Beeswax Processing

There are a few basic points to follow when melting as detailed below.  Another point that you should note is that quality is not just based on how clean yours beeswax is.  Every time you melt beeswax to reduce the quality, so try to get it right the first time.  For many of our uses we would prefer once melted beeswax with some bees in it and dross at the bottom, than the same beeswax which has been re-melted.

1. Don’t use any more heat than is necessary to do the job.  Beeswax melts between 62 and 65dec C, there should be no need to exceed 90 dec C.
2. If melting over water, ensure that the water never boils as this will emulsify and stain the beeswax and lower its grade and value.
3. Never use live steam direct into beeswax as this will also emulsify it and downgrade it.
4. Melting in holding vessels are best made from stainless steel or heavy plastic.  Steel, iron and galvanised vessels should never be used as they are attached by the acidity of beeswax and this will discolour the beeswax.
5. Melted beeswax is best put into a holding tank with hot water in the bottom.  This allows any fine dross and stain to settle out.  Holding tanks are easily made by using a plastic drum with an outlet at the bottom and another wax outlet about 300 mm up from the bottom.  Fill with hot water to just about the top outlet (the more water you have – the greater its ability to absorb stain) and add the molten beeswax and leave to settle until the correct pouring temperature (70 dec C approx) is reached, then lower the water level out the bottom tap while dribbling a small flow out of the top tap.  When finished add some hot water to the tank to run out the last of the wax into a mould with some water in the bottom and this will be they only block with dross on the bottom which can be cleaned off.

The trick to producing nice blocks is to pour at the correct temperature, which is about 70dec C.  If you do not have a thermometer, a sign that the temperature is about right is if the bubbles which form as you are pouring, solidify momentarily on the surface and then melt.  If this does not happen then the beeswax will be too hot, will cool unevenly, the blocks will have cracks and be hard to remove from the moulds.

Our preferred mould is a square pail as pictured.  If filled to the lowest reinforcing ring around the top of the bucket they hold approx 10 kgs.  These are an excellent size for “top and tail” packing onto standard pallets.  10 kgs is also a good weight if you want to estimate how much beeswax you have by counting the blocks.  These moulds are also inexpensive and can be supplied by us.