How to Melt Beeswax at Home: Melting Point, Safety Tips, & More

Beeswax is a wonderful material to work with if you’re doing a DIY project, but it can be dangerous when it’s hot. If you’re wondering how to melt solid beeswax safely and efficiently, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll go over the best ways to melt beeswax, including how to use a double boiler, how to use a crock pot, and how to make your own “solar oven.” We’ll also answer some common FAQs and provide a few suggestions for how to use your beeswax. Keep reading for everything you need to know!

How to Melt Beeswax

Heat a large stockpot of water on your stove until it boils. Place a metal bowl or saucepan over the pot, resting it securely on the lip so it’s hovering over the water. Put your beeswax into the bowl or saucepan, and allow the indirect heat to melt it. The wax should melt when it reaches 143-151° F (61-66° C).

Section 1 of 4:

Melting Beeswax on the Stovetop

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1
Find a large stock pot and a smaller bowl or saucepan that will fit inside. If you already have a double boiler , go ahead and use the 2 pots it comes with. If you don’t have one, pick out a large stock pot for the base, then find a metal saucepan or bowl that fits comfortably inside your stock pot. Pick a bowl or saucepan that can rest securely on the lip of the stock pot, so that it doesn’t touch the bottom. A metal bowl with a wide rim or a saucepan with a long handle usually work well for this. ^{[1]
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- Don’t use plastic or glass for the smaller piece of your double boiler. These materials can melt or shatter when heated up.
- Since you'll be placing the beeswax directly into the smaller saucepan or bowl, try to choose an old one that you won’t be using for food preparation. The beeswax can get pretty sticky, and it may be hard to remove it completely.
2
Fill the bottom of the large stock pot with water. Depending on which type of bowl you’re nesting inside the larger pot, you may need more or less water. If you’re floating a small saucepan inside the larger pot, fill the stock pot so it’s about ¾ full. If you’re using a metal bowl that rests on the lip of the stock pot, fill the stock pot with about 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) of water.
- If you have a double boiler that was specifically built for this purpose, check the user manual for instructions on how much water to use.
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3
Heat the water on the stove until it boils. Place the large stock pot filled with water on your stovetop, turn on the burner, and adjust the heat to “high.” Keep it there and wait for the water to reach a rolling boil. ^{[2]
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- Make sure your stock pot sits sturdily on the burner. Hot wax is dangerous, so you’ll want to prevent it from accidentally getting knocked over.
- Since water boils at 212 °F (100 °C), using a double boiler will make it difficult for the wax to exceed this temperature and reach its flashpoint. This keeps you safe and prevents any fires or accidents.
To speed up the melting process, cut or break the beeswax into smaller chunks that are around 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) wide. Set these chunks into the small metal bowl or saucepan that you’re going to place over the larger pot. ^{[3]
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Nest the smaller bowl inside the larger stock pot. First, reduce the heat to “medium” or “medium-high” to keep the water going at a steady simmer. ^{[4]
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- Rest the edge of the bowl or the handle of the saucepan on the lip of the larger stock pot to ensure that it doesn’t touch the bottom.
- You don’t want to directly expose the beeswax to the heat source, as this can cause the wax to overheat, become scorched, or even cause a fire.
6
Allow the solid beeswax to melt slowly over the simmering water. Constantly monitor the beeswax as it melts. After about 2 to 3 minutes, you’ll start to notice the wax beginning to liquify. Depending on how much wax you're melting and how large the pieces are, you may have to wait anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour for it to completely melt. ^{[5]
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- Feel free to use a thermometer to monitor the temperature of your beeswax as it melts. It should melt around 144 to 150 °F (62 to 66 °C).
- Don’t allow it to exceed 170 °F (77 °C), as it will get discolored and lose its aroma past this point.
- For your safety, never leave the beeswax unattended as it melts.
- Keep an eye on the water level, too. If it begins to evaporate away, pour more water into the stockpot periodically. Don’t let the double boiler to become completely dry at any point during the process.
7
Pour the melted wax into a mold as soon as it completely liquifies. Prepare your molds or other project materials, so that they’re ready to use as soon as the wax has melted. Once every piece of solid beeswax melts away, remove it from the heat and immediately pour it into the molds. Melted beeswax can start to solidify pretty quickly once it’s removed from the heat, so you’ll need to act quickly. ^{[6]
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- If there are any large particles in the wax, try pouring it through a cheesecloth or coffee filter to strain them out.
- Use care when handling the hot wax. Wear oven gloves to protect your hands from the hot steam and any splashes of wax.
- If you’re pouring the hot wax into a glass container, make sure it is heat resistant, so it doesn’t crack.

Section 2 of 4:

How to Melt Beeswax Using a Crock Pot Water Bath

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1
Pour 2 to 3 in (5.1 to 7.6 cm) of water into the basin of your crock pot. If you have a wide, shallow crock pot, try about 2 in (5.1 cm) of water. For a taller, more narrow crock pot, add 3 in (7.6 cm) of water.
- To speed up the process, try heating up the water in a kettle first.
2
Place a small metal bowl inside the crock pot. The beeswax may stick and be hard to remove, so choose an old metal bowl that you won’t be using for food preparation in the future. Make sure that the bowl is tall enough that water won’t seep in, but not so tall that you can’t close the lid of the crock pot.
- If you’re melting beeswax to make homemade candles, you may be able to use your candle containers for this. Just make sure you’re using metal or heat-resistant glass, so it won’t shatter or crack. ^{[7]
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- It’s also possible to melt the beeswax directly in the basin of the crock pot without creating a water bath, since the temperature can remain low. If you choose to do this, line the crockpot with aluminum foil to prevent the beeswax from sticking.
  - However, using a water bath is preferable if possible, since it protects the wax from direct heat and makes pouring the liquid wax much easier. ^{[8]
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Since beeswax melts slowly in a crock pot water bath, break it up into smaller pieces to help speed up the melting process. Try to create small chunks that are about 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5.1 cm) wide. ^{[9]
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Cover the crock pot and allow the wax to melt completely. Turn on the crock pot and set it to the “low” temperature option. Put the cover on to seal the steamy water and heat inside the crock pot. While the beeswax melts, check on its progress every 10 to 15 minutes to make sure it doesn’t get too hot. Depending on how much wax you’re melting, plan to wait at least 1 hour for it to fully liquify. ^{[10]
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- If you’d like, try monitoring the temperature of the beeswax using a thermometer. It will melt around 144 to 150 °F (62 to 66 °C), but you shouldn’t let it get past 170 °F (77 °C).
- Get your project materials ready while the wax melts down.
5
Pour the melted beeswax into molds once it’s melted down. Keep an eye on the beeswax as it gets close to being completely liquified. As soon as it reaches this point, take the lid off of the crockpot and pour the wax into your candle containers, or whatever molds you’re using for your project. ^{[11]
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- Make sure to use oven gloves as you handle the hot bowl to protect your hands from the steam and splashes of hot wax.
- Filter the wax to remove large particles before pouring it in the mold. You can pour the liquified wax through a cheesecloth or a coffee filter to achieve this.
- If you want to keep the wax liquified for a little longer, remove the lid and switch the crock pot to its "warm" setting.

Section 3 of 4:

How to Melt Beeswax with a Solar Oven

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1
Line a styrofoam cooler with aluminum foil. Cover the sides and bottom of a small styrofoam cooler with aluminum foil. Make sure the foil lines the entire interior of the cooler to trap as much heat as possible. This will become your solar oven. ^{[12]
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- Opt for a styrofoam cooler rather than a plastic one. The styrofoam will help insulate the solar oven to keep the heat inside.
2
Place the solid pieces of beeswax in a metal or glass bowl. Break large blocks of wax down into smaller pieces, so that they’ll melt down more quickly. Next, set the chunks into a bowl that will fit comfortably inside your solar oven. ^{[13]
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- You can either place the wax directly into an old bowl that you don’t need for food preparation, or put it in a bowl that’s lined with a protective layer of aluminum foil.
3
Insert the bowl into your solar oven and cover it with a sheet of glass. Place the bowl with the wax inside your solar oven, making sure it’s stable and level so it won’t tip over or spill any hot wax. Next, set a thin sheet of glass or clear acrylic over the top of the styrofoam cooler. Make sure the sheet of glass or acrylic is large enough to cover the entire opening of the cooler, so that it creates a complete seal and traps the heat inside. ^{[14]
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- If you have a large picture frame that you don’t need anymore, try repurposing the glass from the frame for this project.
- You can also purchase glass or acrylic sheets online if you don’t have any at home.
4
Set the solar oven in the sun and allow the beeswax to melt. Make sure it’s a warm, sunny day; cloud cover and cooler temperatures can prevent your wax from melting very well. Find a spot outside that will receive direct sunlight for most of the day, and place your covered solar oven there. Check on the progress of your melting wax every 20 to 30 minutes, and reposition it to keep it away from shade or moisture if needed.
- Start this process earlier in the day to take advantage of direct midday sun. By the end of the day, you should have a bowl of melted wax. ^{[15]
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- Consider monitoring the temperature with a thermometer. The wax should melt around 144 to 150 °F (62 to 66 °C). Don’t let it exceed a temperature of 170 °F (77 °C).
5
Remove the melted wax from its solar oven and pour it into molds. Wearing oven gloves to protect your hands from the heat and melted wax, lift off the glass or acrylic cover from your solar oven. Set this aside and carefully take out the bowl containing your liquified beeswax. Immediately pour the wax into molds, or use it however your project requires. ^{[16]
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- Make sure you prepare your project materials as the wax melts, so they’re ready to go once all of the wax has melted.
- Pour the wax through a cheesecloth or coffee filter to filter out any pieces of unmelted wax before pouring it into your molds.

Section 4 of 4:

FAQs About Melting Beeswax

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The melting point of beeswax is around 143-151° F (61-66° C). If beeswax is heated above 170° F (76° C), it starts to lose its pleasant aroma and darken in color, so try not to let your wax reach this temperature. ^{[17]
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Beeswax has a flashpoint of 400 °F (204 °C), which means that it becomes extremely flammable at this temperature and can easily start a fire. ^{[18]
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Research source} For your safety, keep a close eye on your beeswax and monitor its temperature as it melts. Never allow beeswax to heat up to its flashpoint.
Melting beeswax in the microwave isn’t recommended. When beeswax is overheated, it can lose its scent and even become a serious fire hazard. ^{[19]
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Research source} Because it’s much easier to overheat beeswax in the microwave, it’s best to avoid this method. The slower, gentler heating processes of double boiling, creating a water bath in a crock pot, or making a solar oven are safer options.
4

What are some ways to use melted beeswax? Beeswax is an excellent material to use for DIY projects. You can use beeswax to create homemade candles , lip balm , hair pomade , or body lotion. Most of these projects will involve combining your beeswax with other household oils and essential oils, which you can use to create personalized scents. ^{[20]
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Is it okay if the beeswax gets too hard?

Community Answer

There shouldn't be any "too hard" for beeswax. You could even freeze it, but it may become brittle while it is frozen. If it gets hard, then you can melt/soften it with a hairdryer or heat gun.

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How can I tell if the beeswax is melted enough?

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Shake the container that has the wax in it. If there are no lumps and the wax is close to the consistency of water, you're good to go.

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How quickly does beeswax solidify after being melted?

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This depends on how much wax is cooling. Leaving it in the fridge for a few hours, or even overnight, will speed up the process though.

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Warnings

Keep a fire extinguisher nearby while you’re working. Wax fires can get very dangerous very quickly, and a fire extinguisher will ensure your safety.

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Never leave the beeswax unattended as you’re melting it. Once the wax reaches its flash point (400 °F (204 °C)), the vapors it produces become extremely flammable and it will catch on fire. ^{[21]
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Things You'll Need

Melting in a Double Boiler

Beeswax
1 large stock pot
1 small metal bowl or saucepan
Thermometer (optional)
Water
Electric stove or hot plate
Oven gloves
Molds or other project materials

Using a Crock Pot Water Bath

Beeswax
Crock pot
Small metal bowl
Aluminum foil (optional)
Water
Thermometer (optional)
Oven gloves
Molds or other project materials

Making a Solar Oven

Beeswax
Styrofoam cooler
Aluminum foil
Small metal bowl
Oven thermometer (optional)
Sheet of glass or clear acrylic
Oven gloves
Molds or other project materials

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How to Melt Beeswax at Home: Melting Point, Safety Tips, & More