By CARMEN GAEBE
Staff Writer
Crayons were invented in America in 1903. A nontoxic version of the already created markers used on crates and barrels at the time was created and called Crayons. They can add color to childhood. Crayons are made from wax, specifically a cheap and easy-to-melt wax called paraffin. Paraffin also has what’s known as “A nice run off ” meaning it leaves enough product on the paper when the crayon is swiped. To begin the wax is melted to 143.6 F. Then a top-secret powder is added that works as a filler to help create more crayons. After that, a myriad of synthetic chemicals is added. These include a chemical that helps to keep the wax from sticking to the edge of the mixing bowl and fatty acid to help improve the rubber. Then depending on the color that the crayon is being turned into, a tint is added in that corresponding color. Everything added to the crayons is non-toxic. After all of the ingredients are added they are then mixed for around 45 minutes. It’s then pumped in a machine called a Rotary machine that injects the wax into molds of the crayons. Then cold water is added on top to harden the crayons in under 60 seconds. These typical machines can produce 30,000 crayons an hour. The harder crayons are moved and dropped one by one into a rotating wheel that presses the labels on.