dave. They just taste like salt.

And I remember when Sunshine Bakeries made Vanilla Wafers using REAL vanilla extract (versus Nabiscos Nilla Waffers which uses imitation vanilla flavor). Sunshine was purchased by Keebler (a Kellogg company) and that was that; Keebler Golden Vanilla Wafers are artificially flavored. Its just not the same. Bummer.

Dustin