Wax Tablet Construction

[Lucius Duccius Rufinus]

I've recently thought about making myself a few wax tablets, i've read a few websites about making these, and it seems pretty simple, i guess the complicated part is making the stylus... but i was wondering if anyone has made their own? and could share some tips for me...

I'm in the process of trying to find some decent cheap wood for making these, i have alot of bee's wax, but what i am wondering is what the best type of Wax colorant to use is... as from what i understand when the wax is heated its almost transparent...

Any help would be fantastic!!

Cheers

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

The wax could be coloured if you put some very fine ash. In that way the wax will get a dark grey/ black colour.

For make the stilus, the simplest way it to get some hard wood stick and make a point end with a knife and another smooth or rounded end with the knife and a file or sand paper.

[Medicus matt]

There's some useful info here which I found when I first started making them:-

[url:fckyt7a2]http://www.randyasplund.com/browse/scribepg/tablets.html[/url]

Must admit I got lazy and stopped colouring the wax. Beeswax is naturally opaque, even when you reheat it a few times, and it's just as easy to read as coloured wax.

[Lucius Duccius Rufinus]

There's some useful info here which I found when I first started making them:-

[url:2230nk01]http://www.randyasplund.com/browse/scribepg/tablets.html[/url]

Must admit I got lazy and stopped colouring the wax. Beeswax is naturally opaque, even when you reheat it a few times, and it's just as easy to read as coloured wax.

Matt,

That was one of the websites i found about wax tablet construction, what specific products did you use when coloring the wax when you did?

Was wondering if something like food coloring might be appropriate... (abiet, not exactly athentic, but alot of food colorings come from natural sources).

Cheers

[Medicus matt]

I had some powdered ochres (red, yellow and purple) from the old iron mines at Clerewell which worked well. Purple wax, very posh!

I also got some decent results with finely crushed charcoal.

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

Yes, i mean charcoal powder instead ashes.

[Martin Moser]

Hi Lucius,

I'm using soot, this gives a dark grey to black color with beeswax. See here e.g.

For a stilus, seehere.

And for inspiration go to the Vindolanda tablets :-) )