solvent to clean beeswax

[dulley]

I am trying to clean beeswax off some of my tools and pots. It had melted and rehardened on in the sun. Is there any solvent which dissolves beeswax?

Thanks, Jim

[schmism]

Is there any solvent which dissolves beeswax?

no

your best bet is to put them back in the sun or get a hair dryer or heat gun out and use paper towels to soak up/wipe down the tools after the wax is liquid.

[rlsiv]

What about popping them in the oven on a sheet of foil and wiping them down good while they are still warm.

[schmism]

What about popping them in the oven on a sheet of foil and wiping them down good while they are still warm.

shure.... just dont forget they are in there and have the wife crank it up to bake something.

the wax has a low melting point so if your have a pilot oven you may not need to turn it on... otherwise put it on warm for a bit then turn it back off then put the tools in. no need to "bake" the tools persay

[Bee Bliss]

Beeswax melts at about 147 degrees F. I make beeswax candles and use either the hair dryer with paper towel to clean up. Or I will put the used candle jar with the little bit of wax in the oven at just enough temperature till it melts and then pour the wax into another container (to clean and reuse the leftover wax). The glass jars buff clean nicely with paper towel.

Now that I have a solar melter, I could use that instead. Use the waxed paper towels for fire starters.

Some people put things in the freezer to get the wax to pop off.

[StewRoten]

Waxmoth larvae seem to work well.

Ooh, I wish I hadn't said that. I'm sure to have invoked some curse.

[KQ6AR]

turpentine might work. Its used to make bees wax wood polish.

[RayMarler]

That's right Dan, it'll disolve beeswax but I use Distilled Mineral Spirits (distilled turpentine) instead as it's less smelly.

[Ricky Bee]

I would remove the bulk by melting and wiping. Then any residue can be removed with hexane. Bestine is one brand, and it is specifically marketed as a solvent for wax.

[downhome]

On the upside you can use the waxed paper towels as smoker fuel. That's what I do.

[hilreal]

Regular old vegetable oil works fine. Then wash with soap and water.

[snapper1d]

Hold it over the burner just a second and then wipe it off with paper towel and go on about your business.It only takes a few seconds and no solvents on your tool.

[wmw]

I am trying to clean beeswax off some of my tools and pots. It had melted and rehardened on in the sun. Is there any solvent which dissolves beeswax?

Thanks, Jim

Brillo pads worked well for me.

[Roland]

Most solvents will dissolve beeswax, and usually very flammable. Fire is the best cleansing, but not the safest.

Crazy Roland(you should see me with an Oxy-acetylene rig)

[DC Bees]

You can use candle mold wax remover it is non toxic and it smells good.For heavy wax i use a torch and for smaller messes i use the wax remover.You can buy it at craft stores for around five bucks.

[toekneepea]

Just boil some water. I have an electric kettle for tea and coffee, but a pot does fine.

I have a old pyrex baking dish that's chipped, and in which I melt wax in my solar wax melter.

I put the tools in the baking dish, and just pour some boiled water over them; then I let them sit in the water for a minute or two.

Then I simply wipe them off with some steel wool, but honestly I think that paper towels would work just as well. I'll try those next time.

Boiled water takes the propolis and wax right off.

Cheers,
TP

[Hamp54]

A slurry of warm water and cheap automatic dishwasher detergent works great. I dissolve some in a coffee cup, let it soak on the item for a bit and use a plastic scrubber if necessary. Wear rubber gloves or you will discover hang nails you didn't know you had! I bought a bunch of used processing equipment years ago that was nasty beyond belief. It took a lot of work but the stuff cleaned up beautifully.

[sweetas]

Cloudy Ammonia seems to help down the wax. Pour some your bucket etc

[Michael Bush]

If you get things cold a lot of wax will scrape off easily...

[bevy's honeybees]

If you get things cold a lot of wax will scrape off easily...

As I read through I thought too, I would put them in the freezer for a few hours and it will chip right off. That's how I do it.