"You're cool." That's what my 8-year-old daughter told me as she watched me render bits of raw honeycomb into pure beeswax.
I'm writing this down so I can remind her of this fact when she becomes a know-it-all teenager who is embarrassed by her homesteading mama.
But I have to admit, she was right. Okay, maybe I'm not cool, but what I was doing certainly was.
I was making my own beeswax from the raw honeycomb harvested from my hives. I was mixing it with different combinations of oils to create a potent healing salve. It felt like a Hogwarts activity, and I'm convinced the resulting salve will work magic on dry hands.
But first, let's walk through my simple, mess-free way to make clean beeswax from raw honeycomb, wax cappings, and old brood comb. This method is perfect for beginners who want beeswax for candles, salves, or lip balm - without turning their kitchen into a huge waxy disaster.
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How to Clean and Melt Beeswax
Cleaning and melting beeswax can be a very messy business. This "cheesecloth method" will keep the waxy mess to a minimum. It is one of the easiest ways to clean beeswax, and it can be done in just 3 steps. Your reward will be lots of clean, usable beeswax for all your craft projects, from lip balms and creams to poured or rolled beeswax candles.
So, grab your wand (or in our case, a heat-resistant spatula), and let's get started!
Supplies
- Raw honeycomb, old comb, and wax cappings - If you don't have your own, you can always contact local beekeepers in your area
- Large stainless steel pot (Alternatives: a dedicated slow cooker or crock pot)
- Fine cheesecloth
- A plastic clip or rubber band
CAUTION
Do not use your best equipment for processing beeswax! I can't stress this enough. Beeswax clings to everything, and it's nearly impossible to remove. If you don't have an old stainless steel pot (or crock pot), grab a cheap old pot or slow cooker from a second-hand store.
Remember, this equipment should be dedicated solely to beeswax projects
Step 1 - Gather your wax cappings, old brood comb, and honeycomb
Gather your pieces of wax cappings and old comb. Break your honeycomb into smaller pieces and then wrap the wax cappings and comb in a piece of fine cheesecloth, such as this, and clip it tightly closed.
Step 2 - Melt the Beeswax
Find an old, large pot or crock pot. I can not stress the word "old" enough. Your pot will be almost impossible to clean afterwards.
Fill the pot ¾ of the way with water.
If you are using a regular stainless steel pot, place it on your chosen heat source. I used my electric stove, but you may prefer to use a hot plate if you're working in a space without a stove, or if you just want to keep your beeswax processing separate from your regular cooking area.
Turn the heat on the stove to low/medium. If you're using a crock pot, use the low heat setting.
Place your honeycomb bundle in the pot of water. It should be covered by several inches of water.
As the water heats, the beeswax will melt and seep out of the cheesecloth. The hot wax will settle to the top of the pot, leaving any debris trapped inside the cloth.
Let the beeswax simmer until it has completely melted.
Safety Warning
Beeswax should never be melted in a pot over an open flame.
Final Step - Let the Wax Harden
Once it seems like all the wax has melted, you can remove the cheesecloth from the pot, giving it one last squeeze to get any remaining wax out.
If your melted wax is still dirty, you may have to repeat the process a second time.
Let the water and beeswax cool. In just a couple of hours, the now clean beeswax will have formed a solid layer on top of the water.
Press down gently to remove it, and voila…now you have pure and clean beeswax.
You are now ready to turn your beeswax into a healing salve recipe or whatever else you can dream up - mustache cream, surgical bone wax, fashioning your dreadlocks, or maybe just making salve, lip balm, and beeswax candles.
The Melting Point of Beeswax
Beeswax melts at approximately 140-150°F (60 to 65°C).
If you heat the wax to around 170°F (76°C), your beeswax may lose its pleasantly sweet aroma.
Warning: Beeswax becomes dangerous beyond this temperature. If the wax reaches its flash point of 400°F (204°C), it could ignite and start a fire.
Remember: Keep the heat low, watch your beeswax closely, and avoid letting it reach its flash point.
What is Beeswax?
Beeswax is a 100% natural wax produced by the female worker honeybee. These bees are born with four pairs of wax-producing glands on the underside of their bellies. These special glands give them a superpower - they can convert the sugar in honey into beeswax.
Did you know that to make a pound of beeswax worker bees have to:
- visit 30 MILLION flowers
- fly around the world about 13 times
- eat 6 lb of honey
Beeswax is a precious ingredient that should never go to waste. So, if you have a lot of old honeycomb, brood comb, and wax cappings, it's time to gather it together to make beeswax.
Do I Need a Double Boiler?
This method of melting beeswax is quite similar to using a double boiler. Both methods use indirect heat to melt the beeswax, which is important for preventing it from overheating and reaching its flash point.
The double-boiler method is often recommended because it provides more control over the heat. The water in the larger pot absorbs the direct heat from the stove, and then gently heats the smaller pot that contains the beeswax. This helps to ensure the beeswax melts slowly and evenly, without getting too hot.
However, wrapping the honeycomb in cheesecloth and placing it directly in the water also uses indirect heat, as the water absorbs the stove's heat and then warms the beeswax. This method works well as long as you are careful to keep the heat low and monitor the beeswax closely to prevent it from overheating.
Storing Beeswax
Store your beeswax in an airtight container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. High temperatures can cause the beeswax to melt, and moisture can lead to mold growth.
Helpful tip: Beeswax can absorb strong odors. It's a good idea to store it away from items with strong smells.
Uses for Beeswax
As a safe and natural wax, beeswax can be used to make everything from candles to lotions.
Beeswax Candles
Crafting beeswax candles is one of my favorite DIY projects. These homemade candles burn cleanly, produce very little smoke, and will burn about 1.5 times longer than soy or paraffin wax candles. Although they don't last as long, rolled beeswax candles are just as beautiful and much simpler to make.
Skincare and beauty products
Pure beeswax is a key ingredient in skincare products like lip balms and creams. It helps retain moisture, adds firmness, and extends their shelf life.
Natural polish
You can use beeswax to make polish for wood and leather.
Beeswax wraps
Beeswax wraps are a fun, sustainable alternative to plastic cling film. There are tonnes of DIY tutorials online.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, the magic of making your own beeswax, mess-free!
If you're ready to put your beeswax to use, head over to this post on how to make your own healing salve, beautiful beeswax candles, or lip balm. Or, if you're buzzing with curiosity and want to dive deeper into the world of bees, here's the amazing story of how bees make beeswax.
How to Melt Beeswax
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Gather your pieces of wax cappings and old comb. Break your honeycomb into smaller pieces and then wrap the wax cappings and comb in a piece of fine cheesecloth and clip it tightly closed.
- Fill your pot ¾ of the way with water.
- If you are using a regular stainless steel pot, place it on your chosen heat source. I used my electric stove but you may prefer to use a hot plate if you're working in a space without a stove, or if you just want to keep your beeswax processing separate from your regular cooking area.
- Turn the heat on the stove to low/medium. If you're using a crock pot, use the low heat setting.
- Place your honeycomb bundle in the pot of water. It should be covered by several inches of water.
- As the water heats, the beeswax will melt and seep out of the cheesecloth. The hot wax will settle to the top of the pot leaving any debris trapped inside the cloth.
- Let the beeswax simmer until it has completely melted.
- Once it seems like all the wax has melted, you can remove the cheesecloth from the pot giving it one last squeeze to get any remaining wax out.
- If your melted wax is still dirty, you may have to repeat the process a second time.
- Let the water and beeswax cool. In just a couple hours, the now clean beeswax will have formed a solid layer on top of the water.
- Press down gently to remove it and voila…now you have pure and clean beeswax.
- You are now ready to turn your beeswax into a healing salve recipe or whatever else you can dream up - mustache cream, surgical bone wax, fashioning your dreadlocks - or maybe just making salve, lip balm, and beeswax candles.
William says
Great method! Thanks for sharing.