Vistenex - The Do's and Don'ts

General Discussion
1

Hi guys,

I just bought a stash of vistenex. What i need however is some information with handling it. Does anyone know the temperature at which it should be melted? Also looking for info such at the flash point, so I can avoid it! And any general safety info on dealing with Vistenex, if any is needed? Also, can it be melted, and then re-melted over and over?

2

Okay, so more for my own reference than anything else but apprently the flash point of Vistanex is 250C and should be melted at 37C when making surf wax, but don’t quote me on that should anyone at some point read this!

3

what  is vistenex / vistanex ???

4

adhesive in surf wax

5

adhesive ??

 

I just used vaseline in the mix with the wax , when I attempted making wax.

 

  do you save much money doing it yourself ?

 

  and is the  wax good / ‘better’ than what is available , commercially ?

 

  do you scent it ?

 

   cheers

 

  ben

6

…interesting…[this guy’s recipe?]…

 

http://www.surfing-waves.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11974

 

"   750mls of cocunut oil … and 2.25**kgs **of melted beeswax …in a CUP "  ???

 

[ well…THAT is one BLOODY BIG ‘cup’ , I reckon ?!  haaaaa]

 

7

Ben, there is no way you are ever going to save money making your own surf wax.

8

yeehaaa  good on ya mate

 

and ,   if you add ‘storm’ to the mix , you’ll be surfing high above the lip  heheh

 

just don’t let it catch on fire , like i once did [went surfing , forgetting i had left it slowly melting on the hotplate, then poured WATER on it to ‘put it out’ [?!] oopsy

9

ha thanks man and yeah water is not good, thats why those youtube videos are BS.

10

Storm,

Speaking from almost 15 years of experience, you picked one of the most difficult products in the world to tinker with, which is ironic given how cheap it is to purchase. Vistanex is a now defunct trade name for a type of synthetic rubber with varying degrees of hardness (depending on grade). It is by far the most difficult surf wax ingredient to work with. You will need a high shear mixer with high RPM coupled with the right heat to break it down into the homogenized mix. A lot of air ventilation is also a must because you will be huffing melted plastic (rubber). Attempting this without industrial machinery or even high-end scientific lab equipment is ludicrous, as the material will fling hot gobbs of death at you and everything else in the room. Thankfully it isn’t volatile or explosive so you won’t kill yourself that way. Like all things surf wax (real quality surf wax anyway) you will have to use trial and error to work out the best handling procedure for yourself. There is something to be said for paying your dues and putting in the necessary sweat equity into your endeavor. Good luck and be safe. 

11

 " Vistanex is a now defunct trade name for **a type of synthetic rubber  **with varying degrees of hardness (depending on grade). It is by far the most difficult surf wax ingredient to work with "

 

… really ?

 

‘synthetic rubber’ ,  in surf wax ?

 

…WHY ? !

12

Hi Foam,

Thanks for that input brah.

13

The synthetic rubber portion gives surf wax “staying power” so that it won’t move around on the deck. It also aids in the sticky quality of the wax. All major surf wax brands use it in their recipes.

14

What grade vistanex are you guys using or which do you recommend?

Thank you.