A Simple and Effective Way

I wanted to share a fun and rewarding project I recently completed: recovering honey bee wax from comb caps and old burr comb. Every time we work the hives or pull honey from the hives there is always wax waste created and when I can, I save it. All the wax will go into the freezer until I’ve collected enough to start the process of recovering and cleaning the wax. If you’re into beekeeping or just love DIY projects, this one’s for you!

The Setup

Here’s what I used:

• Cardboard Box: This served as the base and insulator for the whole setup.
• Aluminum Roasting Pan: I poked small holes in one end to let the melted wax drain through.
• Paper Towel: This acted as a filter to catch impurities.
• Pan of Water: Placed below the roasting pan to catch and cool the melting wax.
• Old Picture Frame with Glass: Placed on top of the box to let in sunlight and hold in the heat.
• Tape: For holding the glass in place and preventing bees from attempting to go inside the box.

The Process

1. Preparation: I started by setting up my cardboard box in a sunny spot. Inside the box, I placed the aluminum roasting pan with its perforated end over the pan of water.
2. Filtering: I lined the roasting pan with a paper towel to filter out impurities as the wax melted.
3. Melting: The old picture frame with glass went on top of the box, creating a mini greenhouse effect. This setup allowed the sunlight to come in and heat up the box, melting the wax from the comb caps and burr comb.
4. Collecting: As the wax melted, it dripped through the holes in the roasting pan, got filtered by the paper towel, and then fell into the pan of water below. This method was surprisingly effective and I ended up recovering about 2 pounds of clean, beautiful wax!

Final Touches

Once I had collected the wax over several days of refilling up the pan, I brought it indoors for remelting. Using a double boiler, I melted the wax again to ensure it was completely purified. Then, I poured it into silicone molds with bee designs. The end result? Gorgeous, decorative wax pieces that are perfect for crafts or as gifts.

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Recovering honey bee wax doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few simple items and a bit of sunshine, you can turn old comb caps and burr comb into something beautiful and useful. Give it a try and let me know how it goes!

Happy beekeeping! 🐝🌞