*** Quoting Donna Lewis from a message to Carol Shenkenberger ***
DL> Have you ever started from scratch with raw beeswax straight from the
DL> hives, after the honey has been extracted?
Nope but I've read about it.
DL> I have been given about  5 lbs ( many more available), but it still ha
DL> the trash in it, and needs to be heated, strained - probably numerous
DL> times.  What would be the best items to use for straining?
I have 2 things at home I would use.  I presume you dont want to buy 
anything.  One is an old aquarium fishnet that my fish are too big to be able 
to use. (I have goldfish, almost lake sized, in a 70 gallon tank).  The 
problem with this one would be the wax cooling and clogging the net.  It 
would be hard to 'unclogg'.
The one I would actually use is a wire strainer I have in my kitchen.  It too 
might clog up, but could be boiled free rather easily.  As long as I was only 
straining beeswax (a natural product that wouldnt hurt you if you ate a 
little by accident) I would even keep using the cleaned strainer in my 
kitchen.
DL> Do you know where I can get citronella oil?
That one is pretty easy.  I wouldne even bother with my mailorder candle 
company.  Walmart carries it, so do most large hardware stores and larger 
craft stores.  A check of your local phone book will probably show a local 
chemical sales place.  If you call them and they have it, it will be the 
least expensive source.  Note:  Citronella is poisonous so dont use the 
strainer after adding it, if you ever plan to use the strainer for anything 
but candles again.
Oh, and I wouldnt use beeswax with citronella.  I'd use cheaper regular 
parafin wax for the citronella candles.  Keep the beeswax for fine scented 
indoor candles unless you literally got 50 lbs or more and have a free source 
for more when it runs out .
                                       xxcarol
--- Telegard v3.09.g1
---------------