When the bees are constructing comb they hang together in a large chainlike mass. From there the process of getting this wax for human use is much simpler. Most wax is from the cappings, or the very top of the comb, that is removed to allow access to the honey. It is the light colored, very aromatic wax that is typically used for candles and other very nice smelling uses. These cappings are drained of honey by letting them sit over a strainer or some actually place them in large cheesecloth like sacks and spin the honey out of them. This is then melted, and the remaining honey separated from the wax. Some do this while still warm, as there are two layers, and some just wait until it all cools and pluck the wax off the top. Those that remove it hot will usually have the wax pass through a screen, but usually not a highly efficient one as they wish to remove large debris but not much. Some don’t filter at that stage at all. That is your raw beeswax. Then to get it ready for candles and other uses this wax is melted again and passed through much better filters. The types etc vary greatly. To make our beeswax, we use cheesecloth, as this removes any excess honey still remaining by adsorbing it, and also removes all the extra stuff. There is plenty of fine stuff, so you go through many filters. We probably get 10# of wax through each filter doing it our way. I am sure some folks do better by using pressure, but they also do not remove as much as the pressure also pushes some of those fines through. Not glorious, but that is what goes on! As far as how those bees (the wax glands) actually convert sugar to wax is still being studied I think, as wax is a petroleum type product! |
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