Having a hard time cleaning BEESWAX? TRY THIS!

Whenever I process my beeswax I am obsessed with it being perfectly clean. I am always looking for better ways to do things. In this video I show you the method I have used for awhile now. I hope it is helpful. If you have any suggestions for me please leave them in the comment section below.
If you like what you see please hit the like button, subscribe ‪@brucesbees‬ and ring the notification bell. Stay tuned!
Thanks and enjoy!
#brucesbees #beeswax #beekeeping

[@stephenjames674]

I agree with you on how cool the patterns on the wax are as it cools. Great method, much better than my (previous) method.

[@brucesbees]

Awesome. It works well for sure. Thanks for checking in!

[@JacksonBrinkley]

paint strainer in the crock pot...genius! one of the best wax rendering videos on youtube. thank you

[@brucesbees]

Thanks!

[@dianasmithhill4678]

May I suggest- after heating it to melt it- use a 5 gallon bucket and line it with a 100% cotton pillow case- white is best... will get ALL the stuff out of it and cool it in the plastic bucket and it will form a round block- which you can freeze in a plastic bag and beat with a hammer or mallet to break up into smaller peices.

[@brucesbees]

I like that idea. I have actually started using a similar technique.

[@hatedcritic8066]

Wow, another great solution to straining beeswax. I was thinking about sewing up a filter for a bucket and you just used a pillow case. Brilliant.

[@jesseniagonzalez6104]

What do you do with the pillow case when finished?

[@brucesbees]

My preferred method is to use muslin. I reuse it until dirty and then move to a new piece though it could probably be heated up and cleaned somehow.

[@KovietUnionDefector]

​@@jesseniagonzalez6104cut up and use as bbq lighters.

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

Take wooden clothes pins and secure the cloth to the container and it won't fall in. Beautiful Wax!!!! Thanks Bruce!

[@brucesbees]

Great idea. Thanks for sharing!

[@npursuit]

Straight to the point, no excessive talking got a sub from me

[@brucesbees]

Great thanks! It’s a work in progress.

[@KanikaNewsome-pj6jb]

🎉

[@barkersbees]

Glad I just watched this lol. Gonna go clean some wax!

[@mrtraumaboyy4098]

I ordered some of that muslin and wife had the idea of doubling it up...worked great!! She boiled the muslin in a pot of water and it cleaned right up too. Now we can reuse it. Thank you so much Bruce!!

[@brucesbees]

Good deal!

[@Tiffycha1982]

Where did you get the muslin?

[@brucesbees]

I have had it for awhile but I think I got it at a local fabric store a few years back.

[@XxBloggs]

The Muslins will be upset you melted them.

[@bigoldgrizzly]

I still have a bunch of extremely fine cloth that I used to get from the Surveyors department. It is the cloth core from very high grade cloth backed paper, probably about 1000 thread count per inch. Just soaked the redundant plans in a bath for a few hours and out came the cloth. A trip through the washer and dryer and they were done. I used a home made solar wax melter and 2 stages of filtering. First was fine zinc mesh fly screen on which the raw hive waste was tipped when ever I worked the hives, that caught the main debris, and dripped through onto a double layer of above mentioned cloth. The sun did all the work and you harvested from the bottom collector on a nice day and cast into rough blocks. All the filters were cleaned as needed and that cloth was used many times over. Worked very well for me

[@SicSemper100]

Best wax process I've ever seen thanks for the idea

[@hatedcritic8066]

After screwing around with wrapping the wax in cheese cloth and submerging the bundle in hot water, straining through coffee filters, using a metal strainer on the crock pot, I see that you have already figured out a much better way to do things with the strainers we have on hand. Brilliant.

[@brucesbees]

Thanks. Hopefully this will help you streamline the process a bit!😎

[@markblackburn8685]

I like the paint strainer idea, I've done it before and poured it thru a strainer. Your way looks a lot easier

[@fixeshousestuff9159]

This the best method I have seen so far

[@brucesbees]

Thanks!

[@donbearden1953]

Bruce, you have some great looking clean wax there. I wear a cheap cloth nail apron when working my hives and save almost every piece of comb that I remove from my hives. I use it mainly for rewaxing plastic foundations along with making a little lip balm occasionally. Thanks for the video!

[@brucesbees]

Yes if using for relaxing frames etc doesn’t need to be this clean but I keep a little around for various projects and sell a bit. Always looking for a more efficient way. Trying something new right now (solar wax melter). But it is raining too much!

[@joer5627]

Now that is a good idea!

[@michaellepkowski3352]

I tried making lip balm but found it melt to quick. What ratio of wax did you use?

[@brucesbees]

I don’t even know. Haven’t made lip balm in awhile. It is just a trial and error thing. Maybe will try again in the future.

[@joyceboyle3206]

​@@michaellepkowski3352 Most common recipe is 1/3 ratio. Beeswax, coconut oil, another oil Equal parts of each.

[@mattsara2802]

That worked really slick. Thanks for sharing Bruce.

[@357lockdown]

Cool beans! I've never seen it done so easily. Thanks Bruce.

[@burd1356]

We did this process today and it worked easily and perfect. Thank you

[@brucesbees]

Good deal. Glad it worked out for you!

[@TennesseeMountainBees]

Thank you for sharing this, Bruce. Have watched several instructional videos and like this method best.

[@brucesbees]

You’re welcome. As with everything there are many ways to do it but this works well.

[@noahriding5780]

You know it would be fun to listen to what kinds of bee genetics you'd tried out, and what you thought of each. I'm pretty sure people are trained to say they like the 'survivors' the best. But it would be fun to hear about thoughts on genetic strains and stuff.

[@brucesbees]

Thanks for the input. I may do that someday but in reality most of my bees are a cross of many different things. I order a few mated queens here and there which are more “pure bred.” But for the most part I have no idea where the genetics originate. I do like the idea though for sure and will keep it in mind.

[@noahriding5780]

@@brucesbees haha nice. well I just like talking to you and talking bees. you can do any topics and it'll be fun. Thank you.

[@mikeries8549]

To actually manipulate genetics you need to keep bees on Gilligan's Island and most of us don't own private remote islands in international waters taking risks to study honeybee genetics.

[@brucesbees]

I agree in a sense that there are really no pure bred bees around but I disagree that you cannot manipulate genetics. If you re-queen with desirable traits, eliminate queens that do not make the cut and flood an area with drones from hives with desirable traits you can definitely move genetics in a favorable direction. I know folks who have done it. It will take time but can be done. I am working on it but still have a ways to go.

[@cheapsmoke4096]

thats incredible clean wow

[@dougbardsley1960]

Cool video. Thanks

[@clothespindolls]

Thanks for sharing. This really helped! I was able to make my first batch of beeswax.

[@brucesbees]

Hey this is awesome. Glad it helped!

[@lrdishman8692]

Thanks I really appreciate your advice and the quick response received

[@zetectic7968]

A multi-step process to get it clean. Good job! Its been a long time sing I bought wax here in the UK & I think I paid around $2 or $3 an ounce for small pieces.

[@Tiffycha1982]

This video and your process is an answer to my prayers!! Thank you for sharing!! I ruined a stove earlier this summer because my wax splattered and over and inside it and flowed all over my kitchen! LOL

[@brucesbees]

Yes it will make a mess! Thanks for the kind words

[@joanhuffman2166]

Mineral spirits will clean the last little bit of beeswax off things. Beeswax is used to make those very fancy Easter eggs (pysanky). The last step before varnishing them is to clean the beeswax off of the eggshell with mineral spirits.

[@brucesbees]

Interesting information. Thanks for the tip!

[@bonnied72]

I like the double filter method.

[@m____w____6981]

A reasonable solution to such a common problem.

[@brucesbees]

Yep. Pretty simple. Thanks!

[@richardpraeger6357]

I built a solar melter out of a old plastic black trash can, 5 gallon bucket, a dollar store wire colander, a round piece of glass from an old patio table. I put the bucket inside the trash can and fill half way with water. Put the colander on top of the bucket and fill the colander with burr comb and capping's. Put the glass on top and let it sit, as the wax melts, the colander filters most of the debris out and it drips into the water. The fine debris sinks to the bottom of the bucket leaving nice clean wax floating on the surface.

[@brucesbees]

Hmm. Sounds nice! I am not that creative. I actually just bought a solar wax melter but we need to actually have enough sun to melt the wax!

[@rachelthomas4019]

Holy smokes!! Genius! So simple!!

[@sylvainemoses7330]

Thank you for sharing. Im looking forward to trying your method when I extract my first wax. Your method looks easy and so clean.

[@brucesbees]

Yes it works well. There is usually a little propolis on the bottom that needs to be scraped off but other than that it seems to work well and saves a few steps.

[@cosmich2o122]

Great system👍👍 thanks for sharing it.

[@brucesbees]

Yes works well. It’s good to hear from you!

[@trichard5106]

Thanks !!

[@Jack-es9xq]

There are many reasons pure beeswax costs so much. This is one of them. Price usually reflects the value of the work put into it.

[@jhulin9018]

Great video Bruce. Comment and Question: --Comment: I used your method (from previous video) to render wax for the first time and love your method it is simple and straightforward. Plus I really appreciate that you give all the details needed (volume of crock pot, settings, type of strainers, etc). I have watched others that miss a lot of information that a new beekeeper needs. --Question: Am I right to assume on the last melt, before pouring into the mold, that you don't add any water on this step (noticed you did when originally rendering wax in the large crock pot)?

[@brucesbees]

You are right. No water in the clean wax crock pot.

[@timbervalleyhomestead]

That’s awesome! I learned something new tonight.

[@brucesbees]

Glad you liked it

[@BlanchardsBees]

I need to find me one of those molds! Awsome!

[@brucesbees]

www.mannlakeltd.com/1-lb-453-59-g-beeswax-bar-mold

[@CastleHives]

I should do the same Bruce. . 🐝🐝

[@mattsara2802]

After your coffee right Brian. 😆

[@CastleHives]

@@mattsara2802 That's right. . 🤣😅🤣

[@robertdemers702]

Nice job Bruce, the wax looks great. PS. I own a garden center in NH and you got some nice grass. We”ll have to work on those burn spots in the background but I know you have been very busy. Lol

[@brucesbees]

No doubt lol. We’ve had plenty of rain but that area needs to be de-thatched.

[@michaelpariera4328]

I use a solar wax melter and I put 2 layers of ground fabric in the tray put the wax in and let it melt. Slum gum stays in the fabric. A one step process.

[@brucesbees]

I just bought a solar wax melter and am going to see how it works. We just need the sun to shine consistently to melt the wax!

[@glynisreynolds446]

I pack my scrap wax in the legs of old tights then hang them in my solar extractor. Works a treat 👍 Your wax looks wonderful 👍

[@brucesbees]

Sounds like a good plan. Thanks!

[@brucesbees]

I am trying out my now solar wax melter now.

[@beebob1279]

Nice. I go to the salvation army and get white sweatshirts. the material from the sweat shirt goes inside out. In other words the inside of the shirt (fluffy side) receives the wax first. Then as you did filters the wax. I rarely by material because one sweat shirt which is cheap goes a long way.

[@brucesbees]

Thanks for the suggestion.

[@thomasluthi7543]

tire tube cuts make great rubber bands ;)

[@medic5836]

You inspired me to do wax now. Too bad I just told a lady I would give her all my old wax😭.

[@brucesbees]

Wax is not my favorite thing to do for sure. Just bought a solar wax melter. Maybe that will make it even easier. Just need the sun to come out long enough to get a batch melted and see how it looks.

[@giulianabuffa4386]

A suggestion? wear shoes! I use a nylon stocking as a filter, when the slag no longer allows the passage of the wax I make a knot over the clogged part, I cut under the knot and start again, there is very little waste of both wax and material. Anyway a bunch of patience is necessary... ciao!

[@brucesbees]

Thanks for the input. And yes not wearing shoes was NOT smart lol.

[@TheDuckofDoom.]

Binder clips from any office supply (or find a bulk deal online) will keep that muslin in place. I keep a big bag of size large and extra large around for chip bags, holding curtains, temporary tarping, and all sorts of other miscellaneous tasks... ...even binding occational stacks of paper (or seed packets) I find the "jumbo" are too bulky and price per each is poor, medium are a great price but not quite as versatile, "small" are pretty much limited to clipping papers in an office. (I'd guess that I buy about 2 large for each extra large)

[@brucesbees]

That is a great idea. Thank you!

[@saskiaschuitemaker3224]

Thanks for your video. its the best method ive seen for rendering and filtering wax. A question: do you add water to the crock pot before heating the wax, or to the plastic container under the muslin? Thats the only thing that;s not clear. The rest is very well explained.

[@brucesbees]

Water to the wax in the crock pot before melting.

[@honeyandthecoop803]

Bruce, i did mine today....not barefoot, but i got it done none the less, turned out great. Thanks for the tips, i plan to hang my strainer in a tree close to my apiary kinda as a Russian Scion, does this sound reasonable?

[@brucesbees]

Worth a try. Glad it worked out well for you!

[@jonclemons1421]

I've been melting mine in a homemade solar melter. But I put the wax in coffee filters. You may be able to run your wax through a coffee filter after it's melted, maybe?

[@brucesbees]

Maybe so. Thanks for the suggestion. I just bought a solar wax melter and am trying it out right now but it keeps raining lol!

[@jonclemons1421]

@@brucesbees weve been getting a lot of rain also. Keep the videos coming!

[@mokshalani8414]

I tried straining butter through a paper coffee filter once; took FOREVER, I don't recommend it, never again lol! I can't imagine beeswax being any different (but then again I never tried it) I think Bruce's method here is most efficient, & what you scrape off the bottom of the puck can easily be reused in firestarters or cleaned up further in a smaller easier to deal with batch

[@jonclemons1421]

@@mokshalani8414 I've been doing it for the past 4 years, but I don't have large quantities. But I don't have to remelt it again either. Pure yellow wax with zero impurities.

[@mokshalani8414]

@@jonclemons1421 and it's a paper filter, not a fine wire mesh?

[@scottreese5492]

Take your air compressor nozzel,hold Hardened wax upsidedow,and blow air around all 4 sides and it will pop right out

[@brucesbees]

Great idea. Thanks for the tip!

[@HelenaSummer]

wow, so beautiful..... do you sell these blocks?

[@brucesbees]

I do but done have much left right now. Hopefully will have more soon.

[@herbfromhouston1960]

Parchment Paper ❤

[@cora-annehillary7108]

Great video like the idea with the crockpot! Do you wash your wax before you melt it down or is it straight of the hive?

[@brucesbees]

I usually set it out and let the bees clean up any honey etc. Or you can wash it. I usually don’t.

[@joer5627]

Cool Bruce. Do you use mold release of just leave it as is? Thanks.

[@brucesbees]

Never have. Just leave as is.

[@KanikaNewsome-pj6jb]

😊💚🙏🏾

[@brucesbees]

Thanks for watching.

[@suzannecheverie]

Great video! Do you use a 5 gallon or 1 gallon paint strainer bag?

[@brucesbees]

For this crock pot I used a 5 gallon strainer.

[@lrdishman8692]

Being a new beekeeper I keep having questions. Have you ever used Hopguard 3 and what do you think of it. Is it OK to treat for mites during the dearth?

[@brucesbees]

I have never used it. Don’t know that much about it.

[@robwildfieldhoney]

I use the same technique and I know first hand how much of a mess beeswax can make. Boy oh boy laying down a drop cloth like you have can be a life save with the wife. haha

[@brucesbees]

Yes. Absolutely!!!

[@mowriswesley3808]

Yea it is ,I just let it set up,and get a scraper

[@hannahhancock5214]

Do you have to do this process multiple times? Or just once and it’s clean?

[@brucesbees]

It may take a couple of times. This particular batch was unusually clean after one time.

[@preacherkjv5625]

Hey Bruce do you put something in the bottom of the plastic container to help get the wax out after it cools?

[@brucesbees]

Water.

[@preacherkjv5625]

@@brucesbees thanks Bruce

[@brucesbees]

Actually I added water to the wax in the crock pot and it separates as it cools. Water on bottom.

[@bonnied72]

How is your lawn So perfect?

[@brucesbees]

It looks pretty nice but has plenty of flaws lol. I put a fair amount of work into it but it needs more. We have also had a lot of rain this summer which helps grass grow for sure🙂. Thanks for checking in!

[@pattisnowden63]

So, how does one utilize the pound of beeswax (other than candle making) after all that!

[@brucesbees]

I use the wax to dip my glass Muth jars of honey in to seal them and for a nice presentation. It can also be used in all kinds of products since as soaps and lip balms etc. I don’t use much beeswax myself but some really enjoy using it to make various things.

[@saeed4ish]

I have questions I have two 10 frames hive with queen in how can I put them together I know the paper meted but what I can do with queen If I take two queen out can I mixed them together without queen ?

[@brucesbees]

If you have two queens why do you want it combine the colonies.

[@saeed4ish]

@@brucesbees because is not have enough bees each hive is 3 or 4 frames bees I afraid hive small betel get in

[@brucesbees]

I think the best thing would be to condense them down into a nuc if you could. If you combine them then you will have to sacrifice one of the queens.

[@saeed4ish]

@@brucesbees no I can put one queen in one mini nuc I have mini nuc without queen all the time they will make queen cells for me I can put the queen there Just want to know if I take two queen out can I mixed them bee one time ?then ad queen

[@brucesbees]

Yes. Smoke them good and give them a little time queenless. I think it will work.

[@noelblondel5227]

Great idea. Can you tell me if you have water in the container with the muslin cloth? It looked like water at the bottom when you got the block out at the end. Thank you

[@brucesbees]

Yes I did put water in the wax in the crock pot.

[@sharidavies90]

Do you have water in your large crock pot when you do your initial melting? I noticed liquid in the container when you dumped it out on the grass (nice grass, BTW).

[@brucesbees]

Yes. I forgot to mention that verbally but put a brief caption in the video. It is pretty important. Wish I had mentioned it. Thanks for the comment.

[@sharidavies90]

@@brucesbees thanks for the video, I usually end up with that thin layer of propolis and thought it was due my inexperience or filter material. Now I know it's an issue for everyone unless you get lucky. Any tips on scraping it off (i.e. type of knife or utensil that works well).

[@brucesbees]

I just use whatever I can find. Haven’t come across a magic solution yet. 🙂

[@kentcostello8099]

You don't spray your mold like we for candles?

[@brucesbees]

What kind of spray do you use?

[@kentcostello8099]

I'll have to ask my wife & daughter when I get home tomorrow. They spray the candles mold with spray to get the candles out of the molds. They make the candles I do the hard work 😡

[@kentcostello8099]

My daughter just told me it's called 1080 mold release. They use it on all there candle molds.

[@brucesbees]

Thanks for the heads up. I’m sure it would really help.

[@russellkoopman3004]

@@brucesbees Bruce, I use that release stuff and it comes in an aerosol can and you just spray some on your mold. Works great.

[@Themachinewon]

Bruce, how fine of material are you using ? Is it clean enough for candle grade wax ? Won't clog the wick..

[@brucesbees]

Yes if you go through all the steps in the video it is perfectly clean. The mere risk used for the final strain is muslin. Once it hardens there may be a little residue on the bottom that needs to be scraped off. But very little.

[@Themachinewon]

@@brucesbees I’ve found double cotton shirts remove the fine particular matter that makes it candle grade. Otherwise, those particles will clog the wick, causing a small flame and a candle that will not burn all the way down to the base. Hard to see with the naked eye, real test is the candle burning down to base.

[@Themachinewon]

I’m thinking of using the blue paper towels they sell, very dense cotton.

[@brucesbees]

It’s worth a try. Paper towels seem to work pretty well. Regardless odds are you may have that thin film in the bottom to scrape off but that is not big deal. Let me know how it goes. Good luck!

[@Themachinewon]

@@brucesbees with the process of straining the way I do it, there is no film at the bottom or particles. That’s what I shoot for when making candle grade wax.

[@georgetaylor9154]

are you adding water to the wax when you melt it in the croc pot?

[@brucesbees]

Yes

[@saeed4ish]

Hi dear Bruce can you let me know where you bought the 1 lbs bee wax mold

[@brucesbees]

I think I got it from Mann Lake

[@saeed4ish]

@@brucesbees thanks a lot

[@628DirtRooster]

Did you use any mold release?

[@brucesbees]

No I did not.

[@sebastiaantheartartist]

Tried the Tshirt but it seems like there is alot of wastage in the shirt afterwards?

[@brucesbees]

I use Muslin I usually. Was the waste wax or trash?

[@manyirons]

Why not put the muslin under the paint strainer in the crock pot? Then you can skip a pouring step.

[@brucesbees]

Not a bad idea. The large cock pot is not completely clean though. But it could work with a clean crock pot.

[@honeyandthecoop803]

Bruce made that look so easy. You can even do it barefoot

[@brucesbees]

Absolutely! Ha! But I wouldn’t recommend it. Not the brightest thing to do…

[@CleargoldSkincorrector]

People are always looking for what is off🙄🙄🙄. Thank you for ideas Bruce

[@brucesbees]

@CleargoldSkincorrector haha.

[@planningreelalaska4121]

Hi there do you use an extra crockpot for melting or does it clean up well?

[@brucesbees]

Yes I have a clean one for the final melt.

[@joybochsler7160]

Where do you buy the painter screen bag from

[@joybochsler7160]

I did it and the wax came out so clean

[@brucesbees]

Great news. Thanks for checking in!

[@raysbees7650]

How long for that block to completely cure ?

[@brucesbees]

I think I left it overnight. Never really timed it before.

[@raysbees7650]

I’ve got a friend that has issues with bigger thicker candles so I was curious

[@brucesbees]

Yeah I really don’t know. Have not really tried to do candles.

[@raysbees7650]

@@brucesbees overnight

[@daveupton8625]

Should have put clothing pegs on it to stop it falling in.

[@brucesbees]

Not a bad idea. Thanks for the input!

[@madeingreatbritainchannel]

Where did you get the molds from?

[@brucesbees]

I think I got it from Mann Lake but most of the big bee supply stores have them. I ordered a couple more a year or two ago. I think I got those from Rossman but not sure.

[@allyp1892]

Do you add water to the crock pot?

[@brucesbees]

Yes.

[@asadullahanfishi995]

Hi, wanted to ask which crock pot you use? Do you have any links? Or at least the size for the smaller one? Thanks alot

[@brucesbees]

I am not sure. Probably a 2 qt

[@brucesbees]

It’s pretty small.

[@artbysolar-theresa]

I add a paper towel to the bottom of paint strainer bag. By doing this I don’t have to double strain it.

[@brucesbees]

Not a bad idea. How do you keep the paper towel from folding in on itself?

[@artbysolar-theresa]

@@brucesbees if it’s a full sheet just fold it in half and rip it. A half sheet fits nicely though and I haven’t had any issues with it folding in on itself. I usually melt the comb in a pan over propane if it’s full of brood and gunk from a clean out. Then I melt it back down in the crock pot. If it’s relatively decent comb (from my hives or a clean out) I use the crock pot method. I’ve never had to filter it again using the paper towel. I save the waxed towels for fire starters ;) One trick is to keep cinching up the paint bag on the lid as the wax melts down too.

[@brucesbees]

Hmm interesting. Thanks!

[@indasmith86]

In lieu of a pant strainer, can I use double muslin?

[@brucesbees]

You could give it a try!

[@ronbees9182]

Do you add water when melting wax

[@brucesbees]

Yes.

[@julibottjen9047]

I mean, if you want to wax the tops of your feet, no shoes might be the way to go. LOL

[@brucesbees]

No doubt haha. Definitely don’t recommend!

[@kelleyleblanc5025]

Can you (or anyone) give me an idea of how to grate a 1 pound block of wax? I bought one locally to make salves and oh my was it ever difficult to grate 1/2 ounce. Someone must have a trick to do this and be willing to share :)

[@brucesbees]

I have never really tried it. But I’m sure there is a video somewhere on how to do it.

[@brucesbees]

This is something I found. A full ay didn’t see a lot of videos on that topic. Great question. Hope this helps. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJjSpmypbJunlas

[@lrdishman8692]

How neat is that? Question, I have 3 urban hives right next to each other, one very strong one very weak. Is it wrong to take a frame out of the strong hive give it to the weak? Sounds like socialism, I don’t like that part.

[@brucesbees]

Nope. It’s part of beekeeping. Lots of people do it.

[@alexvids9232]

rip ants and bugs

[@jljjoubert3611]

Good man Cobus 🐳

[@Things-zi8zq]

Use honey wax as chewing gum. Trust me in the Arab world they do that