Why buy HOTboxes™ ?
Previously available only in Paula's workshops, by your many requests, the HOTbox™ is now available to the public.
YOUR IMAGINATION WILL SOAR!
“Nothing works as well as the tool designed specifically for the job at hand. As a working artist with over 16 years experience with encaustic monotype printmaking, I have continually improved the Roland Encaustic HOTbox™ while keeping the price affordable. The HOTbox™ Re-design has a hidden dimmer box and cord wrap." --PAULA ROLAND
NO PRESS IS USED WITH ENCAUSTIC MONOTYPE PRINTING | THE HOTbox™ IS AFFORDABLE AND EASILY INCORPORATED IN MOST ARTISTS' STUDIOS.
The Roland Encaustic HOTbox™ is designed to give the evenly heated surface needed for encaustic monotype printmaking. It may also be used for many other techniques taught in Paula's workshops, including encaustic painting, wax collage and mixed media drawings on waxy paper. Other artists use its even heat surface to draw on the face of paper (heated from the rear) with encaustic, oil pastel and other heat transferrable media. See more ideas below.
In addition, the Roland Encaustic HotBox makes an excellent encaustic paint palette. The paints can be mixed directly on the surface of the plate or wax can be melted in small cups. (Because it's maximum temperature is a safe 220F (when using 100 watt bulbs), the HOTbox is not suitable for melting large quantities of wax). It is useful for warming boards while painting to make paint application smoother.
HOW THE HOTbox™ WORKS: Energy efficient, maximum only 400 watts
Evenly heated Plate. Non-cycling (unlike griddles) so no cold spots!
- Four, 100 watt incandescent light bulbs. Or use 95 watt bulbs which are available in California and elsewhere, as the 100 watt ban goes into effect. If you are printing only, try using 75 watt bulbs.
- The anodized aluminum printing plate does not chemically react with colors, turning them grey. Anodizing also allows the plate to be cleaned easily
- Surface temperature reaches 220 F (with 4 - 100 watt bulbs)
- Paint will not overheat or smoke, so health issues are diminished
- When printing, less encaustic is melted so health issues are diminished
- A rheostat regulates heat by adjusting the light output. (Most printmaking is done at 160-180 F and most painting around 200 F)
- The light bulbs are an ingenious solution keeping the wax temperature at safe levels, and drawing a low amount of electricity--only 400 watts vs 1600 for most hotplates and griddles
YOUR IMAGINATION WILL SOAR! THE ROLAND ENCAUSTIC HOTbox™ FACILITATES MANY TYPES OF WAX WORK. BEYOND MONOTYPES, TRY THESE IDEAS:
- Use it as a hot palette to mix your paints on the anodized plate
- Use for joining paper with wax in collage
- Place paper or slick card on the plate, face up and heat from rear. Then paint or draw on the surface with encaustic, encaustic and mixed media (graphite, charcoal, chalk pastels, etc.) or oil pastels.
- Use to warm wood panels before painting, so paint does not “freeze up”
- Heat paintings on panels from the rear, to liquify paint or to paint wet into wet
- Saturate paper and cloth in wax, creating translucency
- Monotypes and wax saturated paper may be flexed, even rolled without cracking therefore extending presentation options for paper
- No additional fusing is needed when using the HOTbox with paper or cloth
READ MORE ABOUT ENCAUSTIC MONOTYPES | READ HOTbox FAQ’s
ORDER ONLINE
FOLLOW SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AS YOU WOULD FOR ALL ENCAUSTIC WORK
Ventilate with an exhaust window fan to remove encaustic fumes. Sale of this equipment presumes that you know about the health and safety concerns regarding use and heating of wax and related materials. Educate yourself, take a basic encaustic course, and read one of the recommended books mentioned on this site. Use common sense: Do not leave the HotBox, hot plates, griddles or similar appliances on without supervision. Inspect cords regularly and keep them dry. Do not immerse the box in water or put liquid inside.
