I'm surprised the wax, I'm guessing parrafin, didn't inactivate your smokeless powder, Mac. What size steel wool did you use, 0000? I've found that to burn well, unless it rusts, which it does almost instantly when exposed to moisture. Good test, good report. Thanks.
Any combustion, possibly except hydrogen/oxygen, will produce CO and so should be done in well-ventilated area.
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"Most men take the straight and narrow. A few take the road less traveled. I chose to cut through the woods." ~Unknown~