I remember there being a recipe for tying wax in the following book:
Fly-Tying: materials, tools, technique by Helen Shaw (1963)
I found the book at our local library, but havn't looked at it in a while. If I remember correctly, the hard wax was partially dissolved in some mineral spirits to make a past (small ammounts prepared, the rest left as a hard chunk). Then she would use a small dabb of this to prepare the thread for dubbing.
Interesting book, pre bobbins and most of the other tools we take for granted now. But solid techniques for what I noticed.
BTW - take this for what it's worth, I just started fly fishing and tying this past spring, so my opinion is based on a very shallow pool of experience.
David
Everyone must believe in something, I believe I'll go canoeing. -HDT
Flyfishing is a drug. It's addictive, it can be expensive, not many others will understand it, it is possible to get others hooked, and everyone has a favorite place to get their fix, but there's no hangover in the morning (from the fishing at least).