Hive of bees with wild comb
Large beeswax blocks
Six blocks of beeswax
Bee on eucryphia
Selling at Conwy Honey Fair
Small beeswax blocks ready for sale
We have compiled this list from visitors to the annual Conwy Honey Fair
- To strengthen button thread.
- To stop shoe laces fraying.
- To make furniture drawers open and close more easily.
- To make wood saws cut freely.
- To make screws drive into wood more easily.
- In woodturning, to polish bowls.
- To make furniture polish, mixing the beeswax with pure turpentine.
- For tying fishing flies.
- To waterproof garden string.
- To lubricate wet suit zips.
- To seal didgeridoo mouthpieces.
- To strengthen archery bow strings.
- To lubricate muzzle-loading rifle bullets, mixing the beeswax with tallow.
- To make candles.
- To strengthen sail maker’s twine.
- To make hand cream.
- To strengthen sash window cords.
- To finish pine picture frames.
- ½ and ½ with paraffin wax for batik.
- Encaustic art.
- To wax dreadlocks.
- To polish and preserve gunstocks.
- To stiffen bagpipe drone cords (added Nov 2019).
- To make beeswax food wraps (added Nov 2019).
- To strengthen puppet strings and prevent tangling.
Do you know of any other uses? Please let us know!
Compiled by Peter McFadden
Updated November 2019
I use beeswax to lubricate and waterproof linen thread when sewing leather.
Turpentine from wood is quite toxic, particularly so to people with breathing difficulties. It also passes through skin easily.
White Spirit (not Turps Substitute) is a less hazardous solvent for making polish.
I mix beeswax and neatsfoot oil (plus a drop or two of a nicer smelling essential oil like Patchouli) to make a leather waterproofer and conditioning treatment.
Thanks for the interesting suggestion, one to add to the list.