Last night the Mother In Law dripped hot candle wax on to the front of my
TEAC floor standing speakers. The fronts come off and the material is like
'thick stockings'. Anybody got any ideas on how to remove it without
damaging the material. I did think a hairdryer but the heat may be too
fierce, or hot water, does anybody know the melting point of candle wax?

TIA

John

Try hard freezing that should make it more brittle,melting does not sound a
good ides to me,if it does not work on the covers, it will definately work
on the mother in law

"Alex" wrote in message
...
Try hard freezing that should make it more brittle,melting does not sound
a
good ides to me,if it does not work on the covers, it will definately work
on the mother in law

traditional remedy is to iron it
off using absorbant paper

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
John wrote:

Last night the Mother In Law dripped hot candle wax on to the front
of my TEAC floor standing speakers. The fronts come off and the
material is like 'thick stockings'. Anybody got any ideas on how to
remove it without damaging the material. I did think a hairdryer but
the heat may be too fierce, or hot water, does anybody know the
melting point of candle wax?

TIA

John


The standard way to get it off clothing is to use a warm iron with brown
paper between the clothing and iron. The iron melts the wax - which is then
absorbed by the brown paper. It *might* work with speaker fronts - but only
if can support them adequately on a flat surface. [I assume that there's
some sort of frame which would prevent the fabric from going down flat onto
an ironing board?] Maybe you could put a folded towel or something similar
underneath it.
--
Cheers,
Set Square
______
Please reply to newsgroup. Reply address is Black Hole!

"John" wrote in message
...
Last night the Mother In Law dripped hot candle wax on to the front of my
TEAC floor standing speakers. The fronts come off and the material is
like
'thick stockings'. Anybody got any ideas on how to remove it without
damaging the material. I did think a hairdryer but the heat may be too
fierce, or hot water, does anybody know the melting point of candle wax?

TIA

John



the standard way to get wax out of material is to cover the waxed area with
brown paper and iron on top of it, the melted wax will be absorbed by the
brown paper. but i'm not sure i would risk that on my speaker fronts.
maybe use lots of layers of paper and a low iron setting.

"MiniEmma" wrote in
:


"John" wrote in message
...
Last night the Mother In Law dripped hot candle wax on to the front
of my TEAC floor standing speakers. The fronts come off and the
material is
like
'thick stockings'. Anybody got any ideas on how to remove it without
damaging the material. I did think a hairdryer but the heat may be
too fierce, or hot water, does anybody know the melting point of
candle wax?

the standard way to get wax out of material is to cover the waxed area
with brown paper and iron on top of it, the melted wax will be
absorbed by the brown paper. but i'm not sure i would risk that on my
speaker fronts. maybe use lots of layers of paper and a low iron
setting.


Just to issue a note of caution about this ironing out wax idea. I tried it
with my carpet and stuck the iron to the carpet. I moved the sofa forward
to cover the melted bit (in the shape of a hotplate) but the iron went in
the bin. Just be careful!


john

"Sneezy" wrote in message
22.41...
"MiniEmma" wrote in
:


"John" wrote in message
...
Last night the Mother In Law dripped hot candle wax on to the front
of my TEAC floor standing speakers. The fronts come off and the
material is
like
'thick stockings'. Anybody got any ideas on how to remove it without
damaging the material. I did think a hairdryer but the heat may be
too fierce, or hot water, does anybody know the melting point of
candle wax?

the standard way to get wax out of material is to cover the waxed area
with brown paper and iron on top of it, the melted wax will be
absorbed by the brown paper. but i'm not sure i would risk that on my
speaker fronts. maybe use lots of layers of paper and a low iron
setting.


Just to issue a note of caution about this ironing out wax idea. I tried
it
with my carpet and stuck the iron to the carpet. I moved the sofa forward
to cover the melted bit (in the shape of a hotplate) but the iron went in
the bin. Just be careful!


john

VERY good point, i have done the same myself but had, until now, forgotten

make sure all surrounding surfaces are covered and that the iron never comes
into direct contact with your speaker front!

Had a similar problem with our speakers when the missus put a candle on one
and it dripped right down the front of it.

I popped off the cover and held it under the hot tap which melted the wax
enough to wash it away sucessfully.
( a little light brushing was required to agitate the more stuborn bits )

hth,
Jon

"John" wrote in message
...
Last night the Mother In Law dripped hot candle wax on to the front of my
TEAC floor standing speakers. The fronts come off and the material is
like
'thick stockings'. Anybody got any ideas on how to remove it without
damaging the material. I did think a hairdryer but the heat may be too
fierce, or hot water, does anybody know the melting point of candle wax?

TIA

John

"John" wrote in message
...
Last night the Mother In Law dripped hot candle wax on to the front of my
TEAC floor standing speakers. The fronts come off and the material is
like
'thick stockings'. Anybody got any ideas on how to remove it without
damaging the material. I did think a hairdryer but the heat may be too
fierce, or hot water,



does anybody know the melting point of candle wax?

Depends on the quality of the 'wax'. I doubt that it will be beeswax so will
be any one of a variety of solid paraffins or stearin.

The melting point isn't important, as others have suggested use an iron with
paper between the sole plate and the item. But start on a very low
temperature setting on the iron and only slowly raise it.

Recently I spilled tallow all over the landing carpet and found that
unprinted newspaper was extremely effective in absorbing the tallow. Some
brown papers are glazed, you need an untreated paper for best effect. It
might even be a good idea to use more than one layer, removing the lower one
as it absorbs the wax.

Mary

TIA

John

Wax melts somewhere in the range 60-70 degrees C if my memory is correct.

"John" wrote in message
...
Last night the Mother In Law dripped hot candle wax on to the front of my
TEAC floor standing speakers. The fronts come off and the material is
like
'thick stockings'. Anybody got any ideas on how to remove it without
damaging the material. I did think a hairdryer but the heat may be too
fierce, or hot water, does anybody know the melting point of candle wax?

TIA

John

"Sneezy" wrote in message
22.41...
"MiniEmma" wrote in
:


"John" wrote in message
...
Last night the Mother In Law dripped hot candle wax on to the front
of my TEAC floor standing speakers. The fronts come off and the
material is
like
'thick stockings'. Anybody got any ideas on how to remove it without
damaging the material. I did think a hairdryer but the heat may be
too fierce, or hot water, does anybody know the melting point of
candle wax?

the standard way to get wax out of material is to cover the waxed area
with brown paper and iron on top of it, the melted wax will be
absorbed by the brown paper. but i'm not sure i would risk that on my
speaker fronts. maybe use lots of layers of paper and a low iron
setting.


Just to issue a note of caution about this ironing out wax idea. I tried
it
with my carpet and stuck the iron to the carpet. I moved the sofa forward
to cover the melted bit (in the shape of a hotplate) but the iron went in
the bin. Just be careful!

Never place the iron directly onto a material which doesn't have a ironing
label and you are unsure of. Although brown paper is the traditional remedy
it's much better to use kitchen paper these days. Put it on both sides of
the speaker material and use the lowest iron setting. Candle wax melts at a
low point. Change the paper a few times to make sure you blot it all.
Good luck.

"MiniEmma" wrote in
:


"Sneezy" wrote in message
22.41...
"MiniEmma" wrote in
:

Just to issue a note of caution about this ironing out wax idea. I
tried it with my carpet and stuck the iron to the carpet. I moved the
sofa forward to cover the melted bit (in the shape of a hotplate) but
the iron went in the bin. Just be careful!


VERY good point, i have done the same myself but had, until now,
forgotten

make sure all surrounding surfaces are covered and that the iron never
comes into direct contact with your speaker front!


It was incredibly stupid of me I know and I haven't lit a candle in the
many years since but... The reason I was trying to get wax out of the
carpet was because I put a candle in one of those little /plastic/ jugs you
use to fill an iron with water. I don't know what I was thinking. I went
into the kitchen to talk to my mate. After a bit I noticed I could smell
burning plastic. It took a few seconds for me to realise. Racing back into
the living room I found that the plastic jug had gone up in flames along
with the antique, veneered wooden display cabinet it was stood on. I
managed to put the flames out but there's now a large burnt area on the top
of the cabinet and the wax and plastic has ran down the front, leaving a
mark. It was a family piece of furniture that had been entrusted to my
care, so I had some explaining to do.

Moral - be extra, extra careful with candles!


john

Sneezy wrote:

Racing back into
the living room I found that the plastic jug had gone up in flames along
with the antique, veneered wooden display cabinet it was stood on. I
managed to put the flames out but there's now a large burnt area on the top
of the cabinet and the wax and plastic has ran down the front, leaving a
mark. It was a family piece of furniture that had been entrusted to my
care, so I had some explaining to do.

I know it's against the spirit of DIY, but... a French polisher will be
able to sort that out. If you're anywhere near Essex I can recommend a
superb bloke, who has worked miracles on a couple of pieces of mine.

--
Ben Blaney
Must try harder

"Sneezy" wrote in message
.115...

It was incredibly stupid of me I know and I haven't lit a candle in the
many years since but... The reason I was trying to get wax out of the
carpet was because I put a candle in one of those little /plastic/ jugs
you
use to fill an iron with water.

A man I know did exactly the same thing. I'm very pleased about it because
up to now you'd think it was only women who had accidents with candles!


Moral - be extra, extra careful with candles!

As a (beeswax) candle maker I'd endorse that but they really aren't
dangerous in themselves - only when abused. The only accident I've had with
a candle - in a long life - was when I allowed one to burn right down in a
wooden candleholder. The smell of burning wood alerted me. You only do
something like that once.

I still use the candleholder.

Mary


john

Ben Blaney wrote in
:

Sneezy wrote:

Racing back into
the living room I found that the plastic jug had gone up in flames
along with the antique, veneered wooden display cabinet it was stood
on. I managed to put the flames out but there's now a large burnt area
on the top of the cabinet and the wax and plastic has ran down the
front, leaving a mark. It was a family piece of furniture that had
been entrusted to my care, so I had some explaining to do.

I know it's against the spirit of DIY, but... a French polisher will
be able to sort that out. If you're anywhere near Essex I can
recommend a superb bloke, who has worked miracles on a couple of
pieces of mine.


It needs a few new layers of veneer, then a polish. I just put a stack of
paperwork over it I guess some day I'll be brave and find out the cost.
Not that I can afford anything at the mo.


john (in Leeds - city, not village)

The message
from "Chris Oates" none contains these words:


"Alex" wrote in message
...
Try hard freezing that should make it more brittle,melting does not sound
a
good ides to me,if it does not work on the covers, it will definately work
on the mother in law

traditional remedy is to iron it
off using absorbant paper

Be very careful if you choose this method! I managed to burn part of my
sitting room carpet, while attempting to remove candle wax!

--
AnneJ
ICQ:- 119531282

The message 1
from Sneezy contains these words:

"MiniEmma" wrote in
:

"John" wrote in message
...
Last night the Mother In Law dripped hot candle wax on to the front
of my TEAC floor standing speakers. The fronts come off and the
material is
like
'thick stockings'. Anybody got any ideas on how to remove it without
damaging the material. I did think a hairdryer but the heat may be
too fierce, or hot water, does anybody know the melting point of
candle wax?

the standard way to get wax out of material is to cover the waxed area
with brown paper and iron on top of it, the melted wax will be
absorbed by the brown paper. but i'm not sure i would risk that on my
speaker fronts. maybe use lots of layers of paper and a low iron
setting.

Just to issue a note of caution about this ironing out wax idea. I tried it
with my carpet and stuck the iron to the carpet. I moved the sofa forward
to cover the melted bit (in the shape of a hotplate) but the iron went in
the bin. Just be careful!

Oops! I did the same, through four sheets of kitchen paper!

--
AnneJ
ICQ #:- 119531282

John wrote:

Last night the Mother In Law dripped hot candle wax on to the front of my
TEAC floor standing speakers. The fronts come off and the material is like
'thick stockings'. Anybody got any ideas on how to remove it without
damaging the material. I did think a hairdryer but the heat may be too
fierce, or hot water, does anybody know the melting point of candle wax?


Ohmygawd.

Wax softens at water boiling pount, but warm washing won't shift it.

I'd suggest first of all soaking in a warm organic solvent - white
spirit may indeed work well, followed by dropping in a basin of
detergent of some sort.

If the covers can't be removed for washing, try gently dabbing with
absorbent paper and cellulose thinners.


TIA

John

Chris Oates wrote:

"Alex" wrote in message
...

Try hard freezing that should make it more brittle,melting does not sound

a

good ides to me,if it does not work on the covers, it will definately work
on the mother in law


traditional remedy is to iron it
off using absorbant paper



Yeah, and I've got patches of stripped varnish on the dining table from
doing this last year.

Solvent is an alternative on surfaces that can't take heat.

Sneezy wrote:

"MiniEmma" wrote in
:


"Sneezy" wrote in message
.222.41...

"MiniEmma" wrote in
:

Just to issue a note of caution about this ironing out wax idea. I
tried it with my carpet and stuck the iron to the carpet. I moved the
sofa forward to cover the melted bit (in the shape of a hotplate) but
the iron went in the bin. Just be careful!


VERY good point, i have done the same myself but had, until now,
forgotten

make sure all surrounding surfaces are covered and that the iron never
comes into direct contact with your speaker front!


It was incredibly stupid of me I know and I haven't lit a candle in the
many years since but... The reason I was trying to get wax out of the
carpet was because I put a candle in one of those little /plastic/ jugs you
use to fill an iron with water. I don't know what I was thinking. I went
into the kitchen to talk to my mate. After a bit I noticed I could smell
burning plastic. It took a few seconds for me to realise. Racing back into
the living room I found that the plastic jug had gone up in flames along
with the antique, veneered wooden display cabinet it was stood on. I
managed to put the flames out but there's now a large burnt area on the top
of the cabinet and the wax and plastic has ran down the front, leaving a
mark. It was a family piece of furniture that had been entrusted to my
care, so I had some explaining to do.

Moral - be extra, extra careful with candles!



I believe more people die as a result of candle acidents than fireworks.

I wonder if Cherise wasn't such a dippy Nu Age aromethreapyfeng****er,
they would be banned.



john

Mary Fisher wrote:

"Sneezy" wrote in message

Moral - be extra, extra careful with candles!


As a (beeswax) candle maker I'd endorse that but they really aren't
dangerous in themselves - only when abused. The only accident I've had with
a candle - in a long life - was when I allowed one to burn right down in a
wooden candleholder. The smell of burning wood alerted me. You only do
something like that once.


You only do something like that once. That has an ominous ring.

Frankly I think candles are carcinogenic and extremely dangerous to have
in a house. SWMBO has spilt wax all over a table, ruining it using an
iron to get it out, all over a brand new tablecloth that won't wash out,
all down a period brick wall, and, hasn't quite managed to set the
kittens alight, but there is still time.

Open fires come under serious building regulations. You can't buy
fireworks easily and there are steps to ban them, but candles - oh you
can have a merry Xmas setting fire to your house with no goverment
health warnings and no instructions at all.




I still use the candleholder.

Mary


john

"Mary Fisher" wrote
| "Sneezy" wrote
| Moral - be extra, extra careful with candles!
| As a (beeswax) candle maker I'd endorse that but they really aren't
| dangerous in themselves - only when abused.

As it seems that candles, electricity generation and distribution
resiliency, and emergency lighting, are currently or fairly recently popular
topics of conversation he

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3362555.stm
Investigators have been trying to find out what caused a fire which killed a
woman and her grandchild. The fire broke out at 60-year-old Ellen Simpson's
cottage in Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway, at 0400 GMT on New Year's
Day. The woman and her 13-year-old granddaughter, who was staying there with
her mother, died. One theory is that candles being used during a power cut
may have been the source of the blaze.

Owain

"Mary Fisher" wrote
| "Sneezy" wrote
| Moral - be extra, extra careful with candles!
| As a (beeswax) candle maker I'd endorse that but they really aren't
| dangerous in themselves - only when abused.

As it seems that candles, electricity generation and distribution
resiliency, and emergency lighting, are currently or fairly recently popular
topics of conversation he

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3362555.stm
Investigators have been trying to find out what caused a fire which killed a
woman and her grandchild. The fire broke out at 60-year-old Ellen Simpson's
cottage in Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway, at 0400 GMT on New Year's
Day. The woman and her 13-year-old granddaughter, who was staying there with
her mother, died. One theory is that candles being used during a power cut
may have been the source of the blaze.

Owain

On Fri, 02 Jan 2004 09:22:06 +0000, The Natural Philosopher
wrote:


Ohmygawd.

Wax softens at water boiling pount, but warm washing won't shift it.

I'd suggest first of all soaking in a warm organic solvent - white
spirit may indeed work well, followed by dropping in a basin of
detergent of some sort.

If the covers can't be removed for washing, try gently dabbing with
absorbent paper and cellulose thinners.

SWMBO lit one of those hideous multi dipped and carved American
decorative candles in a saucer on the hearth, (as per the
instructions) it was about 10" tall. Unwisely we left it burning
unattended and at some stage when it had burnt well down the side
melted through and released about a pound of melted wax which
overwhelmed the saucer and spilled onto the new carpet. :-(

I got it off completely by softening it with a hair dryer and
mechanically scraping it off, then I used a heavy organic solvent (so
it didn't just evaporate immediately) alternating with a steam cleaner
to keep the wax liquid. When I'd got all I could off by doing that I
used a lighter organic solvent to remove what was left inc. last
traces of the heavy solvent.

DG

The Natural Philosopher wrote in message ...

Frankly I think candles are carcinogenic and extremely dangerous to have
in a house.

I've never heard that one before. Do you have any evidence for this
that I can wave under the nose of my candlephile SWMBO?

(You have to admit they're fun to play with at the dinner table
though...)

David

The Natural Philosopher wrote in message ...

I believe more people die as a result of candle acidents than fireworks.

Oh yes.

17 died in the UK in house fires caused by candles in 2001 (the most
recent stats available at www.odpm.gov.uk)

There have been only 3 firework fatalities between 1997 and 2002

David
(Guess who's the only one in the office back at work today, and is
BORED!)

"Owain" wrote in message
...

| As a (beeswax) candle maker I'd endorse that but they really aren't
| dangerous in themselves - only when abused.

As it seems that candles, electricity generation and distribution
resiliency, and emergency lighting, are currently or fairly recently
popular
topics of conversation he

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3362555.stm
Investigators have been trying to find out what caused a fire which killed
a
woman and her grandchild. The fire broke out at 60-year-old Ellen
Simpson's
cottage in Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway, at 0400 GMT on New Year's
Day. The woman and her 13-year-old granddaughter, who was staying there
with
her mother, died. One theory is that candles being used during a power cut
may have been the source of the blaze.

Theory.

But I still maintain that a candle, of itself, is an innocuous item.

To cause any problem the wick has to be lit.

Then the candle has to be placed near something flammable, or not fixed in a
proper holder, or caried about without due care, or left in a draught or ...

I repeat that candles aren't | dangerous in themselves - only when abused.
And who causes the abuse?

People.

Blame people for such accidents.

The oxygen in the air can't be blamed for the fire in the factory.

Mary


Owain

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...
Chris Oates wrote:

"Alex" wrote in message
...

Try hard freezing that should make it more brittle,melting does not
sound

a

good ides to me,if it does not work on the covers, it will definately
work
on the mother in law


traditional remedy is to iron it
off using absorbant paper



Yeah, and I've got patches of stripped varnish on the dining table from
doing this last year.

Solvent is an alternative on surfaces that can't take heat.

Careful with this too. Today my 3 yr old got nail varnish on a polished
side table. As she isn't allowed nail polish on her own and is a very
resourceful kid and a sneaky wee git, she swiped nail polish remover and
proceeded to remove nail polish and table varnish right back to bare wood.
The damn nail polish is crap at remove nail polish too! Looks like a job
for the professionals

Mary Fisher wrote:


I repeat that candles aren't | dangerous in themselves - only when abused.


Same goes for AK47's, atom bombs and castor oil plants. And indeed
morphine etc etc.


And who causes the abuse?


Users



People.


Precisley.



Blame people for such accidents.


However, the carcinogenic nature of the burnt wax is very large. There
are no government warning on em.

Tobacco is not harmful either, unless lit, and inhaled.



The oxygen in the air can't be blamed for the fire in the factory.


I am pretty sure that's only beacsue some sodding Union hasn't gotten
around to thinking of it yet.



Mary


Owain

Suz wrote:

"The Natural Philosopher" wrote in message
...

Chris Oates wrote:


"Alex" wrote in message
...


Try hard freezing that should make it more brittle,melting does not

sound

a


good ides to me,if it does not work on the covers, it will definately

work

on the mother in law



traditional remedy is to iron it
off using absorbant paper



Yeah, and I've got patches of stripped varnish on the dining table from
doing this last year.

Solvent is an alternative on surfaces that can't take heat.


Careful with this too. Today my 3 yr old got nail varnish on a polished
side table. As she isn't allowed nail polish on her own and is a very
resourceful kid and a sneaky wee git, she swiped nail polish remover and
proceeded to remove nail polish and table varnish right back to bare wood.
The damn nail polish is crap at remove nail polish too! Looks like a job
for the professionals



Yes. Acetone/Xylene will attack many varnishes, but not polyurethanes.

Actually, you may find that a thorough dousing of the whole table with
nail varnish remover followed by a rub over with a scrap cloth will at
least get the surface even, and then another layer of some suitable
varnish will restore it well.