The short answer: sealing wax comes in three common forms. Beads are melted a few at a time in a small spoon over a candle; they give you fine control and make it easy to mix colors. Sticks come either with a wick, which you light so the wax drips onto the paper, or without one, in which case you melt pieces in a spoon or use a stick sized for a glue gun. For a handful of letters, beads or a spoon and a stick are easiest to control. For a stack of wedding invitations, glue gun sticks are the fastest.
We are Sealed & Shelved, a small shop for readers and letter writers. Our wax seal kits come with either beads or sticks; we don't sell glue guns or glue gun wax.
The three types at a glance
| Type | How you melt it | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Wax beads | A few beads in a melting spoon over a tea light | Beginners, small batches, mixing colors |
| Wax sticks | Lit at a wick and dripped, or broken into a spoon | Letters and cards, the traditional look |
| Glue gun sticks | Fed through a glue gun | Dozens of envelopes, such as wedding invitations |
Wax beads
Beads are small pieces of sealing wax, sold in bottles or jars. You put a few in a melting spoon, hold the spoon over a tea light until they melt, then pour the wax onto the paper.
- Control: you choose exactly how much wax goes into each seal, which makes it easier to get the same size every time.
- Colors: you can mix two colors in the spoon, for a marbled seal.
- Speed: slower than a glue gun, because the beads have to melt before each seal.
- Mess: the spoon gets coated with wax; let it cool and the leftover wax usually flakes off.
How many beads per seal? It depends on the size of the stamp head and how thick you like the seal. Start with a few, add more if the pool is smaller than your stamp, and you'll find the right amount after two or three seals.
Wax sticks
Sticks are the traditional form. There are two kinds, and they are used differently.
- Sticks with a wick: you light the wick at the tip and let the melted wax drip onto the paper, turning the stick as you go. It's quick, but the flame can leave soot in the wax, which shows as dark specks in light colors.
- Sticks without a wick: you break off a piece, melt it in a spoon over a candle, and pour it, just like beads. You get the same control as beads, with less to measure.
Sticks pack neatly, and breaking off pieces of a similar size helps keep seals the same size.
Glue gun sticks
Some sealing wax comes in sticks sized to fit a glue gun. The gun melts the wax and pushes out exactly as much as you squeeze. Once the gun is hot, it is the fastest way to make a lot of seals, which is why it's popular for wedding invitations and holiday cards.
Check two things before you buy: that the sticks are the right diameter for your glue gun, and that they are sealing wax made for glue guns. Ordinary craft glue sticks are a different material and won't look or behave like sealing wax. We don't sell glue guns or glue gun wax.
Beads or sticks: which should you choose?
- Your first wax seal: beads or wickless sticks with a spoon. They are the easiest to control, and a spoon and tea light are all you need.
- Letters and cards, a few at a time: either works. Choose by color: beads make mixing easy, sticks keep things simple.
- A stack of invitations or holiday cards: a glue gun and glue gun sticks, or patience with a spoon.
- A gift for a letter writer: a kit with the stamp, wax, spoon and candle in one box, so they only need a lighter to make their first seal.
Whichever you choose, the sealing itself is the same: pour a pool a little wider than the stamp head, wait a few seconds until the edges begin to set, then press the stamp straight down. Our guide How to Seal a Letter with Wax covers each step, common mistakes and the postage for a sealed envelope.
Which wax comes in our kits
- Rose Wax Seal Kit: $26.99. Three sealing wax sticks in gold, silver and burgundy, each about 3.5 in long, with a wooden-handled rose stamp, a melting spoon and two tea lights. The kit comes with a melting spoon, so you melt pieces of stick in it; the supplier doesn't say whether the sticks have a wick.
- Letter Writing Gift Set: $36.99. The same rose kit with sticks, plus kraft-colored writing paper and 20 kraft envelopes.
- Wax Seal Stamp Set with Gold Wax Beads: $26.99. Gold wax beads in a corked bottle, with one stamp, a melting spoon and two tea lights.
- Wax Seal Kit with 3 Stamp Heads: $33.99. Two corked bottles of wax beads in colors chosen for each set, three stamp heads on one handle, a melting spoon and a tea light.
We don't list how many seals each kit's wax makes, because it depends on the size of the seal. None of the kits include a lighter or matches. Melted wax is hot and the candle is an open flame, so work on a heat-safe surface and keep the kits away from children. To compare the stamps themselves, see How to Choose a Wax Seal Stamp.
Frequently asked questions
Are wax beads or wax sticks better?
Neither is better for every job. Beads give the most control and make color mixing easy; sticks are simpler to store and break into even pieces; glue gun sticks are fastest for a large batch.
Can I melt wax beads without a spoon?
You need something heat-proof to melt them in. A melting spoon over a tea light is the usual way, and our bead kits include one.
Why are there black specks in my wax seal?
Usually soot from a flame. It happens most with wicked sticks held in a flame. Melting the wax in a spoon keeps the flame off the wax, though soot can still build up under the spoon; holding it a little higher above the flame helps.
Can I use a regular hot glue gun for sealing wax?
Only with sealing wax sticks made for glue guns, in the diameter your gun takes. Ordinary craft glue sticks aren't sealing wax and won't give the same result.
Do wax seals survive the mail?
They can, but a wax seal makes an envelope stiff and uneven, so in the US it usually needs extra postage. Our guide How to Seal a Letter with Wax explains the cost.