Beekeepers get two products from bees. The first is honey. The second product is beeswax. Today we will focus on beeswax.
A simple definition of what part of the hive is beeswax is the hexagon, the comb itself, and the cap the bees place over them to store the honey until it is time to eat it during the winter. Beekeepers harvest this at the same time they harvest the honey. Today’s beekeepers typically only use the caps to make beeswax, while historically, both the comb (hexagon-shaped thing) and the cap were used.
Beeswax needs to be rendered. This means separating the honey from the wax. It also removes impurities such as dead bees, debris, and more. There will be a link in the episode journals to a how-to if you want to learn more about rendering beeswax. They were historically shaped into bricks or disks. The disk shape is typically referred to as a cake. Today they are also sold in pellets. They are roughly the size of bb’s or small pebbles.
There are many uses for beeswax. That means if you harvested it, you could not only use it but sell the excess. This could be very profitable, depending on how much there is to sell and what era you are writing. In modern times, it needs to be made on an industrial level in most countries to be very profitable, but it can and, for some individuals does, make a nice supplemental income if done correctly. Historically, it could be sold, but most people bartered and traded with it. However, there was larger-scale beekeeping in places like Egypt, and they sold beeswax.
The number of uses for beeswax is far more than I have the time to name here. I will name some of the most common and important issues. This includes, but is not limited to, waterproofing leather, rust prevention, candles, soaps, hair care, lotion, sewing aid, sealing envelopes in wax, sealing canned jars, lubricant for wood screws and nails, lip balm, dog paw care, crayons, grafting, reducing the frictions on bow strings, wax wraps, furniture polish, waterproofing shoes, conditioning a wooden cutting board, polishing concert counters and a whole lot more.
Fun fact: Beeswax has antibacterial and antifungal properties.
What could possibly go wrong?
This depends only on your imagination and is not even close to all of the possible things your characters could go through.
Likely to go wrong:
You got your wax too close to the heat, and it melted.
Likely to go wrong:
Your character could accidentally contaminate melted beeswax with anything that could be spilled into it: dirt, grass, hair, etc.
Likely to go wrong:
Your character could be using it to make any number of things and realize in the middle of making it that they do not have enough. That would be unlikely today but historically, and in a post-apocalyptic world, it would be unlikely anyone could just walk down the road and buy more.
Possible to go wrong:
On the same note, your character could be waterproofing clothing or a text and run out in the process, leaving parts susceptible to water.
Possible to go wrong:
If not properly stored, beeswax can attract mice, ants, or even cockroaches that want to eat it.
Unlikely to go wrong:
If your character use it for rust prevention, they might miss spots and have tiny rust spots all over what they were trying to save.
Unlikely to go wrong:
Naturally aged beeswax and beeswax placed in the freezer or in a too-cold environment become brittle.
Improbable but technically still in the realm of possibilities:
Beeswax heated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit or above becomes explosive. Being hit with melted wax at that temperature will cause severe burns and will be hard to get off quickly or easily.
Improbable but technically still in the realm of possibilities:
If a large amount is swallowed, it can cause an internal obstruction that, without proper care, could potentially lead to death.
Helpful Links to Learn More:
Processing Beeswax Videos:
Uses for Beeswax:
https://www.ruralsprout.com/beeswax-uses/
https://carolinahoneybees.com/uses-for-beeswax/
https://www.thisoldhouse.com/platform/amp/21015292/10-uses-for-beeswax
