Meeting - Wax Trio

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS - Wax is flamable.  Wear gloves and old clothes.  Have a fire extinguisher handy.  It is safer to use an electric hot plate instead of a gas stove.

Candle Making with Dave

Option #1 - Rolled Candle

Supplies
  - #2 Wick (obtain from hobby stores and catalogs)
  - Thin surplus wax foundation
  - Blow dryer

Process for a tall thin candle
  - Cut wax in half with a slight taper
  - Heat one edge of the wax
  - Roll the wick into the wax heating it along the way

Option #2 - Candle Mold

Supplies
   - #2 Wick
   - Wax
   - Mold
   - 3% Silicone Spray
   - Can of Candle Luster
   - Candle making thermometer
   - Double boiler
   - Crayons for coloring

Process
   - Put wick in mold with wicking needle
   - Put wire through the wick to center in the mold
   - Heat the wax in a double boiler until the temperature reaches the level required for the type of mold you are using - it is noted on the thermometer.
   - Spray the mold with the silicone spray
   - Laddle the wax into the mold
   - Allow to cool.  It can be put into the freezer to speed up the process.  Do be too anxious.
   - Remove from mold
   - Spray with Candle Luster to eliminate bloom


Wax Rendering with Bob

Supplies
   - Use large stainless steel double boiler - two large pots can be used as long as one can fit in the other (canning rings can be used as spacers to keep a gap between the two pots).
   - Jelly strainer bag
   - Rubbermaid pitcher
   - Binder clips

Process
   - Melt the wax
   - Bring to a temperature of about 140 degrees.
   - Clip the jelly strainer bag to the pitcher
   - Pour the wax through the jelly strainer
   - Pour the filtered wax into a container
   - Control cooling to prevent cracking


Lip Balm and Lotion with Angie

Description:

Expanding your home business by utilizing wax and honey in a new way is a skill that takes a bit of research and a bit of time.  I will make one lotion recipe today in hopes that it will send you on your own journey of discovery.  The internet and books are amazing resources when it comes to deciding on a recipe to try.  The ingredients that you combine with your bees’ wax can be costly, and so you will need a basic understanding of proportions for a good lotion base.

Base:

My first encounter with using bees wax was a discussion I had from my good friend Phil.  He had attended a class with Wilma Dodder who uses 3 parts oil, 1 part bees’ wax to make pourable lip balm.  This is a standard percentage in the lotion making world for products with a thick base.

Water as an Additive:

Please be cautioned regarding the use of water in lotion recipes.  All lotion recipes that contain water require a preservative to be added.
 
Melt & Pour:  My favorite kind of recipe!

Angie’s Recipe for Whipped Beeswax Body Butter:

¼ cup Lanolin Oil
¼ cup Avocado Oil
½ cup Shea Butter
1 Cup Coconut Oil
1 cup Bees Wax (8 oz.) - Wax cappings - cleanest wax

Using a double boiler melt all of the ingredients.  Then set the mixture aside until it has formed a soft solid.  Whip on Medium/High for 7 minutes with Kitchen Aid…or other high speed device.  Spoon into containers that have been whipped inside with Alcohol to cleans.

Natural Oils….

The sky is the limit here!  You can choose from so many different types of oils or even Vitamins.  I chose to exclude both in the above recipe.   I used Avocado & Lanolin Oil which contains vitamins, and I decided not to use any natural oils because I enjoy the Coconut scent.   You could also use Grape seed oil, Olive oil, or Jojoba oil instead of the two I chose.  Adjust this recipe for a consistency of your own preference by changing the amount of oil, butter or wax.

Internet Resources:

http://www.soapqueen.com/
http://teachsoap.com/lotion-making-basics/
http://www.rawmazing.com/homemade-body-butter-recipe/
http://www.livingthenourishedlife.com/2012/02/homemade-whipped-coconut-oil-body.html
http://www.sks-bottle.com/