Content
You can melt beeswax in various ways, among which the most productive is to use wax refiners. However, with a small amount of ready-made and purified raw materials, you can melt it using homemade means, especially since the low melting point of wax makes this easy to do.
At what temperature does wax melt?
At temperatures up to +35 oC, the waxy material is in a solid state, and when heated above this value it becomes plastic.
The average melting point is between +69 - 72 oC. This difference is due to the presence of various impurities in the composition, as well as the method of obtaining the original wax raw materials:
- from plates produced directly by bees: melting point is +72 oC;
- by melting or pressing – +62 – 65 oC;
- extraction (in industry using organic solvents) – +69 – 71 oC.
When heating wax raw materials to +95 - 100 oC foam forms on its surface. This is due to the presence of water in the composition, which at +100 oC begins to boil, thereby forming foam.When heating, you must carefully monitor the process. Wax containing a large amount of water can “escape” outside the dishes.
After complete evaporation of the water in the wax composition, foaming stops. If the raw material is not contaminated with alkali or soap, then it does not contain emulsified water and foam will not form.
At temperatures above +120 oC, some components in the raw material begin to decompose and evaporate. When reaching the limit +250 - 300 oThe wax completely decomposes and begins to burn.
Natural beeswax has a higher melting point than synthetic beeswax. Synthetic (paraffin) melts from +45 to +60 oC.
How to melt beeswax at home
Home melting methods are convenient for small amounts of wax.
There are several simple ways to melt:
- in water;
- in a water bath;
- in the microwave;
- in a steamer.
Each method has both pros and cons.
How to melt wax in water
The raw materials are crushed, placed in an aluminum container and filled with clean water. It is advisable to use distilled, melted or spring water: it is softer in its properties. When using hard water, the output product will be fine-grained and more fragile in structure. Then you should heat the wax over low heat for half an hour. After this, it is allowed to stand for another 10 minutes. The pure product will rise to the surface of the water as it cools.
How to melt wax in a water bath
The simplest and most convenient way to melt wax at home is a steam bath. You can melt raw materials using this old-fashioned method in any kitchen, and the resulting finished product has virtually no defects.
The crushed wax material is placed in a glass jar or other metal container of small diameter. It is placed in a wider bowl with water and heated over a fire. Under the influence of steam, the wax begins to melt. When heating, make sure that the water does not completely evaporate; add boiling water if necessary.
To ensure uniform kindling, the wax is constantly stirred. To completely melt the raw material, 10 - 15 minutes is enough, and then keep it in a water bath for another 5 - 10 minutes. When using bowls instead of a jar, it is important to ensure that liquid does not get inside: this can greatly deteriorate the quality of the final product.
When the mass becomes a homogeneous consistency, turn off the heat and filter to get rid of possible debris.
The finished product is cooled gradually to obtain a homogeneous ingot. Fine debris can be easily removed from the surface with a knife.
With this method, you can monitor all stages of melting and make adjustments if necessary. The disadvantage of the method is its low productivity. The raw materials must be free of foreign impurities and mold.
How to melt wax without a wax melter in the microwave
At home, heating can be done in a microwave oven. To do this, simply place the crushed wax in a suitable container and put it in the microwave on the appropriate setting. You can melt wax at a microwave power of 650 W in 1 minute, at 850 W - in 45 seconds, at 1000 W - 40 seconds.
It should be remembered that you need to use special dishes that are resistant to microwaves and high temperatures.
This method is convenient for melting a small amount of purified material. If there are foreign impurities, it is better to use another method.
How to melt wax in a double boiler
You can melt the wax using a double boiler. To do this, it is enough to pour 2 - 3 cm of water into its lower part. In a double boiler, the wax raw material cannot heat above +100 oC. This provides additional safety when melting.
How to dissolve beeswax
Wax raw materials have a complex composition and a very dense structure, which makes it difficult to interact with various chemicals. So, it cannot be dissolved in water and glycerin.
Beeswax can only be dissolved with substances that do not combine with water. These include:
- petrol;
- turpentine;
- chloroform;
- hydrogen sulfide.
In addition, beeswax easily mixes with various fats and oils, for better dissolution with which it should be preheated. For example, in liquid form it dissolves well in paraffin and essential oils.
Conclusion
The melting point of wax affects its properties.To obtain high-quality material at all stages of melting, it is recommended to follow certain technologies: maintain a constant temperature, clean the raw material before melting. When heating, it is important to remember that some metals can affect the color and structure of the finished product, so it is recommended to use aluminum, glass or enamel cookware.
At this point in time I melt the rough wax onto the stainless steel. grid in an electric oven. Set it to about 70 degrees. The process is slow. But the beauty is indescribable! In a porcelain mug, as clean as a teardrop)