Historical Uses
Beeswax was ancient humans' first plastic and for thousands of years had wide variety of uses, including:
- As a modeling material in the lost-wax casting process, or cire perdue.
- For wax tablets used for a variety of writing purposes.
- In Encaustic paintings such as the Fayum mummy portraits.
- Used in bow making (see English longbow).
- Used to strengthen and preserve sewing thread.
- As a component of sealing wax
- To form the mouthpieces of a didgeridoo, and the frets on the Philippine kutiyapi - a type of boat lute.
- As a sealant or lubricant for bullets in cap and ball and firearms
- To stabilize the military explosive Torpex - before being replaced by a petroleum-based product.
- In producing Javanese batik.
- Used to coat hemp strands in the making of Hemp Wick; an alternative use to Lighters.
- An ancient form of therapeutic dentistry/filling.
Read more about this topic: Beeswax
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