Is There More Than One Type Of Microcrystalline Wax?
Microcrystalline Wax is derived from petroleum oil. Wax refiners purchase the heavy distillates which have been removed during the production of lubricant oil and refine it to produce microcrystalline wax. Microcrystalline wax is available in several colors from dark brown (which is often used in wax casting) to white (which is used in cosmetics). We offer a high quality white grade for those who insist on using microcrystalline in their encaustic paintings. Microcrystalline does have some very nice properties like elasticity and a chemical structure which makes it compatible with natural waxes and oils. Essentially, it is a complicated carbon based wax characterized by branched, cyclic chains meaning it blends better with beeswax and oil colors than paraffin waxes do. For comparison, paraffin waxes are only simple, straight carbon based chains, which will shrink and not blend as well. Microcrystalline wax melts at a higher temperature (170 to 180 degrees F) than beeswax-based paints (143 to 150 degrees) so this allows you to apply beeswax-based encaustic paints over the sculpted microcrystalline surface with minimal disturbance to the layer underneath. This is a helpful because microcrystalline wax will yellow over time (wax refiners never get 100% of the oil out of the wax) and therefore, by using it in the early stages of your painting you can eventually encapsulate it with beeswax-based paints. Keep in mind that when you melt microcrystalline wax at its higher temperature you will also be filling your studio with petroleum-based vapors and therefore, plenty of ventilation is a must in your studio. You also must be careful not to burn your encaustic paints when heating your palette to this level.