Paraffin is a substance used by many surfers to create friction, making the material on boards less slippery. There are two types of paraffin available: one made for cold water, used at lower temperatures, and one for hot water, used at higher temperatures. Making organic paraffin for hot water is pretty easy. You just need beeswax and coconut oil. On the other hand, the one for cold water uses natural resin and, therefore, it is a little more difficult to prepare. In the long run, however, producing your own paraffin can be much cheaper, besides giving you the certainty that the product you are using is natural and not harmful to the environment.
Ingredients
Paraffin for hot water
- One cup (240 ml) of beeswax.
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) of coconut oil.
- A few drops of essential oils (optional).
Paraffin for cold water
- One cup (240 ml) of beeswax.
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) of coconut oil.
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) of resin.
- A few drops of essential oils (optional).
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Making Paraffin for Hot Water
Step 1. Heat the water in a double boiler
Fill the bottom of a double boiler with one and a half cups (355 ml) of water. Heat over medium heat until water vaporizes. It is not necessary to boil it. Just let it get hot enough to melt the beeswax in the steam.
If you don't have a specific pot for bain-marie, heat the water in an ordinary pot and place a pot of the same size on top of the first one
Step 2. Place the wax and coconut oil on top of the pan
When the water starts to steam, put a cup (240 ml) of beeswax and 1/4 cup (60 ml) of coconut oil on the top of the pan and place it in the lower container.
Step 3. Melt the ingredients, stirring constantly
Once placed in a bain-marie, the wax and coconut oil will start to melt. Stir them constantly so they don't stick to the sides of the pan.
Step 4. Add essential oils
To make the paraffin more fragrant, add a few drops of essential oils to the wax and coconut oil mixture. Some of the most used essences are lavender, mint and rosemary.
If you prefer the subtle aroma of coconut oil, leave essential oils aside
Method 2 of 3: Making Paraffin for Cold Water
Step 1. Look for a healthy coniferous tree
Paraffin made for cold water differs from that for hot water in that it needs natural resin to be prepared. To extract the resin, the first thing you need to do is find a healthy coniferous tree with a fair, smooth bark and not too many dead branches.
- A coniferous tree is any tree that produces cones, which in turn are those triangular fruits that appear on branches. Some examples of conifers are pine, araucaria, maple and cedar.
- If you don't want to extract the resin yourself, do a search on Mercado Livre or other similar sites.
Step 2. Cut a fairly straight splinter from the tree bark
When you find a healthy tree, use a machete or an ax to make an opening in the bark, about three feet above the ground. The cut should be rectangular and approximately 25 cm long and 15 cm wide.
Try to make a clean cut, about 1.5 cm deep
Step 3. Place a bucket under the tree
Place a bucket against the tree, just below the cut you made. Using a straight piece of metal or any other smooth material, make a ramp connecting the opening to the bucket.
The ramp will carry the resin that runs off the tree directly into the bucket. Therefore, it is very important that it stays well glued to the shell and container
Step 4. Cut V-shaped chips into the rectangle
After putting the bucket and ramp in place, use the ax or machete to drive V-shaped lines into the rectangle. The cuts should be about 1 cm apart from each other.
To make it easier, crimp one side of the V at a time. Start by making the cut on the left side of the rectangle. Then make the cut on the other side
Step 5. Check the bucket daily
Collecting natural resin is not instantaneous. You may need to wait several days to get the required amount of material. Leave the bucket under the tree and have a look at it daily. When you have enough resin to fill 1/4 cup, take the bucket off the tree and pour the material into a small bowl.
Collecting 1/4 cup (60 ml) of resin should take between two and three days
Step 6. Melt ingredients in a bain-marie pan to form paraffin
Use the same method used in preparing paraffin for hot water. The only difference is that you will need to add 1/4 cup (60 ml) of resin to the beeswax and coconut oil. The final product will also be a little stickier than paraffin for hot water.
Method 3 of 3: Potting the paraffin
Step 1. Put the paraffin in a can or pot
Once the ingredients are completely mixed, pour the mixture into a pot or can large enough to accommodate it. Scrape the sides of the pan well so as not to leave any traces of paraffin behind.
Choose a container with a lid so the paraffin does not dry out
Step 2. Allow the paraffin to harden
Before closing the container, let the paraffin harden for three to four hours or overnight. Without the lid, heat will escape from the container, causing the paraffin to harden more quickly without losing consistency.
Step 3. Save or use paraffin
Once the paraffin hardens, it will be ready to use. When finished applying it to the board, cover the container and store it in a cool place, away from sunlight.
Tips
- Scrape the pan well to remove all the paraffin and wash it off immediately. Once dry, paraffin can be difficult to remove.
- Buy natural resin online if you don't want to extract it yourself.