Common Wax Sealing Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Everyone who starts with wax sealing runs into the same obstacles. That's completely normal and no reason to give up. Most problems are easy to fix with a small adjustment, and once you know the cause, you'll usually never make that mistake again. Below I'll walk you through the most common slip-ups, why they happen and how to prevent them.

Uneven or incomplete prints

A print that looks half finished or lopsided is usually down to too little wax or uneven pressure while stamping. A stamp placed at an angle also gives a distorted result.

Fix: use a little too much wax rather than too little, and press the stamp straight down evenly, without twisting or tilting it.

Wax spreads too much

Overheating the wax beads affects the size of your finished seal. Once it gets too hot, the wax starts to smoke and will spread too far when you pour it onto your project.

Fix: melt on a low heat and stir regularly. Always use a tealight with a burn time of 4 hours. This keeps the flame further from the spoon, so the wax is much less likely to overheat.

Wax doesn't stick well to the surface

On smooth or coated materials, such as glossy paper, wax can stick less well and come loose again once it's dried.

Fix: test on a small piece of the same material first. If the wax doesn't hold, use a wax seal mat together with backing stickers, so you make the seal separately and stick it on afterwards.

Too many air bubbles in the print

Small bubbles usually appear when the wax has melted too quickly or at too high a heat, trapping air inside.

Fix: melt slowly at a lower temperature and let the wax settle for a moment after melting, before you pour it.

Smudges or leftover wax around the seal

This usually happens when too much wax has been poured, or when the spoon was held a touch too close to the surface while pouring.

Fix: pour the wax from a small height, in a slow, controlled stream.

Frequently asked questions about troubleshooting

I'm doing everything right, but the seal still isn't working. What now?

Go through the steps in this guide once more, slowly. The cause is often a combination of two small things, for example slightly too little wax and a slightly short cooling time.

Can I reuse a failed seal?

Yes. Just melt the wax again in your spoon and try again. Nothing is wasted.

How do I stop making the same mistake over and over?

Make a few practice seals on a wax seal mat before starting on your actual project. That way you'll spot what's going wrong quickly, without it affecting your final envelope or card straight away.

With these basics under your belt, you'll avoid the most common frustrations and get started with a lot more confidence. Still unsure which starter kit to begin with? I explain it all in my beginner's guide to the Wax Seal Starter Kit. And curious which stamp suits your style? Take a look at my Wax Seal Stamps collection or read my article on which wax seal stamp suits you.