Adding extra beeswax to plastic foundation will encourage bees to rapidly draw out frames. It's easy to add extra wax to the plastic foundation, and it will jump start your colony growth.
I use a crock pot bag liner on my crock pot before I melt it. And when I’m done waxing frames, I just lift the bag out of the crock pot, it hardens in the bag. Then when I need it again, just put the bag back into the crock pot and reheat it. 👍
Just out of curiosity, what do nucs sell for in your area? I'm from England and I sell mine in Correx boxes for £150 to bee club members £175 to others which is about $195 and $227 Buying them from a commercial bee yard they are around £200 here and another £45 in a wooden box