Beeswax has been used since the beginning of civilization. It has been found in the pharohs tombs, sunken viking ships and Roman ruins. Beeswax is basically the duct tape of old, with thousands of uses and indespensable.
Beeswax does not go bad and has been recovered from ancient ship wrecks heated up and is still usable. Over time beeswax gets what is called bloom. A light powdery substance that come out from within the wax. It is not mold and can be simply buffed off or left on for a nice patina on a candle etc..
USING BEESWAX: Pure beeswax is solid at room temperture. It will have a putty like consistancy at above 80-90 degrees and will melt around 145-147 degrees.
Depending upon what you are using it for you may just let it sit in a bowl of hot tap water for a few minutes to allow it to turn into a putty like consistancy.
To melt beeswax use a double boiler (a pot within a pot of water) this allows gentle heating which is important because beewax can burn rendering a browning hue and lose its aroma. Do not exceed 160-170 degrees for any long period of time and you should fine.
Beeswax cappings are used to cover the cells, these are removed to harvest the honey, we then melt down the cappings and filter the wax to make blocks of pure beeswax.
Beeswax can now be used for a multitude of purposes. Beeswax is used in soap making, candle making, making cosmetics, lip balms, water proofing leather and wood as in boat building.
Woodworking
Beeswax is used as a wood finish also a wood polish, traditionally when added to odorless turpentine or boiled linseed oil. Beeswax has been long used as a lubricant coating screws and nails so they go in easier, also beeswax is applied to window sills and drawers to allow them to slide more smoothly.
Art work
Beeswax has been used in lost wax mold making since ancient times. This is where an object is carved out of beeswax the object is covered in clay then fired. The wax is melted in the process leaving a terracota mold that can now be cast by pouring molten metal into it.
Beeswax is used in encaustic art, this is when pigment is added to wax and to paint with vibrant colors. Beeswax is also used as a binder in beeswax collage and can be used to coat pictures in scrap booking for an antique look.
Beeswax is molded into a mouth peice for digeridoos.
Black powder Shooting
Beeswax is added to tallow and used to lubricate lead bullets in black powder shooting. Cast wadcutter bullets have a band of wax to prevent leading the barrel of the gun.
Common Recipies
Wood Treatment
The most basic and commonly used is for butcher block or wood salad bowls etc. where the polish needs to be food grade. In a double boiler add 40% beeswax to 60% food grade mineral oil like what you find at the pharmacy. If it is still not the right consistency for your application you can just reheat and add more mineral oil to make the paste smoother.
For a wood finish for bare wood use a double boiler again add 1 lb Beeswax (1 pint melted) 1 pint turpentine (odorless preferably) and 1 pint boiled linseed oil.
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