Beeswax and Linseed oil

[BT]

Hillbillysmith

One of the members of this forum (Tinkertut) is a beekeeper and sells wax. I buy mine from him. Look up his profile which has a link to his beekeeping site.

[eburgblue]

I picked up a 1 pound block from a crafters store. They had 2 kinds. A real clean whitish type and a raw block that still has bee parts and such in it and is a yellow/brown color.

[Jacob]

I'm a beekeeper, and I'm not sure what they do to the white wax to make it that way. It's naturally that dark yellow. Last time I used some, I needed a small bit, and just put the warm metal on an unfiltered blob with all the cocoons, etc. still in. The cheapest way of cleaning the wax is a solar melter. There are plans online. You get much less beeswax than honey from the hives, so I don't have it to spare. Most of what you can find is imported.

If your metalwork is no longer warm from the forge, you can use a torch to warm it. If it's small enough, an oven or toaster oven works fine.

[Covforge]

I get mine from a craft store. A pound is about $15 . Sounds like alot but a pound goes a long way

[fat pete]

here in PA dutch (farms)country there are tons of beekeepers. never used it....i just use boiled linseed oil...i got some japan drier but havent played with it yet...I have been using butchers wax and am pleased with the satin typ finish it leaves.....too cold to fool around unless I am forgin'

[metalmangeler]

If you can not find a beekeeper near you who will sell wax at a good price you can buy it from the bee supply co. Mann Lake has deep brood foundation in their 2007 catalog for $140 for 25# this is after it has been made into foundaton which can easly be remelted for our purposes. A little less than $6.00 a pound. Direct from the keeper should be less. You might also try Dadant, Walter T. Kelley Co. or AI Root. These places sell in as small as 10 sheet increments. Which depending on the size of the foundaton would be about a pound. I also keep bees and have always kept all my wax which I mix 1:1 with parafin to finish iron work with but if someone started offering $15 for a # I might change my attitude.

[Quenchcrack]

Bees wax is popular with the woodworking group. Check out Woodcraft but be prepared for sticker shock....Also, the parafin wax they sell for canning works pretty good, too. You can get this stuff at any good grocery store that sells canning supplies. Failing all that, boiled lindseed oil can ge bought at Home Depot or Lowes. Heat your iron, wipe on the BLO with a cotton rag and let it smoke off. Works fine. Don't use BLO on cooking impliments, thats what wax is for.

[Glenn]

Be careful what you do with the rag used to oil the steel. They can generate enough heat after use to start their own fire. Play safe.

[Paragon]

I got my block from Michael's local store. It is in the candle making section. You can find small pieces at places like a quilt shop but the price is usually high. They use it to run the thread through or something.

Bees Wax

It is a large block around 9x4x1

[habu68]

Centaur forge has 1# blocks for $6.75 and smaller 2oz blocks. To make smaller blocks melt the wax in a double boiler and cast in a muffin tin. It helps to spray the pan with pam before casting. The wax is hard to completely remove, to keep the Domestic Goddess pleased, it may do you well to have your own pans. The lower you keep your melt temps the lighter color your wax will be.

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