Uses for beeswax

buzzbeejr · January 09, 2007, 06:36:43 PM

Ive heard of a few different things to use beeswax on. I was just wondering what everyone else knew.

ChickenWing · January 09, 2007, 08:39:24 PM

Toilet rings. :-D

reinbeau · January 09, 2007, 10:01:03 PM

I've always had a beeswax block in my sewing box for waxing thread. Helps when you're stitching denim or other thick material, plus it makes the thread stronger.

Now that I have my own I just like the smell of it! :-D

organicgrl37 · January 09, 2007, 11:33:56 PM

I also use beewax in my sewing and beading creations. I also have a small ball of it at work that I rub between my hands. It smells great and helps my hands from being chapped.

wff · January 10, 2007, 12:53:23 AM

Rub it on your hand saw when it's cold out for a smooth cut (use parafin when it's hot out)

Stab wood screws into a block of bees wax to keep them from rolling away, and they'll also screw in much easier

Coat glass with beeswax, carve in a design, spray with acid to etch

Rub on the PTO shaft on your tractor to prevent rust and facilitate easy equipment attachment (lasts better than grease)

Use pinches and bits and blobs to position still life subjects in the photography studio

Mix with flavoring oils for an inexpensive lip balm

Food-safe coating for turned wooden bowls

Wax wooden drawer slides

Rub the seams around the panels in a wooden door to keep out the frost

Knead together with eucalyptus oil and coat chickens' feet to fight leg mites

Lubricate door hinge pins

Rub in to wooden knife handles to prevent them from soaking up foods and drying out in the dish water

Coat thread with bees wax for easy fur flocking when tying flies

Rub on the zipper on your parka to make it work smoothly

Rub on your boots then set them in a low oven (100 F) to waterproof the seams

Sure there's lots more, but that's all that comes to mind at the moment

AndersMNelson · January 10, 2007, 03:12:08 AM

Awesome uses, wff.

Scadsobees · January 10, 2007, 09:23:32 AM

And if you routinely have severe breaks:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_wax

:-D

Oh, do you mean practical uses for common people?? Candles and lip balm so far. Dipped the tops of my finished mead bottles in it, not sure yet if I like that.

Sealing my miller feeder bottom.

Other than that...I'm sure I'll figure something out. It is too valuable to have too much just to take up space.

-rick

Dick Allen · January 10, 2007, 01:45:18 PM

Here's some decent information:

http://www.fao.org/docrep/w0076e/w0076e00.htm#con

Click on 'Table of Contents'
Scroll down until you come to 'Chapter 4-Wax'

tereads · January 10, 2007, 01:59:16 PM

Beeswax is always the best treatment for bowstrings (archery). Also, I believe it's used as a rosin for the other kinds of bows (violin?). The archery I know from personal experience. The violin, not.
TE

buzzbeejr · January 10, 2007, 07:18:49 PM

wff
so many uses so much beeswax perfect combo dont you think.

Kev · January 14, 2007, 09:36:15 AM

Quote from: tereads on January 10, 2007, 01:59:16 PM
Beeswax is always the best treatment for bowstrings (archery). Also, I believe it's used as a rosin for the other kinds of bows (violin?). The archery I know from personal experience. The violin, not.
TE

It's not used on violin bows. That's real rosin, probably more like propolis than wax. It comes as a hard slightly sticky lump.

kev

Trot · January 14, 2007, 10:09:52 AM

Right you are ! If beeswax was used it would be too smooth/slippery and there would probably be no sound at all..?
The stuff used is very sticky. . . . and that's where the trick is. . . . .

Regards,

Cindi · January 14, 2007, 10:34:57 AM

Trot, ha, nice to see you put in a post, I was wondering where you were.

Beeswax, ah, I like to take a piece and chew it up, I love the taste and smell, reminds me of summertime in the beeyard. When I have chewed it up, I spit it back into the rendering pail to one day be turned into a candle hopefully. Haven't got around to making candles yet, that was my quest with the kids for the holidays, but just got too busy.

I think that it would make a very nice "sealing" wax for special letters that would look pretty to someone receiving them. Great day. Cindi

Trot · January 14, 2007, 07:28:56 PM

Hi Cindi:

Thanks for caring... Didn't think anybody would mind if I didn't drop a line... Was going to say: "Open my big mouth," heee...

Well, usually I just read and give younger beeks a chance to comment. Things usually work themselves out. You know, is good for people to use the gray cells a bit.

Too bad you and the kids didn't do the candles?! I sure did pictured them, in my minds-eye, how they were making a mess with wax? Kids have a special knack for such things, do they not?

The one you mentioned, about "sealing" wax? I think that you better use a lot of... I better say it like this: You should use a bit of beeswax in the paraffin?! Just like for a flavour, a smell..?
Cause, the other way, it will make for a bit of a mess in a letter-carriers bag! Cause, it don't take much of a heat, to make it a bit sticky...

Just a thought. . . .

Regards,
Trot

Cindi · January 14, 2007, 08:54:02 PM

Trot!! Ha, I cared that you didn't drop a line or two, I look forward to your responses to my posts, you have some pretty good ideas, and when I read info that comes from the seasoned in the field, they hold a special place. I listen, comit to memory as best I can and process. Posting responses is a good thing to do, even a word or two can make a huge difference in how quickly one can learn. Mistakes are an awesome learning tool, but you should know that even the slightest alteration in a method can make an enormous difference.

Ya, I was really sorry that we didn't get to make the candles. I had worked so hard with all the processes to get some beautiful, clean wax ready for the kids. It just didn't turn out the way I had planned. But, good things take time. I am thinking pretty soon, now that routines are back in order, we can spend a few hours one Saturday morning doing this fun and like you said, very messy task. Wonder why kids are so messy (LOL). Now the other thing that I wonder about when I listen to the children is how they can talk non-stop, and I am not exagerating one little bit. I don't think that they talk about too much important to an adult, but to them it must be really so important that each other can hardly get a word in edgewise. Maybe that is why they are so boisterous. Children, indeed make the world go round (and adult's heads too sometimes) LOL.

We put down some new laminate floors throughout the house, so when we do get around to candle dipping, I will ensure that we have the floor area covered with some kind of protection, probably just an old sheet. Old worn out sheets are disposable and I have many that are simply worn out and would make great floor protection. I am rather odd about certain things. I could put down some 6mm plastic, but then the floor would be crunchy and I would rather step on fabric than plastic. Weird eh?

About the sealing wax. That was a fantastic tip about putting a little bit of beeswax in parafin, instead of pure beeswax. I never thought about the aspect of how low the melting point is with beeswax, and I am sure that it would melt in the carrier's bag and that would not be a good thing. What an awful mess. I don't think that I am the post carrier's favourite delivery anyways. There is so much mail that comes here, he must think we are all nuts or something.

Trot, don't stop making replies to posts, they are always welcomed. Great day. Cindi

Bubba · January 14, 2007, 11:31:15 PM

Another use is for fluxing lead for casting your own bullets. Works really well

BJ_BOBBI_JO · February 05, 2008, 11:34:14 AM

My main reason for wanting beeswax is to make my own herbal things such as using the safe herbs on my property.

With beeswax one can make lotions, salves, lip balms and other stuff depending on the recipe. Now a days much of ( not all) society has forgotten about the proper use of many of the safe herbs our ancisters once used.

It would seem that the honey bee is a mutli purpose miracle insect by the way it gives honey, wax, polinates everything and much more. They are certainly worth respecting.

NWIN Beekeeper · February 05, 2008, 11:46:59 AM

I likes to mix up wit some of dat mineral oil.
Me finds dat it fix the fuzz in my 'fro :mrgreen:

-Jeff

JP · February 05, 2008, 12:37:08 PM

> ah, I like to take a piece and chew it up, I love the taste and smell, reminds me of summertime in the beeyard. When I have chewed it up, I spit it back into the rendering pail to one day be turned into a candle hopefully... :roll: :-* :-D

ummmmm spit candles!

.....JP :evil:

poka-bee · February 05, 2008, 01:30:53 PM

Quote from: JP on February 05, 2008, 12:37:08 PM
> ah, I like to take a piece and chew it up, I love the taste and smell, reminds me of summertime in the beeyard. When I have chewed it up, I spit it back into the rendering pail to one day be turned into a candle hopefully... :roll: :-* :-D

ummmmm spit candles!

.....JP :evil:

I think you've got something there...Bet you could sell em on Ebay!!