Wax is secreted from the two wax glands on the sternitesof the worker bees who use it to form comb for brood rearing and honey storage. Beekeepers replace old comb with new foundation and recover the old wax in solar extractors. They also make use the cappings after honey extraction. The wax can be used to make new foundation or processed into creams and polishes.
Wax Recipes
Care should be taken when mixing wax and turps etc. on an open flame as they are highly inflammable. Never leave unattended.
Cold Cream
1 oz beeswax, l oz white Vaseline, 1 fluid oz distilled water, 5 fluid oz light mineral oil, perfume to suit.
Method: - Melt beeswax, Vaseline and oil in a jar placed in a pan of water When melted stir in the water, whisk and when cool add the perfume.
Method: -
Floor Polish
8 oz beeswax, 1 pt of turpentine
Melt beeswax and turps in a container in a pan of water, stir well and cool.
Melt beeswax and turps in a container in a pan of water, stir well and cool.
Furniture Cream
1 Pt turpentine, 2 oz paraffin wax, 2 oz soft soap such as Lux, 2oz beeswax, 1 pt rainwater. Version 1: -
Grate beeswax and paraffin wax into turps and heat in a container in a pan of water until melted. Mix soap with water until smooth then whisk into cooled turps mixture. Version 2: -
Same recipe. Break up the two waxes and put into a bowl with the soft soap and turps. Leave for 24 hours then pour on the boiling water and stir vigorously until creamed. This is a safer method than version 1.
Version 3: - 3oz beeswax, 1/2 oz soft soap, 3/4 pt turpentine, 1/2 pt water.
Grate wax into turps and heat in a container in a pan of water. Stir the soap mixture into the cooled turps solution a little at a time adding only enough to form a thick cream.
Version 3: -
Leather Polish
3 oz beeswax, 1 oz Castille soap, I pt rainwater, 1 oz white wax, 1 pt turpentine. Grate the two waxes into the turps and place in a container in a pan of water and heat untill melted. Boil the soap in the water until dissolved. When both mixtures are cool mix together to form a cream and then jar. Excess water will settle in the jar a can be poured off before use or just shake the jar. Can be used on leather furniture suites, leather shoes and is particularly good on walking boots.
Water Proofing for Boots and Shoes
4 oz beeswax, 4 oz resin, 1 pt linseed oil, 1/2 Pint turpentine.
Version 1: - Melt wax and resin in a container in a pan of water and when melted remove from heat and add linseed oil. When cool add the turps.
Version 1: -
Version 2: -
Melt 4 oz of beeswax with 2 oz of mutton fat in a container in a pan of water until blended. To use, simply warm a little and apply to boots.
