Bees Wax, in natural history, a firm and solid substance, moderately heavy, and of a fine yellow colour, formed by the bees from the farina of flowers. See Arts.
The best sort is that of a lively yellow colour, and an agreeable smell, somewhat like that of honey: when new, it is toughish, yet easy to break; but by age it becomes harder and more brittle, loses its fine colour, and in a great measure its smell.
From the common yellow wax, by the mere effect of sun and air, or by what is called bleaching, is formed what we term white-wax, and some, very improperly, virgin-wax. The greater the surface is in proportion to the quantity, the sooner and more perfectly this operation is performed. The usual way is to melt the wax in hot water; when melted, they press it through a strainer of tolerable fine linen, and pour it into round and very shallow moulds. When hardened by cooling, it is taken out and exposed to the sun and air, sprinkling it now and then with water, and often turning it: by this means it soon becomes white. The best sort is of a clear and almost transparent whiteness, dry, hard, brittle, and of an agreeable smell, like that of the yellow wax, but much weaker.
The common yellow wax is of very great use both in medicine and in many of the arts and manufactures. It is sometimes given internally, as in dysenteries, and other erotions of the intestines; but its great use is in the making ointments and plasters for external use, and the greater part of those of the shops owe their confidence to it. The white wax is also an ingredient in some of the cures and ointments of the shops; and is used in making candles, and in many of the nicer arts and manufactures, where wax is required.
Sealing-Wax is made in the following manner: Take one pound of bees wax; three ounces of fine turpentine; olive-oil, and rosin, finely powdered, of each one ounce: when they are well melted, and the dros taken off, put in an ounce and a half of vermilion, or red-lead, finely ground, and stir them together till they are well incorporated: and when this mixture grows a little cool, roll it into sticks, or in any other form. If you would have it black, instead of vermilion, or red-lead, put in lampblack. The soft, red, and green-wax, used in large seals to some of our law-writings, are thus made: Melt bees-wax over a gentle heat, with such a proportion of Venice turpentine as, when cold, will give it the due confidence: this is determined by repeated trials, first putting in but little turpentine, and afterwards more and more, till by dropping a piece upon a marble to cool, it is found of the true confidence. They then colour it with red-lead, or vermilion, or with verditer, or whatever colours they please, the mixture in this state receiving any.
WAX work, the representation of the faces, &c. of persons living or dead; made by applying plaster of Paris in a kind of paste, and thus forming a mould containing the exact representation of the features. Into this mould melted wax is poured, and thus a kind of masks are formed; which being painted and set with glass eyes, and the figures dressed in their proper habits, they bear such a resemblance that it is difficult to distinguish between the copy and the original.