We've used modelling beeswax many times before but we've always used Stockmar Modeling Beeswax. Stockmar Modeling Beeswax can be expensive and I wanted to try a natural alternative. I decided to try some homemade Modeling Beeswax.
Working with Modeling Beeswax is a good activity to develop muscles in the fingers and hands. It can be calming and the children can work on their sculpting skills. Modeling Beeswax is firm and can be warmed by the child's hands which may help to develop perseverance and patience. When cooled it retains its shape so the sculptures can be used on a nature table or in imaginative play. It can be reused over and over. Modeling Beeswax would also make a really special handmade gift for Christmas, we could package them in small kraft envelopes or in muslin drawstring bags.
"Working with pure beeswax or modeling beeswax is particularly widespread in Waldorf kindergartens and has proven itself over many years of experience with preschool children. The wonderful material conveys a deeply authentic experience in a very immediate way. Kneaded in the hands, it warms up slowly and the warmer it gets, the softer and more malleable the beeswax becomes. In addition, the scent it gives off is a pleasant perception for our noses." - Design with Beeswax in Preschool Age by Hanne Huber (translated from German to English).
Our recipe for homemade Modeling Beeswax includes:
- 1/2 cup melted beeswax - this was approximately 105 grams of solid beeswax.
- 1 teaspoon olive oil - you can also use coconut or jojoba oil
- 1/2 teaspoon lanolin
We mix all of the ingredients together, the oil and lanolin will blend with the melted beeswax. Then we pour the wax into a mould like a silicone muffin tray.Beeswax is available from bee keepers at markets, online or on sites like Etsy. We melt the beeswax in a double boiler, this is an adults only activity as we need to be extra careful with the hot wax.
Our homemade Modeling Beeswax is much softer than the Stockmar version which is a huge positive. However our homemade version leaves our hands feeling slightly sticky, the colours aren't as vibrant and the wax isn't as glossy.
There is some thought in Waldorf texts that it is beneficial for the child to work with one colour wax, preferably the natural golden beeswax colour. This way the child is focused on the form of the modelling and not distracted by the colour. I wanted to try to make some coloured wax so I dipped a small muslin bag that contained beetroot powder into the hot wax. The end result was a lovely red colour. I used blue spirulina for the blue colour.
I always make sure the modelling beeswax is warm for my four-year-old, when the wax gets cold it can be frustrating for the young child. Older children are able to warm it up themselves. We can warm up the Modeling Beeswax by:
- put wax on the window sill
- put wax into a small mug of warm water, dry before giving it to the child
- have the child hold and squeeze the wax while a story is being told/read, this is a good way of allowing the child to warm up their own wax
- have the child put the beeswax under their arm
- have an adult warm up the beeswax briefly in a low oven - be careful not to melt it and check the temperature thoroughly before giving it to the child.
- have an adult warm up the beeswax in their hands first before giving it to the child.
I love to have all three of my children sitting around the table using the modelling wax together while chatting or telling stories. We can also use the wax during story time. The children can hold the wax in their hands while the story is being read, at the end of the story they can start sculpting, perhaps something related to the story. When living in the UK we often used Modeling Beeswax in the winter, it feels like a cozy warming activity.
Above and below are examples when we've used the coloured Stockmar Modeling Beeswax.
There are also some lovely Modeling Beeswax options on Etsy.
The Beeswax Workshop: How to Make Your Own Natural Candles, Cosmetics, Cleaners, Soaps, Healing Balms and More is a fantastic resource of all things beeswax, it has Beeswax Modeling Clay and Beeswax Oil-Based Clay (Plasticine) recipes.
If you are looking for more Beeswax crafts we also enjoy Beeswax Alchemy: How to Make Your Own Soap, Candles, Balms, Creams, and Salves from the Hive, although it doesn't have a modelling recipe.
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you so much for your support!
FAQs
Stockmar Modelling Beeswax is used for modelling and creating small wax figurines and models. As the wax is worked and warmed by the fingers, it becomes pliable and can be easily shaped with fine details.
What is the recipe for modeling wax? ›
Our recipe for homemade Modeling Beeswax includes:
- 1/2 cup melted beeswax - this was approximately 105 grams of solid beeswax.
- 1 teaspoon olive oil - you can also use coconut or jojoba oil.
- 1/2 teaspoon lanolin.
Unlike other types of modeling clay, beeswax work is slow and deliberate. The beeswax must be warmed in your hands before it becomes pliable. Only then can it be molded, smooshed, pinched, and pulled.
How do you soften modelling beeswax? ›
The trick with using modeling beeswax is that it needs to be warmed up first to soften it.
- In one's hands.
- By putting it in a bowl full of warm water.
- By tucking it under your arm.
The main advantage of working with modelling wax is that it changes its state according to its temperature. Cold modelling wax is hard, rigid. It can even be carved. Warm modelling wax is soft, pliable.
What are the benefits of beeswax products? ›
Beeswax has fantastic skin-softening properties and enhances skin elasticity, helping reduce the signs of ageing. 3. Beeswax is anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and germicidal. These properties make beeswax a highly stable base ingredient, thus extending the product's life.
How do you seal modeling wax? ›
To use: Brush a light coat of Flexible Wax Sealer over modeling wax and let dry. Three or four coats of this fast-drying compound is usually sufficient to prepare even a soft wax surface for brush or sponge application with makeup. Several light coats will seal better and dry quicker than a couple thick coats.
Does modeling wax melt? ›
Although firm at room temperature, modelling wax has a low melting point. By working the wax with hands, body temperature will soften the wax so it can be easily sculpted.
Can you sculpt beeswax? ›
Beeswax can be molded by hand when warm, or melted and cast. It picks up minute detail, and is firm enough to hold its form in bulkier shapes like portrait busts. For larger works and for elements that project out (e.g. arms and legs), an armature of wire or wood can be used to bear extra weight.
What does Borax do to beeswax? ›
Borax, which is an alkaline material, saponifies beeswax to soap.
You can choose to combine waxes and fatty thickeners; I'll often do this to get some of the weight and occlusiveness of a wax like beeswax, and then get the rest of the thickening/hardening from something like stearic acid or cetyl alcohol.
Does rubbing alcohol dissolve beeswax? ›
Beeswax is yellowish to brownish-yellow, soft to brittle, wiht a melting point of 60-65°F. The wax is glossy and hard but plastic when warm. It is practically insoluble in water, partially soluble in alcohol, and soluble in hot alcohol.
What are the pros and cons of using wax? ›
Pros: Temporarily removes hair at the root for an average of three weeks of smooth skin, which can range from two to six weeks depending on your hair type and thickness. Cons: Waxing requires some regrowth in order to be effective, as the wax needs at least a quarter-inch of stubble to adhere to.
What are the advantages of modelling? ›
Advantages of modelling and simulation
- Can be safer and cheaper than the real world.
- Able to test a product or system works before building it.
- Can use it to find unexpected problems.
- Able to explore 'what if…' questions.
- Can speed things up or slow them down to see changes over long or short periods of time.
Soft wax grabs fine hairs perfectly, working better on large areas of the body than hard wax. Unlike hard wax, soft wax cannot be applied to the same spot twice because it removes layers of dead skin. Even if soft wax tends to be stickier than hard wax, there is no special preparation needed.
Why is beeswax better? ›
Beeswax has the highest melting point of any wax meaning the candles burn for longer than paraffin. They are the tidier candle in that they don't release any soot and they tend to drip less. They also emit a much more ambient light, making for a cosy atmosphere.
What is special about beeswax? ›
Beeswax is inert with high plasticity. It is insoluble in water and resistant to many acids, but soluble in most organic solvents. The melting point of beeswax ranges from 62 to 65°C. Its relative density at 15°C is 0.958–0.970, acid number is 17–24 mg KOH/g, and saponification number 85–100 mg KOH/g [6].
What are the benefits of raw beeswax for skin? ›
A 2020 review notes the following benefits of beeswax when used in skin care:
- softens and lubricates skin.
- prevents water loss.
- has antiseptic properties, which may help protect the skin from pathogenic microorganisms.
- provides a protective barrier to the skin.
They differ for purity. In short, general use beeswax will contain some impurities such pollen, oils or proplis. Cosmetic grade has less impurities than general use grade.
Which is better beeswax or emulsifying wax? ›
We find beeswax to work as a natural emulsifier and is a more natural and unprocessed alternative to self emulsifying waxes, which can be used to create really delicate creams and lotions that absorb nicely into the skin and boast a lot of skin benefits.
Beeswax + Borax
Borax, also called sodium borate or tetrasodium borate, has been used for decades both in homemade DIY recipes and also at an industrial scale, in combination with beeswax, to emulsify oils and butters in both oil-in-water and water-in-oil formulations.
What is the difference between beeswax and emulsifying wax? ›
Emulsifying wax refers to an emulsifier that gets utilized for crafting an emulsion. In contrast, beeswax is a wax taken from bees that may be used as emollients, thickeners, herbal ingredients, and humectants within the formulations.
What is the healthiest beeswax? ›
Be wary of candles labeled blended beeswax since these will often contain paraffin; look instead for the 100 percent beeswax label. Natural, 100% beeswax candles are the healthiest choice when burning candles, and they are not as expensive as they may seem when their long burn life is taken into consideration.
How do I know if my beeswax is cosmetic grade? ›
Tulloch (1980) suggests, for cosmetic grade values of 70 to 80 are most typical. This value is calculated by subtracting the acid value of oil from the saponification value. Typical Cosmetic Grade these values from 66 to 82 but most beeswaxes range between 72 and 80 and less for general use.
What color beeswax is best? ›
Beeswax whether in yellow or white essentially have the same properties. Yellow beeswax can come of different colors because of the purity and refining process. If you want an all natural beeswax, choose yellow. Generally, a creamy yellow beeswax are the best bet in terms of purity.
What is the shelf life of emulsifying wax? ›
Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, Emulsifying Wax NF should last at least two years (though I've had some for far longer and it's been stable).
Can I use emulsifying wax and beeswax together? ›
No! Emulsifying wax can only be replaced with an emulsifier. Beeswax is in no way an emulsifier. One can add borax to beeswax to make an emulsion, but then there will only be 1:1 ratio of water to oils, making for a greasy lotion.
What percentage of emulsifying wax should I use? ›
Recommended use levels are 2-25%, usually 3-5% for lotions and 5-10% for creams.
What does alcohol do to beeswax? ›
Beeswax will dissolve partially in boiling alcohol, and completely in chloroform or hot turpentine.
What is the best solvent for beeswax? ›
Beeswax is insoluble in water and soluble in organic solvents, such as ether, acetone, xylol, benzene, chloroform, and tetrachloromethane.
In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned borax as a food additive. Borax is not safe to ingest. According to the NLM's Toxicology Data Network, borax is easy for the body to break down when either inhaled or swallowed.
What is the best emulsifying wax? ›
Carnauba wax, according to science direct, is a great natural emulsifier. And with its high melting point, this wax is perfect for thickening homemade balms, deodorants, and lip balms. What is this? Carnauba wax is hypoallergenic, making it a good choice for those with sensitive skin.
Does beeswax absorb into skin? ›
Beeswax is a humectant, which means it absorbs and holds on to moisture, making the skin plump and smooth. But not many are aware of the benefits of beeswax for skin and hair.
What is emulsifying beeswax? ›
Emulsifying wax is made by adding a detergent (typically polysorbate-60 or steareth-20) to a vegetable- or petroleum-based oil. This process of adding the detergent to the oil to form the wax is called ethoxylation, which may give off 1,4-dioxane, a toxic carcinogen.
