To: "North American Fruit Explorers" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: Re: [NAFEX] wax temperature
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2004 09:51:21 -0600
Tom wrote:
I just use one of those electric heating pads that goes under a cup
of coffee,
on the desktop to keep coffee/tea warm. Melts grafting wax easily.
and Kevin wrote:
I use a meat thermometer and set the indicator at
170 degrees F. I have read
and found that it is ok if below this temp. I use a potpouri electric
heater, looks like a mini crock pot.
Paraffin might be liquid at that temp but I think just barely and it
cracks
more when cold and comes off.
I do 99% of my grafting on-site. I'd have to string together ten or
twelve 100
ft extension cords to get a heated wax pot to my nursery beds or the trees at
the
far side of the orchard or on the other side of the pond, not to mention the
CRP
bufferstrip where most of the nut trees are - it's only 100 ft wide, but
close to
a mile long. Parafilm is the only viable choice for me, though the Doc
Farwell's
grafting sealant others use would probably be serviceable.