Yes, melt your wax in a metal container, but put it in a larger pan of boiling water, so you don't set fire to your kitchen. Keep a fire extinguisher
handy too. I wouldn't use an open flame for a heat source either (being a science geek I used an electric lab hotplate with a solid metal top). My hot
water heater made water hot enough to melt the wax I needed to clean up from pots and filter funnels.
When I melted about a hundred pounds of bees wax for my former wife's craft business (casting Christmas ornaments in chocolate candy molds) I skimmed it
off the water, but also had to filter it. Get a big funnel and find an old cotton sheet at a garage sale or in your own linen closet. Tear squares
twice as wide as the funnel, fold the square into quarters and open up one of the pockets that makes, placing the folded filter cloth in the funnel.
Pour your skimmed wax through the fabric filter, and when the fabric clogs with debris put in another fresh filter and squeeze the liquid wax out of the
first into the second (best you can, as you have to use tongs to handle the hot filter). I used two filter funnels to make changing easier.
Set the used filters aside, as they make WONDERFUL fire starters, cut to any size you like. As a fire starter they are waterproof and will burn like a
candle with a large wick, perfect for wet conditions like we have here on the upper left coast. I also used paper towels, but with cotton sheet fabric
at least the materials and techniques are suitable for primitive camping. I have no historical references for actual use of this as a firestarting aide,
but I haven't looked for one either.
Your skimmed and filtered wax should be a nice consistant color and visibly free of debris. It would make dandy candles as is (dipped or cast), or
mixed with some suitable solvent / oil, a nice patch lube or wood/leather finish (recall recent postings about waterproofing canvas tenting materials).
You might want to soak the soles of your moc's in melted wax to extend their use in damp conditions, and I have seen references (in Modern camping books)
to waxing the exposed parts of cotton (or leather) clothing to render it rainproof. We all recall the recent conversations here about waxing the inside
of gourds.
Dennis Fisher wrote:
> L. A. Romsa wrote:
>
> > I about to get some bees wax from a bee keeper. I've looked everywhere and this is all I could find. He says its in a bucket. How do I clean this?
> >
>
> I would put it in a coffee can or just leave it in the bucket, if its metal, and heat it up until the wax melts. You can skim off all the impurities
> that float to the top don't worry about the heavier stuff that settles to the bottom. After skimming off the floating debris, gently pour off the
> pure bees wax into a mold or some other container.
>
> Dennis
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 09:57:43 -0500
From: Monte Holder <sja028@mail.connect.more.net>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: L & C Food
I have also wondered about this. But I seem to recall a number of times
reading L&C journals and they describe eating stuff (different foods) found
along the way and finding not liking the taste or texture. I don't remember
the version or edition, I've read most of at least two different sets of
journals. It seems like some folks I know around here (Central Missouri)
who WON'T even try something different. Granted I don't think they've ever
been REALLY hungry, but it may have something to do with this.
Personally, I've learned from my daddy "I don't care what you call me as
long as you call me For Dinner."
Monte Holder
Saline Co MO
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 10:03:07 -0600
From: Glenn Darilek <llsi@texas.net>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Bees wax
Jody Carlson wrote:
>
> I believe a possible source of beeswax can be found in the plumbing section
> of your local hardware store: it's the wax "ring" that seals the toilet.
> At least the last time I checked you could still find some made of beeswax.
They might have a beeswax base, but they use some other oil or something
to make it more pliable and sticky. However, the rings might be good
for some purposes. By handling the rings and pure beeswax, you will soon
find they are different. Judging from the cost of beeswax and the cost
of the rings, they couldn't be made of pure beeswax.
Iron Burner
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 15:05:29 -0700
From: "Lanney Ratcliff" <rat@htcomp.net>
Subject: Re: MtMan-List: Re:
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
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Thanks for the information. This will answer all his questions. Thanks =
again.
Lanney
-----Original Message-----
From: Frank <MedicineBear@Hawken54.sparks.nv.us>
To: hist_text@lists.xmission.com <hist_text@lists.xmission.com>
Date: Thursday, October 22, 1998 7:19 AM
Subject: MtMan-List: Re:=20
=20
=20
Here's a place you can go to see Panther's catalog.=20
