Replies

1. 
   Samson | Oct 20, 2009 11:12pm | #1

   Most any outfit/farm etc. that sells honey also offers beeswax, so check the farmers market.  Or if you have none near you, there are many sources on the web:

   http://www.localharvest.org/beeswax-disks-beeswax-cakes-C10281

   http://www.honeyflowfarm.com/qs30/products.php?pid=55&detail=true

    

   etc etc etc

1. 
   iamrip | Oct 20, 2009 11:24pm | #3

   Thank you! Both of these sites look interesting. 

2. 
   md2453 | Oct 20, 2009 11:13pm | #2

   Hi,

   I've always purchased bees wax directly from a bee keeper down in the valley from my shop.  I suspect without too much trouble you could find a bee keeper in your area as well. 

   Over the years I've even on occasion done some work for him making replacement parts for his hives and we've swapped honey or wax for parts.  It's been rewarding both ways and has kept all of our dollars in our local community!

   Be sure to heat and strain the gunk out of the wax or you'll have an interesting finish on your furniture, small price to pay as bee's wax smells heavenly when warm.

   Madison

1. 
   iamrip | Oct 20, 2009 11:26pm | #4

   I will look into seeing if there is one around.  If not, I will use one of the sites listed in the previous post.  Either way, it probably wont happen this week.  Can you use the beeswax with mineral oil later in the cutting board's life?  I would like to go ahead and finish it with the mineral oil and then use the beeswax/mineral oil blend the next time I need to restore the finish.  Will this work?

1. 
   md2453 | Oct 21, 2009 06:06pm | #11

   Yes, I have reapplied bee's wax many times and it works just great.  Keep a hunk near your bench and you can use it to lubricate screws too.

   Enjoy!

   Madison

    

3. 
   HowardAcheson | Oct 21, 2009 12:39am | #5

   Beeswax is generally available in any marine supply store.

   Howie.........
1. 
   iamrip | Oct 21, 2009 01:06am | #6

   I'm sorry but what is a marine supply store?

1. 
   Jimurock | Oct 21, 2009 02:51am | #8

   Apologies if you already know this, but beeswax can be tricky to work with.  If you need to melt it you should do so in a double boiler.  If you heat it directly it doesn't boil, just ignites when it overheats.  Gives one helluva pan fire.

   Jim

1. 
   iamrip | Oct 21, 2009 03:57am | #9

   Great tip, thanks.  I have read a number of articles talking about using a beeswax/mineral oil finish and I have never read that it might ignite.  It is things like this that make me want to take my time and over research every little project.  :) 

1. 
   jeff100 | Oct 21, 2009 05:57am | #10

   Rocklers sells beeswax.

2. 
   md2453 | Oct 21, 2009 06:10pm | #12

   They are stores that specialize in selling marnines, a close cousin of sardines but they come in glass bottles instead of tin cans!

   ;-) Madison

3. 
   dkellernc | Oct 22, 2009 04:35am | #14

   There are many sources of beeswax.  TFFW sells it, so does http://www.thebestthings.com, both of which are small, independently run woodworking tool operations.  I know both owners, and both are scrupulously honest.

   What they sell is semi-purified beeswax - with all of the insect parts, egg casings, etc... strained out then re-solidified.

   If you wish to make your own beeswax polish, the solid beeswax and mineral spirits is probably your best bet - heat both in a double-boiler over a non-flame stove (a gas stove is definitely out, unless you like the excitement of a house fire), and stir it together until it homogenizes.  Quickly pour it into a empty wax can or other sealable container, let it cool, and you can use it just like any furniture paste wax.

   Of course, you could do the whole thing a lot less messily and a lot more efficiently by just purchasing a can of Myland's furniture wax - it's near 100% beeswax.

   http://www.mylands.com/

   Finally, realize that mineral oil and beeswax makes for a very poor cutting board finish.  It needs to be renewed nearly constantly, and excessive mineral oil can come off on certain kinds of food, like bread.  A much, much better finish is a penetrating, drying oil finish such as Watco Danish oil, or even thinned-out polyurethane.  All of these are perfectly safe if allowed to cure past the point where you can detect an odor.

4. 
   Jimurock | Oct 21, 2009 01:19am | #7

   You can also get it at TWW -- gives you an excuse to buy some handtools ;^]  http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/Merchant/merchant.mvc

   Jim

5. 
   Gretchen | Oct 21, 2009 06:49pm | #13

   Go to a craft store like Michael's or Hobby Lobby.

   Gretchen
6. 
   lwj2 | Oct 22, 2009 06:00am | #15

   If you have a local natural foods or vegetarian store, check there. The one in my area sells beeswax cakes for about $3 for an 8-ounce cake.

   You can also get flax-seed oil there, it's food-grade linseed oil. I've used it on cutting boards before.

   Leon

   
   

   ---

   Edited 10/21/2009 11:02 pm ET by lwj2

7. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 22, 2009 08:05pm | #16

   Bees wax is expensive BUT a very good wax.. 'Mother nature knows!' A old TV advertisement?

   For a cutting board that will be washed and whatever I would think a waste of time and money. I have NOTHING against bees! I love em!

   Now Bees Wax on a Archery bow string is different!

    

   
   

   ---

   Edited 10/22/2009 1:06 pm by WillGeorge

8. 
   kcm | Oct 22, 2009 08:23pm | #17

   Lee Valley sells beeswax mixed with mineral oil. Perfect for cutting boards, utensils, etc. Does have to be re-applied periodically.

9. 
   TomHigby | Oct 23, 2009 12:56am | #18

   Health-food stores might be a source.

   Tom

1. 
   old saw | Oct 25, 2009 03:12am | #19

   The easiest place I know to find beeswax is the local hardware or home improvement store.  Look in the plumbing section.  What you want is a toilet bowl flange sealant ring that goes between the bowl and the floor flange.  These are a thick ring of solid beeswax and they are relatively inexpensive - $5 or less usually for nearly a pound.  You can find them any place where plumbing supplies are sold - even some Walmarts.

1. 
   Gretchen | Oct 25, 2009 04:16am | #20

   Can I repeat--a craft store in the candle department.Gretchen

2. 
   Ray | Oct 25, 2009 09:10pm | #21

   Don't toilet bowl seals have additives in the wax to keep it soft?  I wouldn't consider them "food-grade" beeswax. 

    

1. 
   old saw | Oct 25, 2009 09:50pm | #22

   "Don't toilet bowl seals have additives in the wax to keep it soft?  I wouldn't consider them "food-grade" beeswax."

   Not as far as I know, though I might be wrong;  it may vary with the manufacturer. "Soft" is a relative term I suppose, but the rings I've seen don't seem very soft unless the weather is quite warm.    On the other hand beeswax is not a very "hard" wax - certainly not as hard as simple canning or parafin wax.   But you're right to question whether such a source would be foodsafe; it might not be very clean either.  Actually I would not use a wax on a cutting board that is meant to be used, but that's another topic.

1. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 26, 2009 09:00pm | #23

   Not sure but I would think bees wax is sort of like working with Iron... You heat it up and the 'slag' rises to the top and you get rid of it!

10. 
    ted | Oct 27, 2009 03:19am | #24

    Claphams is the best beeswax polish I've come across.