The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Chuck, I sent him to your website as well. I have to add that molding temperatures differ with densities and kinds of metals. Your temperatures and times are correct for your wax and molds, no doubt about it I have seen that for myself. I have also used the datasheet to make some batches, and it works differently with my mold, probably because it is all one metal. The wax is great though, it just molds with a different preheat, to turn out with no dendrites. It is so interesting how just changing the location or the kind of mold will change everything.

The entire process involves numerous variables
of all sorts.

It shakes out to roughly (2) major categories:

They are:

1) waxmaking.
2) casting.

Attempting to learn both simultaneously without
any prior experience with either one presents
a difficult challenge.

People tend to nonchalantly ask: "how do I do it?"
or "what are the ingredients?"

Then after it gets explained to them that learning
this takes years and an absolute commitment, most of
them see how much work it is, and we never hear from
them again.

The short version of it all is:

There are at least a dozen variables in play
in each category. Waxmaking has all of its variables.
Casting has a whole different set of variables to juggle.

Remember folks, these are simultaneous variables.
That is, it's a dynamic situation which unfolds rapidly
in real time. The successful brown wax blank maker
learns to react quickly as the process moves on.
A little less heat to slow it down and get back on schedule.
A little more heat to catch up if it is getting behind
schedule.

Look at your cooling patterns. The solidified wax
in the pot has a story to tell, if you know how
to read it. Cast some small test samples. Split them open
and examine closely the interior surfaces. This will
show you how it's going to cast.

Try different brands of lye and stearic.
No two brands or types are exactly the same.

The amount of variables is infinite.

The best anyone can advise is if you want to make
these, start making them.

But, as we who make them have all found out,
this is a situation where you've got to want it bad
enough.

It's not like baking a cake where you can just
find a recipe, get the ingredients, and make it.
Making brown wax and casting decent cylinder records
requires much more thought. It is helpful if the
person first understands a few basics about metalworking,
machine tools, mechanical drawings, precision measurement.
Those will help you in the making of your cylinder mold.

For making the wax, some basic chemistry knowledge
can be very helpful. Learn some of the applicable terminology such as saponification, exothermic reactions,
temperature rise, atomic weight, formula mass, flash point.....just to name a few.

Then go and do your own research. Read up on the history
of early cylinders and sound recording. Study about
soap making. Brown wax is a type of soap. It's metallic
soap. Edison called it "A soap that doesn't lather"

Find out why those guys working at Edison's lab
had to try well over 1000 experiments before they
found the basic formula we still use to this day.

Hi Richard.
If so. The same happens with the passion for my profession.
"There is a driving force more powerful than steam, electricity and atomic energy: the will"
Albert Einstein
That is my strength: the will

FRANCISCO wrote:Hi Richard.
If so. The same happens with the passion for my profession.
"There is a driving force more powerful than steam, electricity and atomic energy: the will"
Albert Einstein
That is my strength: the will

Great. Let us know when you get some brown wax
cooked up.

Hi Mr. Richard. I am looking for a parlograph, shaving device or the upper bench of a phonograph to adapt an engine. I want to have the shaver first designed and finished. The turner has asked me to give him the measurements of your molds in millimeters. When I translate your measurements in millimeters and have the shaver I will start cooking the wax. I just want to cook my own cylinders, excellent quality will not be necessary. regards