Cappings wax
Usually the cleanest source. It often renders pale wax with the highest usable yield, especially when the cappings have been drained before melting.
Free tool
Wax Rendering Yield Calculator
Estimate how much clean beeswax you can expect from cappings, burr comb, brood comb or mixed wax, then turn it into candle counts, blocks and batch value.
Your wax batch
For cappings, enter drained cappings weight. For comb, enter the rough rendered material before cleaning.
%
Cappings are usually the cleanest wax source and produce the highest proportion of usable beeswax.
%
Allows for water separation, fine debris, propolis, filter residue and handling loss.
Estimated clean wax
6.4 lb usable beeswax
Raw material10 lb
Gross wax before loss7.0 lb
Finished clean wax6.4 lb
Slumgum / loss3.6 lb
High-yield clean wax source
Cappings wax is usually pale, clean and ideal for candles, salves, polish and blocks. Let cappings drain well before rendering for a more reliable estimate.
Estimated units101
Potential value£353.50
Best usecandles and cosmetics
How wax yield changes by source
Wax rendering yield depends on how much of your raw material is actually wax. Cappings and light burr comb are wax-rich. Old brood comb contains cocoons, pollen, propolis and debris, so it produces much more slumgum and far less clean wax.
Burr and brace comb
Useful wax, but usually more propolis and hive debris than cappings. Expect a moderate yield and plan for extra filtering.
Old brood comb
Lowest wax return. The dark comb is heavy with cocoons and residue, so it produces lots of slumgum and is often best replaced rather than relied on for wax yield.
Rendering notes
- Use gentle heat. Beeswax melts at a low temperature, and overheating can darken wax or create a fire risk.
- Use a water bath, solar wax melter or dedicated wax equipment rather than direct heat.
- Render dirty wax separately from clean cappings so you do not darken your best wax.
- Filter through cloth or fine mesh, let wax settle, then scrape debris from the underside of the cooled cake.
- Never leave melting wax unattended. Wax is flammable if overheated.
Frequently asked questions
How much wax do you get from cappings?
Cappings are the highest-yield wax source. A practical planning estimate is around 60–75% clean wax after draining and filtering, depending on how much honey and moisture remains in the cappings.
Why does old brood comb give such a low yield?
Old brood comb contains larval cocoons, pollen, propolis and dark residue. Much of the weight becomes slumgum rather than clean beeswax, so the usable yield can be very low.
Can I render all wax together?
You can, but clean cappings are worth keeping separate. Mixing clean wax with old brood comb usually darkens the finished wax and reduces candle or cosmetic quality.
What is slumgum?
Slumgum is the leftover residue after wax is rendered. It contains cocoons, propolis, pollen, dirt and trapped wax. Some beekeepers use it in swarm traps, but it is not clean wax.
What is the best way to melt beeswax safely?
Use indirect heat such as a double boiler, water bath or solar wax melter. Do not heat wax directly over a flame, and never leave it unattended.