What do I do with all this beeswax? (crafts)

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I have some beeswax after my first honey harvest. Any suggestions on what to do with it?

I thought about making candles, but have not been successful in finding any information on making beeswax candles completely from scratch. All instructions assume you are buying beeswax sheets for the purpose.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), September 19, 2001

Answers

any candle mold works,, thats what I use, or,, turn it into a shape,, drive a HOT wire thru it,, thread the wick in,, TAH DAH,, instint candle

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), September 19, 2001.

Use beeswax in lotions, soaps, salves and lip balms. Check the archives for recipes.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), September 19, 2001.

Follow instructions for dipped taper candles. Beeswax is also a lovely furniture polish. I use it in making ointment/salves. Wish I lived near you cuz I would buy or trade for some of your beeswax!

-- Alison in NS (aproteau@istar.ca), September 19, 2001.

You can trade your beeswax for other beekeeping items you may need at some bee supply places. I just save mine. Never know when you might need handlotion!

GloryBee is a good catalog for candle stuff.

-- Mary R. (cntryfolk@ime.net), September 19, 2001.


You can make a lovely hand lotion from beeswax, borax, mineral oil and distilled water. I can't remember the recipe right off, but I'd bet it's in the archives. It's the only lotion that I've found that keeps my hands from cracking in the winter.

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), September 19, 2001.


See if Super Formulas, Arts & Crafts: How to Make 360+ Non-Food Products from Honey and Beeswax, by Elaine White, Valley Hills Press, 1864 Ridgeland Drive, Starkville, MS 39759 is still available.

By the way, where did the expression, "None of your beeswax" come from?

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), September 20, 2001.


kids love to heat it with their hands and use it as modeling clay. you can do this yourself, and make stars, shapes, etc., and imbed a ribbon in it, with herbs, for christmas tree decorations, etc. you can use molds, like for paper, etc., and make raised pictures in beeswax to hang on the walls.

-- marcee (thathope@mwt.net), September 20, 2001.

Thank you everyone for your answers.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), September 22, 2001.

Look up old-fashioned recipes for floor-polish, furniture polish, and shoe polish (and why does it seem right to me to have a hyphen in only one of those?).

I'd be very careful about bees-wax ornaments in proximity to heat (like Christmas tree lights, let alone candles).

Ken, I would guess someone thought "if I told you it was 'none of your beesness' it would be a bit abrupt" so they bowdlerised it to "beeswax".

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), September 22, 2001.


Lavender Furniture Cream Polish from The Herb Bible by Peter McHoy and Pamela Westland 2 oz beeswax 1 cup pure turpentine 2 oz pure soap flakes 3/4 cup lavender infusion Put the beeswax and turpentine into the top of a double boiler and stir until the ingredients are well blended. Put the soap flakes and lavender infusion into a small pan and heat gently. Beat the mixture until it is frothy then remove from heat and cool slightly. Stir the lavender mix into the beeswax to make a thick creamy consistency. Pour into and airtight container (tin or jar), cover and label. Apply sparingly and polish with a soft dry cloth. This being said I have a friend who uses the beeswax straight for polishing. I will get her method and post it for you.

-- Alison in NS (aproteau@istar.ca), September 24, 2001.


It's the best, for waxing a drawer, that won't slide right, lubricte squeeky hinges-on doors, it will take the fuzz off cotton string and make it easy to thread, through something, this means, heavy cotton cord to regular, quilt thread.It will seal jars, that you just want to keep the air out of. (herbs, that are already dried) It can be used instead of gum to curb tobacco cravings, like gum. Use it for anything that doesn't get tooo hot...

-- lacyj (hillharmony@hotmail.com), April 27, 2002.

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