A hive of bees can produce more than 1lb.of wax each season. Wax taken from a beehive contains many debris which must be removed before it can be put to good use.
The easiest way to remove impurities from wax is with a solar extractor, basically an insulated container with a double glazed lid.
The old cappings, foundation, scrapings, etc. are placed on a metal rack over a dark-coloured tray. If the extractor is left outside with the lid closed, on a sunny day the temperature inside the extractor soon rises above 145 degrees F which is sufficient to melt the wax.
The melted wax trickles through a fine mesh and drips into a container. When it solidifies it should be stored in sealed plastic bags until needed.
Solar extractors can be bought from equipment suppliers or can be made fairly easily at home.
Beeswax furniture polish is the purest form of polish you can find. It gives a mirror-like finish combined with a wonderful smell. To make the polish you need:
Shred the beeswax and soap and combine with the remaining ingredients over a very gentle heat, stirring continuously . When the mixture has a smooth, creamy consistency it can be poured into suitable containers and left to cool.
Beeswax also makes fine candles. It smells delightful and burns slowly. There are three basic types of beeswax candle: