Beeswax is used to make candles, crayons, cosmetics, polishes, among many other products. It tends to be more expensive than other types of wax, but it is clean-burning and 100% organic. Beeswax can be colored using specially-made wax dyes, plant-based dyes, food coloring, or even crayons.
Even though beeswax starts out pure white when the bees make it, by the time we humans harvest the wax, it has changed color due to honey and pollen exposure in the hive.
Beeswax is a food grade wax with a white color when it is freshly prepared. Later the color changes into yellow because of the presence of propolis and pollen colorants. The typical odor of beeswax depends on the honey, bees, propolis, and pollen. Beeswax is crystalline in form and it mainly depends on the storage.
Color Additives
To naturally color your beeswax, herbs and spices can be a great choice. Natural substances such as turmeric, paprika, rosemary, clove and saffron are highly recommended to create natural color shades. For brighter, more intense coloring, a great option is to use mica.
White and yellow beeswax pellets differ in color based on the filtration process. White beeswax is turned white after undergoing a pressure-filtration process. Yellow beeswax is typically processed less and therefore left in its more natural state.
Beeswax for Hardwood
Beeswax furniture polish is great for any type of wood because it brings out the natural colour. Whether you are polishing mahogany, maple, walnut, cherry, or teak, keep in mind that over time, beeswax on wood will lead to a slight darkening over time.
There are some disadvantages to using beeswax as a finish. It is not very waterproof and does not provide much protection against water damage and other stains. Furthermore, beeswax is not very rub or wipe durable and may require periodic maintenance. It is not very glossy and provides a relatively low shine.
Beeswax will dissolve partially in boiling alcohol, and completely in chloroform or hot turpentine.
Beeswax melts at around 65 degrees Celsius, and above 85 degrees Celsius it will discolour.
Candle liquid dye works very well to color candles. You can achieve bright, bold colors with just a few drops per pound of wax. For example, 1 ounce of candle liquid dye will color 125 pounds of candle wax. A little really goes a long way, when it comes to how to color candle wax with liquid dye!
Pure beeswax whether in blocks or Comb Foundations, has an almost indefinite shelf life if stored in cool dry conditions. Samples which are thousands of years old have been tested and found to have almost identical properties to freshly produced beeswax.
Physical characteristics. Beeswax is a fragrant solid at room temperature. The colors are light yellow, medium yellow, or dark brown and white. Beeswax is a tough wax formed from a mixture of several chemical compounds.
Purity Level
Yellow beeswax may contain impurities, such as pollen, plant material, and propolis, which are collected by bees and used to build the hive. White beeswax is usually more refined and purified, resulting in a higher level of purity.
Emulsifying melted beeswax helps thicken and blend the ingredients in such products. Beeswax doesn't emulsify by itself. Instead, it needs to be combined with water and other ingredients. The mixture is then heated until the desired consistency is reached.
The beeswax also has antibacterial qualities which help make them a viable, reusable option for food storage. To wash beeswax wraps, rinse the wrap with cool or lukewarm water and eco-friendly dish soap. You can use a cloth or sponge to wipe them down, then rinse off.
Unfortunately, excess heat causes permanent changes to beeswax and there is no way to undo the darkness. It begins by turning light brown, then proceeds to get darker and darker until it's almost black. The more heat you add, the darker it gets. Most sources say the discoloration begins at 185 degrees F.
As it is a clear wax, and doesn't have any synthetic components, our beeswax wood polish will not alter, the colour and appearance of the surface it is applied to, making it a safe, natural and effective way to bring new life to wood furniture.
The tiny crystals may completely cover the surface and make it appear cloudy, fuzzy, powdery, or moldy. In the trade, this substance is known as wax bloom or just bloom. The way the beeswax was cooled affects the rate of bloom. Beeswax that is cooled quickly takes longer to bloom, perhaps a year or more.
Overview. Beeswax is a product made from the honeycomb of the honeybee and other bees. The mixing of pollen oils into honeycomb wax turns the white wax into a yellow or brown color.
Adding some coconut oil to your beeswax helps the candle burn more consistently and avoid tunneling. But, you can also make a 100% beeswax candle by omitting it. Pour the wax and coconut oil into your candle containers and let them set for 1-2 days before using.
Beeswax + Borax
Borax, also called sodium borate or tetrasodium borate, has been used for decades both in homemade DIY recipes and also at an industrial scale, in combination with beeswax, to emulsify oils and butters in both oil-in-water and water-in-oil formulations.
If it's too hot, it can crack or form air bubbles. The best way to prevent that is to pour the wax when it's 155-160° F, or when it has that film on top.
While a varnish may also serve as a protective coating to wood, it doesn't quite penetrate like beeswax does. As a primary wood finish, beeswax-made paste has to be reapplied a little more often as they don't last as long as other finishes such as lacquers, shellacs, varnishes and oil finishes.
Leave it to dry for about five minutes (or longer when the air is cool and/or damp), then buff to a shine with a dry cotton pad.
Beeswax is a safe alternative. It's been used as a non-toxic wood treatment and waterproofing sealant throughout history. And since it's all-natural and even antifungal and antibacterial, it's a great choice to waterproof your raised garden bed. To use beeswax as a waterproof sealant, start with a block of beeswax.