Top bar hives produce a significantly higher volume of beeswax compared to conventional methods. Because you harvest the entire honeycomb along with the honey, rather than extracting the honey and returning the comb to the hive, you collect a substantial amount of wax during the process. A practical rule of thumb is that every harvested comb yields enough wax to create approximately one candle.
Unlike frame hives where comb is reused, top bar beekeeping involves removing and crushing the whole comb to extract honey. This process results in a distinct surplus of beeswax, turning what is often a minor byproduct into a primary harvest resource.
The Mechanics of Wax Production
Total Comb Removal
In a top bar hive, the bees build their comb hanging from a single bar rather than inside a four-sided frame with a foundation.
When it is time to harvest, you cannot simply spin the honey out and return the structure to the hive. Instead, the entire wax comb is cut away from the bar.
The "Crush and Strain" Method
Because the comb is removed entirely, the extraction process differs from standard commercial beekeeping.
You must crush the honeycomb to release the liquid honey and then strain the mixture. This leaves you with the entire volume of wax that was used to store the honey, rather than just the capping wax.
Quantifying the Harvest
The "One Candle" Benchmark
While the exact weight of wax depends on the size of your specific hive and the thickness of the comb, the yield is consistent enough for general planning.
According to the primary data, you can expect each individual harvested comb to provide approximately enough beeswax to mold one candle. This makes wax a significant, rather than incidental, part of your yield.
Understanding the Trade-offs
The Energy Cost to the Colony
It is vital to understand that beeswax is metabolically expensive for bees to produce.
Bees must consume a large quantity of honey to secrete the wax scales needed to build comb.
Impact on Honey Yields
Because you are harvesting the comb effectively destroying the bees' storage infrastructure—the colony must rebuild it from scratch.
This diverts energy and resources away from pure honey production. As a result, while your wax harvest is high, your total liquid honey harvest may be lower compared to hives where the comb is reused.
Making the Right Choice for Your Apiary
If you are balancing honey production with the desire for other hive products, consider these factors:
- If your primary focus is value-added products: The top bar hive is an ideal choice, as the "crush and strain" method guarantees a steady supply of wax for candles, balms, or salves.
- If your primary focus is maximum liquid honey: You must accept that the bees will spend significant time and honey stores rebuilding the comb you harvested, rather than filling existing comb.
Top bar beekeeping transforms the harvest from a honey-centric event into a dual-crop yield of both sweetener and wax.
Summary Table:
| Aspect | Top Bar Hive Wax Harvest | Langstroth/Frame Hive Wax Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Harvest Method | Crush and Strain (Total removal) | Centrifugal Extraction (Cappings only) |
| Wax Volume | High (Entire comb collected) | Low (Only wax cappings collected) |
| Yield Benchmark | ~1 candle per harvested comb | Minimal byproduct |
| Bee Energy Cost | High (Must rebuild entire comb) | Low (Bees reuse existing comb) |
| Primary Benefit | Dual-crop yield (Honey + Wax) | Maximum liquid honey production |
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