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From:
Allen Dick <[log in to unmask]>
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Date:
Thu, 19 Feb 1998 21:28:42 -0600
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>> FWIW,  I've never had a complaint and I've bleached wax quite a bit in
> >some cases using HCl (hydrocloric acid aka muriatic acid).
 
> I would like to know the "forumla" for bleached wax;how much wax to
> bleach ratio. This seems to be "trade" secret..willing to share?
 
Sure, but it ain't rocket science AFAIK -- at least the way I did it.
 
I just put some water in a drum, added wax chunks and then used a
big farmer's propane torch on the side/bottom (I tipped the drum a bit
with a brick so the flame could get under).
 
When it started to boil a little, I just added some acid from a jug of
stone mason's muriatic acid (33-1/3% HCl) -- maybe a cup or so, since our
water was alkali at that time and the wax cakes would turn out a little
soapy instead of solid and hard.  Read about it in the old ABC... as I
recall and guessed at the amount.
 
The wax turned out a few shades lighter, so I added a bit more. When it
didn't seem to make any more difference, I figured I had it about right.
 
Other acids like oxalic may do a better job, depending on what is casing
the discoloration.  Sun bleaching is the best -- it's natural and safe,
but it requires time and a large surface area to work.
 
FWIW, I recall hearing of farmers bleaching the dye out of tax free purple
dyed truck & tractor gas so they could use it in their cars without being
spotted.  They ostensibly put gas in glass bottles in the sun to do so.
Is that story true?  How would I know? ;)
 
Allen

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