Along with the official application instructions, Lars will send his own "How To Apply Manual" for Oratex. This is Lars telling you how to cover with Oratex in a very straightforward manner. He doesn't hesitate to describe pitfalls and failures of using wrong techniques. Sometime Lars' German sneaks through the idioms and phrases and makes it an interesting, personable read. If you are seriously considering Oratex or have started a project, don't hesitate to give Lars a call. He is full of information and very helpful.
Here is the discussion of waxed lacing tape from his document:
When using any Oratex tapes it has to be certain that no surface contamination exists on the Oratex surface. All traces of grease, oil, wax, silicone, and rub-off Teflon that might have been accidentally applied while handling and working the Oratex must be removed. A very common source of contamination is the waxed rib-stitching thread; its heavy wax coating rubs off onto the Oratex and prevents the tapes from sticking. Once the glue on the underside of the tapes has become contaminated, it’s pretty much "Game Over" for that tape or the section of tape that has been contaminated. Sadly it indeed looks like the USA-wax-free rib-stitching thread has gone extinct! We have not yet been able to identify a guaranteed good replacement. My own Do27 project airplane uses safety wire for rib-stitching but that is not a good option in general. My advice would be to remove the wax from the thread before taking it to the airplane. So Yes; de-wax the cord before using it, e.g., take a cloth saturated with Methanol and pull the cord through the cloth with pressure on the cord (if you insist on Not buying ours!). We Are producing a new non-waxy thread in Germany (Part Number 08140 "Rib Stitching Thread", 166meters or 544feet, 0.9mm thick, $29.95) and it will not cause the problems the usual USA-sourced waxy thread produces ... Some previous customers used waxed thread despite my warnings and when the Tapes are ironed on the wax melts and spreads under the tapes like crazy. Then the tapes will not stick in that area and that is for sure not the fault of the tapes... DO NOT USE WAXED RIB STITCH THREAD !!!....Someone asked: "Is there any reason I can not use fishing line. The newer lines are wax free and extremely strong for there size. What do you think?" - I would not use the fishing line as it's smooth and cannot be soaked with our glue. why do you not just use our non-waxy tread that we offer? The fishing line is so smooth and the glue cannot penetrate it, I would absolutely Not use it. See the wax on the old style kinda held the knots together and all, together with all the glue and paint. Now ours will soak full of glue, the fishing line will not.
If there were a flat, non-waxed cord I would probably use it. But I don't want to spend the time removing wax from strands before lacing. And I certainly don't want to have problems with finishing tape adhesion. So I'll use the round Oratex non-waxed cord.