Has anyone built their own solar melter?

[Newbee]

I dunno Newbee, let's hear what some of the other have to say 

LOL! Oh, I don't disagree w/ what rcannon said. I used the thing to melt coinage…. I've no doubts it'll make fast work of bee's wax, possibly to the point of ignition! 

- K

[Slowmodem]

http://gregsbees.blogspot.com/2012/06/building-solar-wax-melter.html

[Lburou]

Jen, HERE is a link to U of Minnesota's page  showing several plans any beekeeper would want in their files.  HTH   

[Jen]

Thanks Lee 

[riverbee]

posted the two solar wax melter plans from the U of Minn, in pdf files reply # 10...........

[Jen]

Thanks Riv- 

[Lburou]

posted the two solar wax melter plans from the U of Minn, in pdf files reply # 10...........

So, you've been there and done that....Do you have the T-shirt too?   ;-)

[riverbee]

lee, i built the latest of my two solar wax melters using the plans from the university of minnesota, sometime back.  before i had something very simple and wanted something better. i uploaded the pdf's with the plan's on them because sometimes links change, and we lose them and can't find them again.  although there are many designs out there, these plans are excellent for those who want to build their own. the design works well for both!

btw excellent link you provided to the rest of u of m's stuff.

t-shirt?  i get mine from here!!!........

[Lburou]

:-)

[Alleyyooper]

I had about 200 pounds of comb in buckets and I don't know how many frames I wanted to recycle.
I had seen some but decided it would take years to reduce my comb to nice wax with them so set out to build a mega melter.





 

It was all but the green house grade plex in the lid from recycled OSB (They were still building a lot of new homes then . I scrounged at job sites.

It will hold 200 or more pounds of comb and I built a rack that sets inside that holds 30 frames off the bottom so the wax drips on the floor which is metal from a old camper a friend tore apart for the axels and frame. The melted wax runs down the floor to a channel I made to make it go thru a narrow opening thru a screen into a 5 gallon pail.

    Al

[Zweefer]

Pics of the inside Alley?

[lazy shooter]

Will ants get into an outdoor wax melter?  We have those dreaded fire ants.

[G3farms]

The ants do get into mine, but once the sun comes up they are toast.

[tbonekel]

I like that design! Does the screen become blocked often? How big is the narrow opening?

[Jen]

Zweefer- "Pics of the inside Alley?

.......

[Alleyyooper]

Just look thru the plex and you can see the frames on the rack. opening where the wax runs thru to the screen is about 6 inches wide. Screen doesn't get blocked when we have good sun, When it is cloudy there is proplis on the frames it will plug the screen till it gets hot again. Other wise works just great. Do wish I had poured a pad and put it on wheels to turn it to take advantage of the changing sun thru the spring, summer and fall.

   Al

[Gypsi]

in the year of european foulbrood (2013) I had a lot of wax to melt so I spray painted a deep black on 2 sides, put an old flatscreen panel under it, a metal bowl with water in the middle, a piece of hardware cloth over the bowl holding a windowscreen on top of a tshirt. Used a pair of mediums for another one.  I melted a LOT of wax.  I also had a black bucket going with similar internal arrangement.  Put them all on my trailer which was retired for summer. I had to have airtight to keep bees out of the contaminated wax. I get a lot of sun