BEESWAX

1. BEESWAX Carol Cottrill

2. Beeswax • C15H31COOC30H61 • Insoluble in water, density 0.95 (it floats) • Melting point 144oF • Discolors when heated over 185oF • Flash point 400oF • Stable chemical makeup • Doesn’t oxidize • Not effected by mildew

3. Only substance known that emits a negative ion when burned • Neutralizes positive static charges that keep contaminants airborne • Combustion creates a convection current that draws contaminants to the flame - they are deposited into the wax causing it to darken

4. Production • Four pairs of epidermal glands on worker abdomen • 7 – 15 # honey to produce 1 # wax • Bees ~ 12 days old • Bees with full honey stomachs

5. Collecting It • In the bee yard • Scrapings • Lots of debris • Coffee can with lid • Keep in freezer • From Old Frames • Propolis, larval skins, honey • Dark wax

6. From Cappings • 1 – 2 pounds produced per 100 pounds honey • Light wax • Honey, but fewer impurities • Wash and dry or • Let bees clean up the honey

7. Materials • Pans • Don’t use good pans • Metal coffee cans • Heating • Table top electric burner • Cover surfaces to catch splatters

8. Safety • Beeswax is highly flammable • Fire extinguisher • Use a double boiler • Don’t use gas stove for water process method

9. Solar Wax Melter • Solar Wax Melter

11. Methods • Water process method – cappings • Fill pan about ½ with water then add wax • Don’t overfill the pot • Heat to melt wax completely • Let cool slowly • Remove disk of wax

12. Water Process – scrapings (dirtier wax) • Fill pan about ½ with water then add wax • Heat to melt wax completely • Filter – type of filter depends on how dirty wax is • Reheat • Let cool slowly • Remove disk of wax

13. Burlap bag method • Fill burlap sack with wax plus a brick and tie closed • Immerse in large drum of hot water with a couple of bricks in the bottom • The wax will melt and rise to the surface

14. Let wax disk dry completely • Scrape off any debris on bottom • For cosmetics re-melt and filter • Pour into small blocks or bars

15. For candles melt wax disks and filter if needed

16. Using the Wax

17. Cosmetic Products Basic Lip Balm Melt together • 3 T + 1 tsp olive or sunflower oil • ½ oz beeswax Add • Vitamin E oil • Flavoring oil Wax - oil formulations do not need an emulsifying agent

18. Basic Hand Cream Melt together • 2 cups olive, sunflower or mineral oil • 5 oz beeswax In a separate pan mix together • 1 and 1/3 cups distilled water • 2 tsp Borax Heat to dissolve Add Borax/water to oil/beeswax while stirring Water + wax - oil mixtures require an emulsifying agent

19. Use clean wax • Label products correctly if you plan to sell them • Product name • Ingredients • Weight • Producer name/address

20. Candles • Melting wax • Freeze wax to break it to fit in pan • No water in wax • Don’t stir – let any impurities settle • Don’t over heat the wax • Pans for melting • Coffee can bent to form a spout • Purchased pan

21. Molds / Materials • Wicking • Match to the size of the mold • Dirty wax will clog the wick • Too large a wick will smoke • Use clean molds • Spray with mold release

22. Level the mold Hold wicks with pins or clips

23. Pouring Candles • Soda bottle for pouring • May have to top off mold to correct shrinkage • Cooling too fast can cause cracking

24. Bloom • Natural minerals rising to the candle surface. • Wipe off with a lint free cloth (nylon hosiery) • Carefully warm for a few seconds with a hair dryer

25. FoxRunFarmHoney.com Education page