Beekeeping > Do-It-Yourself Plans and Prints
First attempt at solar wax melter
Bakersdozen:
This is my first attempt at a solar wax melter. It definitely needs some tweaking, but is the concept worked.
These are the components that I used. Aluminum oven liner, perforated aluminum pan, smaller aluminum pan, black mixing trough, recycled window out of a storm door, and a broken brick and clay flower pot legs.
I bent the oven liner so that the wax would flow into the smaller pan. Cappings are place in the perforated pan. An oven thermometer was added to keep check of the temperature.
The glass was placed on top. I put a broken wooden hive frame under the north end so that it tilted slightly south.
I used cappings that came straight from the freezer. An hour later, I check the thermometer, which was at 130 degrees and the wax was melting. I had to leave for about 4 hours. When I returned home the perforated pan had slid down the oven pan and the wax had hardened. The small pan used for collecting the wax had done it's job.
I would like to finding something different that the black trough. It is not food safe, so any wax that comes in contact with it couldn't/shouldn't be used for cosmetics. It's also not as deep as I would like. I also need to keep the perforated pan in place. But, the concept worked.
Wandering Man:
We use the legs from pantyhose to strain the gunk from the wax.
Perry:
I broke my second homemade solar melter during the winter when I threw some frozen snow on it. :sad:
I kind of put it out of my mind until this spring when I needed it and remembered what happened. I got lazy and decided to buy one from the local bee supply store (use it or lose it). It was $250, but worth it. I can really load this thing up it's so big, and the biggest bonus is that it can do metal queen excluders, something my old one was too small to do.
https://www.countryfields.ca/products/solar-wax-melter
Bakersdozen:
There is something to be said for "use it or lose it." I try to spread my $$ around to all the locals. Since I lack a lot of skills I rely on them for wooden ware, etc. I thought I might be able to tack this one.
Perry, what's behind that drawer at the base? A catch basin?
Perry:
That is exactly what it is. :yes: You can open the hatch to harvest the wax. I use a kitty litter pail I have cut down and modified, pour a couple inches of water into it and I'm in business.
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