Author Topic: Beeswax - value added. Part 1  (Read 12068 times)

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Offline Perry

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Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« on: December 05, 2013, 08:25:13 am »
Now that you have that nice block, brick, chunk or ball of beeswax, what to do?




I melt mine down on top of the stove using a double boiler. (this is a must, don't heat beeswax on the stove using direct heat, it's flammable)!  :shock:


My next purchase will be one of these to keep me out of the kitchen! It should make this step really simple.
http://www.prestopotwaxmelter.com/
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Offline BoilerJim

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2013, 10:11:35 pm »
I never knew the prestopotwaxmelter even existed. Thanks for posting. I'm gonna get me one of these. :)
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2013, 11:15:51 pm »
I picked up a "rangetop" at a yard sale for 50 bucks.. just hooked it up today in the extracting room..  The bonus is i can ALSO cook Venison loins or backstrap on it while melting wax!!!!   :D
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Offline Perry

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2013, 07:35:05 am »
If you are at all handy.....make your own!

http://www.candletech.com/general-infor ... ax-melter/
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Offline mamapoppybee

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2013, 08:45:18 pm »
here is an idea for a cheep double boiler. If you can get those large green bean or any veggie can they are great!  load a soup pot with water and place the can in pot with what ever you need to melt. works like a charm we have used many times with our girl scout troop.

Offline Jen

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2013, 07:59:15 pm »
Awe Geez Lazy, I can smell the aroma of those backstraps from here in California. Don't forget to sprinkle a little cinnamon on those straps while they're cooking...
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Offline blueblood

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2013, 08:24:02 pm »
I melted some beeswax in a double boiler today and added some blueberry fragrance.  Poured them in an old egg carton for a bunch of little melts to use later in a wax melter for house fragrance.
 
« Last Edit: December 23, 2013, 08:31:07 pm by blueblood »

Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #7 on: December 26, 2013, 07:11:32 pm »
hehe.. the front of our store is a CANDLE shop..  In an emergency I can go steel one of "her" wax pots...    Looks over shoulder.....
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Offline Slowmodem

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #8 on: January 01, 2014, 06:43:00 pm »
I melted
Now that you have that nice block, brick, chunk or ball of beeswax, what to do?

I have some wax melted and strained through a paper towel.  It is from a swarm trap that was overrun with small hive beetles.  It was black when I started.  Now that I've melted and strained all the bug stuff out of it, it's gray/charcoal.



This yellow wax is some from the solar melter in 2012 that is a good color:



Is there something else I should try to strain it through?  Is there something I could add to change the color?  Charcoal-colored candles just don't seem appealing.
Greg Whitehead
Ten Mile, TN
Beekeeping at 26.4 kbs

Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #9 on: January 01, 2014, 08:07:50 pm »
Old t shirts or cheese cloth.  I've used both.

Offline Perry

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #10 on: January 01, 2014, 08:52:49 pm »
Hey Slow
I've had wax like that too, old brood comb and such. Some of it will not lighten up much no matter what you do. Furniture polish or something is all it's fit for. I gave mine to a friend that uses it for putting in holes drilled in logs to start mushrooms in.

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Offline Slowmodem

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #11 on: January 01, 2014, 10:51:51 pm »
Hey Slow
I've had wax like that too, old brood comb and such. Some of it will not lighten up much no matter what you do. Furniture polish or something is all it's fit for. I gave mine to a friend that uses it for putting in holes drilled in logs to start mushrooms in.

That's what I figured, too.  I think I'll use it to make candles so I can learn.  If I mess them up, I won't feel bad throwing a gray candle away.  :)
Greg Whitehead
Ten Mile, TN
Beekeeping at 26.4 kbs

Offline pistolpete

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #12 on: June 27, 2014, 12:35:44 am »
I would not recommend trying to make candles out of "dirty" wax.  The impurities will make the candles smell bad.  A great use for wax like that is painting plastic foundation.  Painting wax on foundation really helps the bees draw it out fast and uses up lots of wax.
My advice: worth price charged :)

Offline riverbee

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #13 on: June 27, 2014, 10:49:13 am »
if you run brood comb through a solar wax melter a number of times, and continue to filter it, there will be no particles or impurities left in it, unless you have treated your bees with something. (not sure how much residue remains). but you can use it for candles.  i don't, but do know someone who does, and often times she will color and add scent to the wax.  i use this wax as pete said, to add wax to foundation. 
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Offline brooksbeefarm

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #14 on: June 27, 2014, 10:56:23 am »
I agree with Pete, old smelly wax is still better than the smell of plastic in the bee hive. :laugh: Jack
PS. I'm banned from the kitchen after making bee candy  (Once), i now use my Coleman stove out in my shop. ;D

Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #15 on: June 27, 2014, 02:55:27 pm »
I'm banned from the kitchen after making bee candy  (Once), i now use my Coleman stove out in my shop. ;D


   LOL!!!  My wife is still looking for the spoon that remains STUCK in the permacrete stuff I cooked up..  I probably should go bury it so the spoon is never recognized....  that was three or four years ago, its STILL THERE impervious to the weather...  Once In a while I swear it growls if I get too close...
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Offline CpnObvious

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #16 on: June 27, 2014, 03:55:39 pm »
Beeswax is also goof for protecting tablesaw tables, drillpress tables, and the rails on your lathe.

Offline Barbarian

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #17 on: July 05, 2014, 04:00:48 am »
In August, I am attending my club's beekeeping display at a local Agricultural Show/Fair.

I will be taking some beeswax for sale. I am thinking of making a notice listing the various hobbies/ uses that might use beeswax. Hopefully this might generate some extra sales.

Would members like to list some of these usages ?

Here's a start ------ Archery
                               Batik painting of traditional Easter eggs ---- pysanky
                               Candle making
                               Cosmetics
                               Encaustic Painting
                               Furniture treatment
                               Leather treatment
                               Lost wax casting
                               Needlework and tailoring
                               Wood dressing
                               Woodworking equipment treatment
               

Thanks for the suggestions. I've amended my original post to keep the list together.
" Another Owd Codger "

Offline Perry

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #18 on: July 05, 2014, 06:17:23 am »
Tailors and seamstresses can use it
Artists.
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Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: Beeswax - value added. Part 1
« Reply #19 on: July 06, 2014, 09:21:53 am »
I melted some beeswax in a double boiler today and added some blueberry fragrance.  Poured them in an old egg carton for a bunch of little melts to use later in a wax melter for house fragrance.
 
Excellent idea!  Quick, easy and recycles egg cartons.  A trifecta!