There may be students who enjoy melting off the wax at the end of the process, while other would prefer another method. This post is for you, the teacher to decide what methods you will have available.
HEAT GUN
- 1 or 2 heat guns seems to work nicely. When students are ready to remove wax, send them to a table for a quick demonstration. The heat guns are nothing more than embossing tools that you can find in any paper crafting section of Michaels, Hobby Lobby, etc. Look for 50% off coupons to get a good deal.
- Place the egg on a napkin in a small basket, and wipe it as the wax melts.
- or lay the egg on a paper towel, cloth or tissue in a foil pie plate to absorb the wax.
CARDBOARD COFFEE HOLDERS can be most useful when removing wax with a hair dryer or heat gun. Line each section with a paper towel, coffee filter, etc., to absorb the wax.
Thanks to Tetyana Solotska for the photo and idea HEAT GUN SET UP
I found this clever idea on social media. The teacher of this pysanky class in Japan is not allowed to use any candle power, no flames allowed, during class. Instead she mounts a heat gun and is able to have students remove wax safely.
I found this clever idea on social media. The teacher of this pysanky class in Japan is not allowed to use any candle power, no flames allowed, during class. Instead she mounts a heat gun and is able to have students remove wax safely.
- You could instead of this mount, use a drying board to rest the egg on so your fingers don't get hot or damaged.
TOASTER OVEN
Pre-heat oven to 200-º or toaster oven
to 180 º
Place finished pysanky into a silicone muffin pan.
Time the eggs for 10 minutes, no longer.
The wax collects in the bottom, and when it cools, you can just pop the excess wax out!
You can also place a circle of paper toweling or a circle of coffee filter, in the bottom of each muffin space to absorb the wax (paper does not burn at low temperatures).
Finally, remove and wipe each pysanky with a clean soft tissue, if a lot of wax remains, repeat the process.
Pre-heat oven to 200-º or toaster oven
to 180 º
Place finished pysanky into a silicone muffin pan.
Time the eggs for 10 minutes, no longer.
The wax collects in the bottom, and when it cools, you can just pop the excess wax out!
You can also place a circle of paper toweling or a circle of coffee filter, in the bottom of each muffin space to absorb the wax (paper does not burn at low temperatures).
Finally, remove and wipe each pysanky with a clean soft tissue, if a lot of wax remains, repeat the process.
HAIR DRYER
What may be the safest way to remove wax when teaching children, is a simple hair dryer. When students are ready to remove wax, send them to a table with 1 0r 2 hair dryers, for a quick demonstration. Place the egg in a basket, on a coffee filter; the child may have a better control when removing wax.
What may be the safest way to remove wax when teaching children, is a simple hair dryer. When students are ready to remove wax, send them to a table with 1 0r 2 hair dryers, for a quick demonstration. Place the egg in a basket, on a coffee filter; the child may have a better control when removing wax.
ALCOHOL JEWELERS LAMP
Some recommend a small alcohol jewelers lamp. No soot and the adjustable flame is really low and hot. Safer than an open candle. It is also useful when working out doors in spite of any wind.
Some recommend a small alcohol jewelers lamp. No soot and the adjustable flame is really low and hot. Safer than an open candle. It is also useful when working out doors in spite of any wind.
 Tea lites don't get hot enough for heating a kistka or removing wax from the egg. |  NO TAPERS! too long... |  Use short stubs only, while writing and removing the wax. |
CANDLES
Some classes provide candles for the students. Others ask the students to bring a candle and holder; inevitably, they bring a taper(too long) or tea lite(not hot enough). Be sure your students bring a candle stub.
Some classes provide candles for the students. Others ask the students to bring a candle and holder; inevitably, they bring a taper(too long) or tea lite(not hot enough). Be sure your students bring a candle stub.
- Pure beeswax candles would be optimum, because it doesn't produce soot. But they are expensive.
- Church Candles- churches may be generous and let you have their candle remnants. These are often a higher content of beeswax along with the paraffin wax, are a good size for manipulating the kistka and the egg; and they are slower burning.
This is like an old dish cloth. When teaching I use candles to remove wax. But more important is that I give each person a cut piece of cloth that has some "bite" to it; like in the picture. I feel that paper towels, TP, only pushes the wax around and does not lift it, so wax is left behind on the egg.
SCORCHED EGG
For a scorched egg a bottle of Goo Gon and a q-tip can remove the mark. Try to demonstrate that the candle flame is adjacent to the egg; and the egg is not placed in the flame.
For a scorched egg a bottle of Goo Gon and a q-tip can remove the mark. Try to demonstrate that the candle flame is adjacent to the egg; and the egg is not placed in the flame.
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