Author Topic: Has anyone built their own solar melter? (Read 14933 times)

Jen · « **on:** April 02, 2015, 12:11:55 am »

Been shopping for a solar melter, they can be spendy! Has anyone built their own, or have an alternative and efficient way to melt their wax?

G3farms · « **Reply #1 on:** April 02, 2015, 12:55:17 am »

Mine sits in the yard year round, the top is in bad shape and needs to be rebuild.

Simple to make and they work great.

There is a good thread on several that were made by members.

They can be as simple as a cooler with a piece of plexyglass over it to some well made ones with pans bent by your local metal worker.

A nearby keep made one from an old chest type freezer with half of a sliding glass door for the top.

Jen · « **Reply #2 on:** April 02, 2015, 01:13:29 am »

Thanks G3, I looked all thru DIY Plans and Prints and didn't see anything on solar melters. Would like to see that thread. I have just started looking on youtube. LzyBkpr may have something on his website as well.

Thanks!

Newbee · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2015, 06:58:34 am »

Are you familiar with Fresnel lenses Jen?

I saw some info on these suckers on one of the DIY hacking sites, Instructables, or maybe it was the King of Random? (I think the 2nd one - you can google lots of Info). I got mine free from a large TV found on the side of the road on trash-day. I've melted Nickels and Pennies with it in the driveway with the kids. Prrreeety sure it can handle some beeswax!

The poor-quality projection TV's of old are the best source - you know the old-style TV's that are furniture size, and you have to sit DIRECTLY in-front. Any distance to the side, and the pic is all blurry and dark? THOSE ARE THE BEST!

On the face/screen, there are 3-layers of plastic sandwiched together. Middle one is usually a large fresnel lens (like the one's in Lighthouses that focus the lightsource into a beam?) Inside the TV is a projector-screen, it bounces off a mirror, and goes through the lens to your eyes. We're using the lens to focus the sun's light into a small area (again, the cheaper TV's work better here, as anyone who's tried to watch the superbowl w/ a group of friends will testify!). I just made a cheap frame w/ some wood-scraps to hold it, and you have to test the sides (one will work better than the other). WEAR SUNGLASSES. I couldn't believe how intense the light was. It took a few minutes of cooking, but I turned a stack of pennies and a couple nickels into a puddle one afternoon last summer. Kids LOVED IT!

- K

Perry · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2015, 07:07:54 am »

Think cold frame, and then just line it with insulation. Think virtually free materials. I have built a couple out of scraps, a stereo cabinet that was thrown out, and an old window for the lid. Works great.
This is the first one I built:

This is the one using an old stereo cabinet (after knocking the shelves out):

I cut a few kerfs in the window frame to let rain run off so it doesn't pool:

Just paint or side with material of your choice to fancy it up. I used wood shingles. My next one will be bigger so I can put my queen excluders in there to clean them up.

tbonekel · « **Reply #5 on:** April 02, 2015, 07:11:10 am »

Hey Jen, here is a DIY video from a guy down here in Texas. Also at the end, he has a link to another video on the same melter 3 years later and some of the things he has learned.

riverbee · « **Reply #6 on:** April 02, 2015, 10:14:23 am »

i think all the threads on solar wax melters are in PRODUCTS OF THE HIVE.

here's mine:

How to deal with Beeswax (solar)

i will have to dig out the modified plan i used to build it. there is also a link on my post to a very simple unit.

kingd · « **Reply #7 on:** April 02, 2015, 10:28:42 am »

Mine is like Perry's,

An old wooden box painted black on the inside with sheet metal bent to funnel wax into a bread pan and a window on top.

G3farms · « **Reply #8 on:** April 02, 2015, 11:18:55 am »

Jen if you are going to build your own, find an old window from a house renovation first, the bigger the better.

That way you can build your box to fit the window.

riverbee · « **Reply #9 on:** April 02, 2015, 11:29:43 am »

what g said, that's what i did. actually two windows that were ordered for my home had scratches on the insides of the panes, so i used them.

i found and have attached the plans i have used to build solar wax melters. one is full size and the other is a mini unit.

EDIT AND ADD:
and a link to a simple one:

Paul Magnuson Solar Wax Melter

Jen · « **Reply #10 on:** April 02, 2015, 03:13:54 pm »

This is soo cool! Thanks Everyone! This could mean going to the city dump and rifling thru the wood and metal piles...

tbonekel · « **Reply #11 on:** April 02, 2015, 03:55:35 pm »

Ooo, I love going to the dump! Treasures galore!

Perry · « **Reply #12 on:** April 02, 2015, 04:12:03 pm »

Quote from: tbonekel on April 02, 2015, 03:55:35 pm

Ooo, I love going to the dump! Treasures galore!

As a kid I loved it to, but here in Nova Scotia (believe it or not), when you go to the "waste resource center", if you try and remove anything you could be charged with theft. When we were restoring our old heritage house in Lunenburg I needed some old 4 panel doors and had a hard time finding them. I would take stuff to the dump and see some sitting on the wood pile and wasn't allowed to take them, they went to the chipper instead. :'(
I do have to admit though, that the waste and recycling program here is world renowned. $:-\$

Jen · « **Reply #13 on:** April 02, 2015, 06:11:50 pm »

We pay a small charge if we find something at the dump. But the employees in the office are pretty loose about it.

rcannon · « **Reply #14 on:** April 02, 2015, 08:23:58 pm »

I would not recommend a Fresnel lense for a wax melter. Those things are dangerous. When I was experimenting with solar water heating, I focused a lens to a 3/4" spot and recorded 2200 degrees in less that 20 minutes.
There are safer ways of melting wax.

Jen · « **Reply #15 on:** April 02, 2015, 09:27:05 pm »

Hmmm rcannon, you may have something there ~ sounds like an accident that could scar me for life, I am not known for my grace

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

G3farms · « **Reply #16 on:** April 02, 2015, 10:49:35 pm »

With mine a single pane of glass will get the inside temps up to around 200*F on a hot day.

Use a candy thermometer to watch the inside temps, they are cheap and readily available at most any big box or grocery store.

Jen · « **Reply #17 on:** April 02, 2015, 10:54:43 pm »

That's more of what I'm thinking G3, it doesn't take that much heat to melt bees wax

What would be the use of a candy thermometer? Should it not reach a certain high temp?

Barbarian · « **Reply #18 on:** April 03, 2015, 07:39:30 am »

I have built and re-built solar wax melters for several years.

I use failed double-glazing units from a local replacement window company. No charge.
I use 25mm foil coated polystyrene building material for the insulation.
To collect the liquid wax, microwaveable ' loaf ' containers that food comes in are suitable.
When filtering a block of dirty wax in the solar, I wrap in a single layer of paper kitchen towel.
I don't put wooden frames in the solar. I think the joints shrink and wobble.

Sorry about all the 'I' s

tefer2 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 03, 2015, 08:12:57 am »

http://www.michiganbees.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Solar-Wax-Melter_20100727.pdf
http://www.beesource.com/files/solmeltr.pdf