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Kellay resenik wrote;
>I have  ....... often wondered
>if the burning wax might not "scare" the bees ........
 
I doubt the bees know what burning wax smells like, i.e I doubt that they
ever experienced the smell of their wax burning.
 
In any case thought I'd mention that I use soft corrugated cardboard
cartons, preferably rained upon for a few days then dried out.  I roll it
around dry spoilt hay or coarse straw - it burns continuously.  I find thin
grass does not let enough air through.  To get it to lit I enclose a piece
of newspaper in the center and sticking out a few inches below the roll.  I
light it with a match or lighter, get it burning well then insert into the
smoker.
 
In very humid weather my smoker fodder often gets too damp to light easily
by this method so I have often dipped the bottom in liquid beeswax (the
newspaper piece and all.  This ignites well and gets things going nicely.  I
never noticed any different reaction by the bees when the waxed material is
used.
 
george fielder
15v years keeping bees and still learning.