What to do with wax caps....

Started by Tucker1, January 25, 2010, 08:18:24 PM

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Tucker1

With less than a 1/2 dozen hives does it make any sense to try and do something with the caps?  I usually place them is a nylon sack and spin them a bit to get out any left over honey.  After that, they go into the trash. If there was something easy to do with them, I try to use them.  But, I suspect the amount of caps has to be considerable to make using/processing them worthwhile. 

Am I wrong headed in my thinking?

Regards,
Tucker1
He who would gather honey must bear the sting of the bees.

doak

The capping's is the most undisputed best white bees wax you can get.
I would melt it down even just a little.
You can compact it and zip lock bag it and freeze till you get a bunch.
The best there is. :)doak

Kathyp

i agree.  they are great wax. i like to melt my wax in water because the wax floats to the top and the crud stays in the water, but you have to be very careful not to boil it.  it goes over and not only will be a fire hazard, but it's a heck of a mess to clean up!
The people the people are the rightful masters of both congresses and courts not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.

Abraham  Lincoln
Speech in Kansas, December 1859

Wynoochee_newbee_guy

the capping is the very best wax the bees make. tossing it out ugh! keep it melt it down and make candles.
Its All Fun And Games Till I lose an EYE!

Michael Bush

Just keep melting them down and pouring that in a mold until you have enough to do something or sell it to someone else who wants it.  Plenty of people are looking for good white wax for lip balm etc.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

theriverhawk

#5
My family tradition since I was a kid....My father would take the caps, shove them in a jar and pour honey over them.  We could then eat the honey and comb with a fork whenever we wanted some.  Not too much honey like when eating comb honey.  I great tradition that my father started that I now do.  Friends will see the jars and ask if they can have some.  Friends now look forward to harvest time because of these "special" jars of honey.  
Try it...

rast

 I melted, filtered and saved it. Didn't know what to do with it either. Until, one of my wife's co-workers asked if she had any beeswax lip balm for sale!   
Fools argue; wise men discuss.
    --Paramahansa Yogananda