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> There are adhesive waxes, used in graphic arts for "pasteup", that can be
> thinned with mineral spirits to make a very tacky soft wax that is stable
> and inert, if kept in a sealed jar so the solvent doesn't evaporate out.
> That might be a simpler way to go, you could probably dice up white paraffin
> and vaseline in mineral spirits to get somethign similar too. (It can take a
> week or two for the parafin to thoroughly dissolve, bear in mind what we in
> the US call "kerosene" is also called "paraffin oil", the paraffin wax is
> quite compatible.)

Regarding graphics-arts waxes, they are pretty much a thing of the past
because of computer layout. Hot wax was used to adhere set type etc. to
camera-ready boards.  I do still have a hand waxer.  It used little ingots
of wax.  Manufacturer:  Lectro-Stick Corp, Chicago, IL 60613.  The solvent
used by graphic artist is called "Bestine" (Union, New Jersey) and may still
be available in drafting-supply stores.  I do not see an ingredients list
for Bestine, other than a caution that it contains Heptane.  Because of high
VOCs, the price for a quart is about $18 US these days.  Instructions for
the wax say it may be removed with benzol/rubber-cement thinner, so that may
be a cheaper solvent.

The problem with adhering items to a layout board was temperature in the
summer, as you may surmise.  So if taking this approach, thin the wax to a
point that it remains tacky in the water temperature you intend to use it.

You can cause paraffin wax to go into solution quickly by heating the
solvent and wax, but take care to do this in a water bath and away from open
flame--for obvious reasons.

Thinned beeswax may also be an alternative.

Bill

   

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