Our Old Wax Melter & Making Candles

A view of our raw beeswax melter, candle making station and retail candle display.
www.omega.com/...
Candle Science wax melter. www.candlescie...

[@alanwatts9232]

The ladies go to the candles, and the men go to the extractors.

[@matthewgarrison294]

From what I understand, the trash makes for excellent compost. And is also useful for making fire starter bricks. Thanks for your videos sir!

[@beebob1279]

If something works don’t change it. Love the melter.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanks.

[@dontannery1805]

@@bobbinnie9872 What is the company name that makes the luminant tanks in California?

[@Gatemover95]

I love how you say you are not big enough but also have like tons of Wachs and material involved. Thanks for showing us. Really take somezhing from it. I used to poor the unfiltered Wachs into the candles, haven't considered these towels. Great stuff

[@dadu63]

I meant to pick me out some candle molds while I was there awhile back. I'll be back soon and pick me out some. Thanks for sharing this Bob!

[@benjamindejonge3624]

Nowadays this new big steam wax melters are unbeatable

[@richardnoel3141]

Loved this. Wonderful insight in to your candle products and production. Great tip about the Little heated blanked around the lower tap. I am passing this straight on to My friends who use a blow torch lol thanks Bob.

[@GEEZBEEZ]

Enjoyed the video. Thanks for the tour.

[@AussieMikesBees]

Great video again, Bob. I dig the slumgum directly into the soil or add it to the compost. Works great.

[@Melissa-xq2ts]

We were just there today! We got a candle, honey, soaps and other goodies. We sampled lots of honey. We were amazed at all wonderful things in your shop. Looking at the bees was fantastic! We didn’t see the Queen. Our five year old loved the experience. We enjoy your KZbin videos. Thank you for the candle video as well. Glad we got to visit ~ The Taylor’s, Fla

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thank you.

[@jtlearn1]

Consider putting the 90 on the other side of the valve sonthe valave is verticle and and cleanable

[@beesintheweeds]

Wow, that’s an excellent price for wax Bob. Funny, I too have the tiny honey jars and these sell like crazy. I never thought of pairing them with some candles. Great idea!

[@markbooth8458]

Bob Next time I'm at the store. I will have to get one of those bumper stickers. That says real beekeepers do it the rain.

[@bobbinnie9872]

You just missed them when you were here. They just came in.

[@briansmith6824]

I like the tee shirt in the store printed with a Venn diagram that puts beekeeping at the intersection of Farming and Crazy. 😄

[@solivaguswayfarer]

Those candles and their packaging look great! Bet the smell of melted wax in the store helps sales ☺️ Thanks for sharing Bob!

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanks Gabino. The smell is nice when you walk in and adds to the nice atmosphere.

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Thanks for sharing Bob. We are just getting in to making candles and such with our wax and finding pretty quickly that we need to buy some too. If you upgrade your meter let me know. I might be able to haul that old one off for you for free. 😉 kidding of course. Enjoy the rest of your weekend Bob!

[@robertdemers702]

Good Morning Bob !

[@bobbinnie9872]

Good morning!

[@thehappycamper5575]

Great video, thank you for showing the candle making process. We harvested 15lb of wax this year using our Maxant melter. We really liked your idea about using the flour sack towels to filter, especially on the candle pouring pitcher.

[@bobbinnie9872]

If you're new at candle making it's worth looking at Pamela's video link posted at the end of this one. Thanks.

[@dianetaylor6751]

Very high tech compared to my old 55 gallon aquarium setting out in the sun. Toss in grill trays lined with paper towel and old frames set in just fine. I am so lazy...all I do is turn the back side to the sun the next day. When I upgrade my 125 reef tank well I got plans for the big tank in my bee yard!!!

[@G.W.H.]

Thanks for sharing!!!

[@cindylee4930]

very interesting. the sludge makes great fire starter put in paper towel rolls

[@michaelfike7542]

Got to tour your store i love it all . Maybe after i win the lottery. ❤️🐝👍

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

One can only imagine the scent of beeswax candles in the old European cathedrals and monasteries.

[@bobbinnie9872]

With that many burning it would be something.

[@eddielloyd13]

Nothing wrong with a mix of different types of music Bob. Chill out on the country...😆

[@alfredkibunja1253]

Enjoying video from kenya 🇰🇪

[@harrisjoubertwithsleepycre1924]

I have a better way wax melter, it is better than nothing. I have put the slumgum into egg cartons for fire starter. just break off one egg hole and light the carton. the smell is the seller. going to try some candles this winter

[@Swampsquash]

Slum works great in a compost pile. Makes great soil

[@bobbinnie9872]

I'll try it. 👍

[@Scorpionchic]

Главное - запах от этих свечей, просто класс. Также дополнительный заработок пчеловодам.

[@Scorpionchic]

Спасибо за видео! 👍

[@bobbinnie9872]

👍

[@houstonsheltonbees814]

I like it Bob 👍 I guess the wood is just a spacer for the kitchen strainer right. Thanks, Good health and God bless Sir 👍

[@bobbinnie9872]

Yes, that is correct. Thank you.

[@houstonsheltonbees814]

@@bobbinnie9872 I appreciate it Bob 👍 God bless

[@feliciachitwood9400]

Hey Bob I would like to know more about making candles as well I love your videos you explain and I have learned so much from your videos with my bees I don’t really want to get into making candles as a business just a couple to burn around the house also some salves and some soaps I have been finding stuff online to use honey for facial and shampoo love it

[@bobbinnie9872]

H Felicia. Check out our video "How To Make Beeswax Candles" kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaO9qKmAaLZ2hdk

[@donbearden1953]

Bob, have you ever tried coffee filters for filtering your wax? They’re very inexpensive! The used filters including the flour sack makes great fire starters! I remember when flour was sold in the white cloth sacks and some even had a hand towel or dish cloth sewn to the sack with the stitching that held the sack closed. I’m thinking that you may remember that also since we’re about the same age.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Hi Dan. I have seen coffee filters used. I don't recall the towels sewn in a sack though. Thanks.

[@louiseibbotson588]

Thanks for sharing bob , could your u show some of the candles been made , many thanks 🇬🇧

[@bobbinnie9872]

There's more information on our video"How To Make Beeswax Candles" kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaO9qKmAaLZ2hdk

[@WildlifeAdventuresWithVincent]

Hey bob!

[@jasonrobinson9970]

Awesome video if it ain't broke don't fix it may dad has used pantyhose before and containers like ice cream buckets,milk jugs cut in half with handle still attached

[@toprakanaciftligi8037]

👏👏👏👏

[@evabartha9812]

Dear Bob. Thank you for all good videos. I am from hungary. I want to ask something. Can i write somewhere in private box? Thank you. All goods. Levi

[@bobbinnie9872]

Yes, use the email address on our "about" page.

[@beenomad8717]

Hi sir, can u please tell us about the wick used for the candle as whenever I try to use a wick the wick burns way faster than the wax leaving the wax there, basically the consumption of wax is low and wick burns out

[@Dustpuuppy]

You need a square wick for most bees wax candles. There are several candle making sites with info about this. I prefer Peaks candle supplies just from habit, but most sites will have what you need. It takes some experimenting to find the right size for each candle you make. A 4" pillar takes a larger wick than a 3" pillar and so on. Maybe a 3.0 for a 3 inch and a 4.0 for a four inch. If your wick is too small you'll have your current problem. If too large, you have "blowouts" which can start fires. I test every new size in an old pot, so if the side blows out, it doesn't burn your house down.

[@beenomad8717]

@@Dustpuuppy thankyou sir

[@beenomad8717]

@@Dustpuuppy thankyou sir

[@Dustpuuppy]

@@beenomad8717 It's been a while, so take my specifics with a grain of salt. Not rules, just starting points.

[@bobbinnie9872]

It sounds like the wick you are using is too small. The molds we use, which we purchase from Mann Lake Ltd., have a suggested wick size on the package. Search for "Mann Lake Candle Molds" and you should find recommendations on each candle mold description.

[@graemediesel2936]

You mentioned that you reuse the flour cloths. How do you clean them? I’ve been looking at a lot of wax melters lately and yours looks better than most. I wouldn’t be in a hurry to change it.

[@bobbinnie9872]

We don't clean the towels. As long as there isn't a lot of debris Marilyn warms the cloth with the heat gun until the wax is very soft and then the hot wax will go through it.

[@graemediesel2936]

@@bobbinnie9872 thanks

[@bjrningebrserud4518]

Do you know where I can get some recipes to make Lipp balm and soap with bee’s wax?

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Equal parts of wax, coconut oil and Shea butter. Makes a great lip balm. If you want different scents, you'll have to play around with quantity. I'd use only essential oils. And usually around 20-30 drops does it.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Many recipes are easy to find by searching online.

[@jimix323]

Have you ever had your wax checked for Amitraz residues? I ask because the use of chemicals by beekeepers in Germany is absolutely frowned upon. Organic acids such as formic acid or oxalic acid are almost exclusively used here.

[@bobbinnie9872]

I have not had that done but I know chemicals can be problem and it's not just miticides.

[@Life-ld9ko]

Hey Bob! I am struggling a bit with my colonies. A lot of pollen is coming in but in my subjective understanding, the bees are not growing as much i would like to. When I compare some of the better performing colonies i see that the brood pattern in those colonies is present in about 80 to 90% of the frame, the rest being pollen and nectar. While in slow growth colonies this brood pattern is present around 30-40 % of the frame area...the queen thus has less cells to lay in and perhaps that is why these colonies are growing slowly. I am constantly feeding them syrup and there is heavy pollen flow, is there is possibility that the brood is getting honey and pollen bound ? Can i put a fully empty frame right in the middle of the brood area of the hive to encourage queen to lay more eggs? Does this manipulation work ? Kindly guide me here. Thanks a lot for your guidance. Regards Bob.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Putting an empty comb in the middle can help at times. This late in the year it may not be any help. Many colonies may act differently in the fall. If they have plenty of bees they will probably be fine.

[@Life-ld9ko]

@@bobbinnie9872 thanks Bob. I have put one empty comb in the middle. Hopefully it will increase the brood in the future. I will check the brood a week later, and analyse the results, and act accordingly! Regards.

[@dontannery1805]

Great video Bob I wonder if your family that makes Make Aluminum stuff in California how can I get in touch with them I would like to check on a small wax Melter I'm in Arizona but I'm always in Southern California

[@bobbinnie9872]

Hi Don. They are overwhelmed with work for regular customers. I don't think they are taking on any more.

[@dontannery1805]

@@bobbinnie9872 ok thanks

[@cypher8855]

Morning Bob. How do I order some of the body butter. Up north in Indiana we get some pretty dry skin and regular lotions don't work well for me. Need to try some alternatives. If there's lotions I'd like to order some of that too.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Hi Cypher. Call our store at 706 782 6722 and the retail girls can help you.

[@cypher8855]

@@bobbinnie9872 appreciate it thank you

[@NevadaBeeMan-nq3po]

What do you do with that black honey you pour off? 😊

[@bobbinnie9872]

We dump it. It's fairly bad after this process.

[@Jack-es9xq]

can the slum gum be used for anything?

[@jordanhaynes7917]

Fire starters, swarm trap lure, wax moth larvae food(some people use the larvae for fish bait), or you can add it to compost.

[@MrMetalpunx]

Guess bob prefers country

[@bobbinnie9872]

I like both classic rock and country. No goth rock though.

[@arutiunmartirosian8267]

Hello! Thanks for good videos. I would like to work with you.Do you hire workers?

[@bobbinnie9872]

We do occasionally. You could send a short resume to [e-mail]

[@arutiunmartirosian8267]

@@bobbinnie9872 Ok Mr.Binnie.Thanks. I'll send you a short resume

[@mikefrench3800]

Is y'alls store online?

[@bobbinnie9872]

Yes, in a limited fashion. www.blueridgehoneycompany.com/

[@mikefrench3800]

@@bobbinnie9872 Thanks!

[@jeronimomod156]

I wonder if some of that waste wax would be good for using as a swarm catcher. I kind of got an idea you could put that in a 2x2x4-in block in the bottom of the hive on a tree 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@shevlin2650]

Bob, Are you going to have a booth at HiveLife in January? If so, what will you bee bringing? WAX? Craig Fr. VA / SML BEEs

[@bobbinnie9872]

Hi Craig. We are going to put a lot of our product in Byran Farris's booth. We've been talking and I think we're going to provide him with our version of double screen boards, HDO lids and bottoms, hats, tee shirts, mugs, bumper stickers and stuff like that with our company name on them.

[@shevlin2650]

@@bobbinnie9872 That is great. I have been purchasing syrup from Byran for the last two HL Conferences and plan to do so this year. I also talked to Molly and ordered wax and honey that she will bring to the conference for me. I will pick up the lids and bottoms from you at the show. BTW, I picked up 4 packages of bees from you 2 years ago. Have split them this year so I have a total of 9 hives. Working on 2 Long hives this winter. Thanks for all your online mentoring throughout COVID and my start in beekeeping. Thanks so much. SML BEEs