old wax

[akaneo]

I know there is a whole industry devoted to rendering the wax from the hives but I was thinking that it takes a lot of work and energy for my girls to produce that wax is there a way I could feed it back to them so they can use it again?

Thanks,
Richard
6 Hives
Florida

[mike haney]

thats one of the main reasons to use an extractor- the wax is already in combs when you give it back. if you are using "crush and strain" you can spread it out and the bees will get the very last drop of honey from the wax. but to get them to reuse the comb/wax after its crushed- sorry but they wont. makes great candles,though and keeps me out of meanness in the winter:)

[akaneo]

Thanks Mike, I was talking about capings and bur comb but you answered the question. I was just trying to help out the little girls a little.

Thanks,
Richard

[Eaglerock]

I use to sell it to a couple that had a candle business. Now you will find these candle people in malls at christmas, fairs, festivals, etc.

[carbide]

If you set out burr comb around the hives they will recycle small amounts of it for use in cappings. If you let it sit there for a day or so you will see them placing pieces of it in their pollen baskets and carrying it back into the hive.

They don't recycle a lot of the wax, but they will recycle some.