Oh so tempting, but eek expensive. Particularly if you have one go at it, hate it, and then shelve it. This is where it would be nice to have a collaborative studio, where we could invest in new mediums together, and all have a try!
Not only that, in a collaborative studio we could afford to experiment as we learn, and bounce ideas off of each other.
The online art store that I often shop from (Dick Blick) has an encaustic starter set that is $600. Don't think I've ever spent that much on art supplies ever in one go before.
It would be the coolest thing. Who's the geographical wiz here? What would be the midpoint between east coast, west coast, mid-atlantic states, the south, South Africa, Germany, Lebanon....