Contents
You can melt beeswax in various ways, among which the use of a wax melter will be the most productive. However, with a small amount of prepared and purified raw materials, it can be melted using household tools at hand, especially since the low melting point of wax makes this easy.
At what temperature does wax melt
At temperatures up to +35 oC, the wax material is in a solid state, and when heated above this value, it becomes plastic.
The average melting point is in the range +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;
- melting or pressing – +62 – 65 oC;
- extraction (in industry with organic solvents) – +69 – 71 oC.
When heating wax raw materials up to +95 – 100 oC foam forms on its surface. This is due to the presence of water in the composition, which at +100 oC starts to boil, thereby forming foam. When heating, you must carefully monitor the process. Wax containing a lot of water can “run” out of the dish.
After complete evaporation of the water in the wax composition, foaming stops. If the raw material is not contaminated with alkali, soap, then it does not contain emulsified water, and foam will not form.
At temperatures above +120 oC some components in the composition of raw materials begin to decompose and evaporate. When the limit is reached +250 – 300 oC The wax decomposes completely 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
Remelting methods at home are convenient for small amounts of wax.
There are several simple ways to melt:
- in water;
- in a water bath;
- in a microwave oven;
- in a steamer.
Each of the methods has both pros and cons.
How to melt wax in water
The raw materials are crushed, placed in an aluminum bowl and filled with clean water. It is advisable to use distilled, thawed or spring water: it is softer in its properties. When hard water is used, the output product will be fine-grained and more brittle in structure. Then you should melt the wax over low heat for half an hour. After that, he 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 easiest and most convenient way to melt wax at home is a steam bath. It is possible to melt raw materials in such an old-fashioned way in any kitchen, while at the output the finished product has practically 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 action of steam, the wax begins to melt. When heating, make sure that the water does not completely evaporate, if necessary, add boiling water.
For uniform kindling, the wax is constantly stirred. To completely melt the raw material, 10-15 minutes are enough, and after another 5-10 minutes, keep it in a water bath. When using a bowl instead of a jar, it is important to ensure that liquid does not get inside: this can greatly impair the quality of the product at the end.
When the mass becomes a homogeneous consistency, the fire is turned off and filtered – to get rid of possible debris.
The finished product is cooled gradually to obtain a homogeneous ingot. Fine debris is easily removed from the surface with a knife.
With this method, you can monitor all stages of melting and, if necessary, make adjustments. The disadvantage of the method is its low productivity. In this case, the feedstock must be free of impurities and mold.
How to melt wax without a wax melter in the microwave
At home, baking can be done in the microwave. To do this, it is enough to place the crushed wax in a suitable container and put it in the microwave on the appropriate mode. It is possible to melt wax at a microwave power of 650 W in 1 minute, at 850 W – in 45 seconds, 1000 W – 40 seconds.
It should be remembered that it is necessary 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 impurities, it is better to use another method.
How to melt wax in a steamer
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, wax raw materials cannot heat up above +100 oC. It provides extra 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 mixes easily 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 temperature 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 materials before melting. When baking, 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 enamelware.
