Mucky beeswax
- Thread starter Tengu
- Start date
Was it yellow to start with? Beeswax can be quite dark, depending on where in the hive it comes from. Unless it's particulates, you can't normally change the colour to a lighter shade, but maybe try melting it and filter it through some cheese cloth? Wax can go darker of you heat it too much.
You could try clarifying it a bit - I put it in a slow cooker full of water and let it melt, then I turn the slow cooker off and let it cool - the debris and detritus will either sink to the bottom of the water or be on the underside of the wax, with the nice yellow stuff on the top. You can then take the wax ‘cake’ out the slow cooker and scrape the grimy stuff off the bottom, repeat as necessary.
Only use the slow cooker on low though, you don’t want to actually boil it.
Do it outside!
Some wax is darker than others, particularly the brood wax. Cappings from the honey supers is the cleanest - I will save you some next year if you want?
Only use the slow cooker on low though, you don’t want to actually boil it.
Do it outside!
Some wax is darker than others, particularly the brood wax. Cappings from the honey supers is the cleanest - I will save you some next year if you want?
It will still be fine for use as bees wax - just not for candles etc as is less visually nice, but for waxing cloth, or thread or any other type use it will be fine
I've happily made candles with brood beeswax with no I'll effects such as a bad smell, they are just a rich yellowy brown colour.
I melt the brood wax in plenty of water, strain through a sieve into a deep Pyrex jug and allow to cool slowly. This gets rid of the large old debris in the sieve and then most other bits settle out to the bottom of the wax in the jug.
When the wax is cold I tip it out and scrape the rubbish off the bottom. When I have several chunks these are remelted and I repeat above and end up with a clean block.
It's not the best way of processing but works with limited equipment. I have picked up a second hand fruit steamed thingy to try and repurpose.
When it warms up you could try a simple solar extractor.
I melt the brood wax in plenty of water, strain through a sieve into a deep Pyrex jug and allow to cool slowly. This gets rid of the large old debris in the sieve and then most other bits settle out to the bottom of the wax in the jug.
When the wax is cold I tip it out and scrape the rubbish off the bottom. When I have several chunks these are remelted and I repeat above and end up with a clean block.
It's not the best way of processing but works with limited equipment. I have picked up a second hand fruit steamed thingy to try and repurpose.
When it warms up you could try a simple solar extractor.
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The darker wax is fine for threads for sewing leather. It's no bad thing being darker there.
It's also awfully useful for folks who make those crayons for filling wood. The woodturners often prefer a darker wax for stuff too.
Can't see it being an issue for the hardened leather bath either.
If you mould it you can sell it in blocks; it looks good on a sales table with the contrasting shades.
I don't think it smells any different when made into candles, but again, the contrasting colours are nice.
Might make a nice little extra earner if you can sell to craft and heritage sites ?
M
It's also awfully useful for folks who make those crayons for filling wood. The woodturners often prefer a darker wax for stuff too.
Can't see it being an issue for the hardened leather bath either.
If you mould it you can sell it in blocks; it looks good on a sales table with the contrasting shades.
I don't think it smells any different when made into candles, but again, the contrasting colours are nice.
Might make a nice little extra earner if you can sell to craft and heritage sites ?
M
Reserved for use on clown shoes and whoopee cushions.
Sometimes I wonder about my sense of humour.
