Repotting Your Pickups – Step by Step

By Brian Calvert

You will be dealing with boiling water and extremely Hot Wax so use caution! Start out bringing a half to two thirds of a pot of water to just barely boiling.		While your waiting on the water to start boiling grab a empty soda can and take the lid off (if you use a standard can opener it takes a few turns but will eventually come off). Cube 1/2 a pound of paraffin wax and fill as much of it as possible into the can.
Once your water has come to a boil grab your can and hold it in an upright position in the middle so it doesn't tip over and watch the wax melt (keep adding the left over pieces as space permits). Try to add bee's wax once your original 1/2 lb. of wax has melted. I used a candle made from pure bee's wax which allows the wax to stay pliable much longer.		As you can see in the above photo I have let the heat get up a little high, wax melts around 145-150 depending on the mixture, so if your thermometer (a candy thermometer works the best) shows the temperature rising to much back off or turn the heat of completely. Don't worry it will take a long time for the wax to harden back up.
Wrap your pickup with a rubber band to keep the bobbin tape and it's adhesive from coming undone. I am doing this to a pair of new pickups so the adhesive held up really well. Start dipping in the wax and swirl it around to release any bubbles. You may need to tap it on the bottom a few times just to be sure.		Raise your pickup out of the wax and dip it again to build up a nice heavy outside coat of wax.
While your first one is cooling (somewhere close but also on top of a place where you can be messy) grab any other pickups you may have and repeat the process.		After the pickup has cooled off a bit (about 3-5 minutes) it is safe to take off the rubber band and go for a couple of more quick dips!
Here's a tip for later that only cost's a buck or less, grab a cheap plastic ice cube tray and place it on top of some cool water in a bake pan.		Using tongs or pliers pour your extra wax in the tray and let it cool so you can reuse later on when you need to re-pot more pickups.
Now that your pickups have cooled off (about 4-8 minutes) You can start cleaning off the top, I just use my finger nail as you can see because I really don't want to scratch the surface.		A tough paper towel will take care of the rest of the wax buildup and your good to go!
All nice and freshly potted with a thin coat of protection.		Don't forget to wrap your wax after it cools since you do not want any contaminates to get in there during storage.