Bees Wax

So a couple of weeks ago I decided I needed some bees wax.  Apparently its very good for making cotton easier to work with when sewing and book binding; more about that project in another post.

I didn’t really want to get it on Amazon, so decided to visit our local market town and see if the sewing shop there had any.

I couldn’t see any so asked the lady in the shop.  She didn’t think they had any and as I was turning away to try another plan, a customer in the shop asked ‘Did you want some bees wax?’
 

I said yes I did and she explained that she was a local bee keeper and she has just cut off some excess wax from one of her frames which I could have if I wanted. 

Not really knowing what to expect I agreed and we (me and 'im outdoors) drove out to one of the small villages in the area to find a house on top of a hill with a beech hedge (the actually instructions we were given).

We actually got there before she did and had to explain to her poor husband why we were knocking on the door!

However after a chat and a cup of tea we left with a beautiful piece of comb and the promise of more later if I want it.

Once home I had to work out what to do with it.  I couldn’t just use it as it was as it would just crumble and it needed cleaning.

After a bit of research I tried boiling it.  To do this you need to place the comb in something so all the imperfections are captured and you end up with clean wax.  An old pair of tights were perfect.  

Although the piece of comb was quite big, once you melt it down and form it into a ball there isn't really that much there which I think makes it even more amazing.

Anyway there should be enough for my project, more about that later.