The paraffin you get in the store is pure [you can use it to make candy!]!
Embedding paraffin used to be made up.  Here are some old recipes from Gray,
P, "Microtomists Formulary and Guide", Krieger Publishing.

	Altman:  60degreeMP:  paraffin 85, tristearin 10, beeswax 5.
	Beyer:  paraffin 100, rubber 2, beeswax 0.5
	Gray 1941:  paraffin(MP 58) 70, rubber 5, beeswax 5, spermaceti 5,
nevillite "5" or clarite " 15 [see nailpolishes for this acrylic polymer]
NOTE:  this composition melts at about 50 but will cut 5um ribbons at room
temp up to 85 degrees F.
	Pohlman:  paraffin 10, bayberry wax 1
	Modern paraffin embedments are mixtures of paraffin and various
other components including polyethylene glycols of different MW's (I think!)

The above have to mixed thoroughly, and you must BELIEVE that there is NO
other way!

Regards,

Fred

> ----------
> From: 	Alan E. Davis
> Sent: 	Sunday, April 14, 2002 7:54 PM
> To: 	microscopy@sparc5.microscopy.com
> Subject: 	Candle wax for Paraffin  embedding?
> 
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> 
> Is it possible, desireable, undesireable, to use candle paraffin (from the
> corner market) for embedding in a pinch?  What would be the tradeoffs?  
> 
> I'm sorry for the obviously off-mainstream request.
> 
> Alan Davis
> 
> 
> -- 
> Alan E. Davis, Science Instructor    
> Marianas High School
> PMB 30, Box 10006,
> Saipan, MP  96950
> Northern Mariana Islands
> adavis@saipan.com
> 
> 
> "An inviscid theory of flow renders the screw useless, but the need
> for one non-existent."   
>              ---Lord Raleigh(aka John William Strutt),or else
>                  his son, Jr., who was also a scientist.
> 
>