Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => Products Of The Hive => Topic started by: Perry on December 05, 2013, 08:25:13 am
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Now that you have that nice block, brick, chunk or ball of beeswax, what to do?
(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv1/PerryBee/Wax013_zps237e5c61.jpg) (http://http://s664.photobucket.com/user/PerryBee/media/Wax013_zps237e5c61.jpg.html)
(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv1/PerryBee/Spinner010_zps8696d98e.jpg) (http://http://s664.photobucket.com/user/PerryBee/media/Spinner010_zps8696d98e.jpg.html)
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:
(http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv1/PerryBee/Gingerbreadhouseandcandlemould2011021.jpg) (http://http://s664.photobucket.com/user/PerryBee/media/Gingerbreadhouseandcandlemould2011021.jpg.html)
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/ (http://www.prestopotwaxmelter.com/)
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I never knew the prestopotwaxmelter even existed. Thanks for posting. I'm gonna get me one of these. :)
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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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If you are at all handy.....make your own!
http://www.candletech.com/general-infor ... ax-melter/ (http://www.candletech.com/general-information/do-it-yourself-wax-melter/)
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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.
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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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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.
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs25.postimg.cc%2Fykvosx42z%2FDSCF9772.jpg&hash=79dec94731b6f5fe545016d800b0f6cdc87f593e) (http://postimg.cc/image/ykvosx42z/)
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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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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.
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs23.postimg.cc%2Fsv4apb7jb%2F2014_01_01_18_30_04_749.jpg&hash=8e3339a69801c7ec9b13e34f167e39e99fcfa6ae) (http://postimg.cc/image/sv4apb7jb/)
This yellow wax is some from the solar melter in 2012 that is a good color:
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs23.postimg.cc%2Fppjoz3ox3%2Ffrom_2012.jpg&hash=cfe1c9b54f44037037574f1d428cf8e807f07f8b) (http://postimg.cc/image/ppjoz3ox3/)
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.
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Old t shirts or cheese cloth. I've used both.
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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.
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi664.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv1%2FPerryBee%2FWax026_zpsb2e9153a.jpg&hash=86aafdc1454471e43795fa34094f5e11fae859e5) (http://s664.photobucket.com/user/PerryBee/media/Wax026_zpsb2e9153a.jpg.html)
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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. :)
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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.
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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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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
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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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Beeswax is also goof for protecting tablesaw tables, drillpress tables, and the rails on your lathe.
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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.
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Tailors and seamstresses can use it
Artists.
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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.
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs25.postimg.cc%2Fykvosx42z%2FDSCF9772.jpg&hash=79dec94731b6f5fe545016d800b0f6cdc87f593e) (http://postimg.cc/image/ykvosx42z/)
Excellent idea! Quick, easy and recycles egg cartons. A trifecta!
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How about beeswax sculptures? A club member submitted a beeswax sculpture at the state fair. She received a purple ribbon and got an article about beeswax sculpting in Bee Culture magazine.
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I'm not a musician, but have several of them buy bees wax for there instruments ?? Jack
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Those of us that shoot traditional muzzle loaders use it to make lube for shooting patches and for bullet lube, it is also used to flux molten lead to remove impurities before casting. Some will add it to boiled linseed oil to make a stain/treatment for wooden stocks. Jim
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What are shooting patches ?
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When you shoot round ball you use a ball smaller than the bore of the gun. A 50 cal. gun would have a bore of .500 and the ball would be .490 so you would need a patch to make a tight fit. Patches are often made of cotton and have a lube on them to aid in loading and help keep the fouling (from burnt gunpowder) soft. Jim
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"Not a lot of people know that"
I displayed my list of beeswax uses at Saturday's show. It generated a few chats but not new wax sales --- early days. No one was admitting being into muzzle loading firearms.
I am wrong. I did sell a small amount of wax to a chap who wanted to repair his didgeridoo. Apparently the mouthpiece is a ring of beeswax. That will be a new use for the list.
According to a report in the British Medical Journal, playing a didgeridoo can help people who suffer from snoring or obstructive sleep apneoa. When I mentioned this to Lady B a gleam came to her eye (prezzi ?). She might have to decide which would be worse ---- my snoring or my efforts to play a didgeridoo. ;D ;D
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A fellow on the other side of town shoots long range competition with a Sharps, makes his own ammo and lube. Buys wax to make his "secret" mix..
Didgerahwhat?
Didgeridoo is a wind instrument played by Australian Aborigines since time immemorial. The instrument is made of a hollow tree trunk.
OOOOh! ok... So I just had to wonder what the difference between snoring and early efforts to play a didgeridoo would be? :laugh: