Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: rober on April 06, 2012, 12:10:03 pm

Title: solar wax melting
Post by: rober on April 06, 2012, 12:10:03 pm
i've searched the forum & while i have found references to it i've not found any actual plans for building one. would someone post a link please?
Title: Re: solar wax melting
Post by: PeeVee on April 07, 2012, 09:00:24 am
http://www.beesource.com/build-it-yourself/solar-wax-melter/ (http://www.beesource.com/build-it-yourself/solar-wax-melter/)

https://www.google.com/search?q=solar+wax+melter+plans&hl=en&prmd=imvnsfd&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=CyuAT4yIO8m8iwKm7pSMAw&ved=0CHQQsAQ&biw=1380&bih=744 (https://www.google.com/search?q=solar+wax+melter+plans&hl=en&prmd=imvnsfd&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=CyuAT4yIO8m8iwKm7pSMAw&ved=0CHQQsAQ&biw=1380&bih=744)

Use glass. Double pane if you have it. Build to fit what ever "found" window you have on hand. Can be made cheaply from scrap.

I did find the entrances need to be tight to keep any errant bees from entering.
Title: Re: solar wax melting
Post by: beyondthesidewalks on April 07, 2012, 09:11:53 am
Doesn't have to be that difficult or perfect.  I've used an old cooler with a piece of glass from a screen door for years.  The first old cooler started falling apart, probably from the excessive heat, but a new old cooler was waiting to take its place.  Solar wax melters aren't used for a very large portion of the year and while I'd love to have a really nice big one, I cannot justify the cost when my crude, mostly scrounged, cooler does the job so well.

http://s972.photobucket.com/albums/ae204/beyondthesidewalks/Solar%20Wax%20Melter/ (http://s972.photobucket.com/albums/ae204/beyondthesidewalks/Solar%20Wax%20Melter/)
Title: Re: solar wax melting
Post by: rober on April 07, 2012, 12:15:46 pm
thanks y'all. i knew it was not too big of a deal. it just helps to have a basic concept to start with. i cook the same way. a recipe is a rough guideline to build on.
Title: Re: solar wax melting
Post by: AllenF on April 07, 2012, 02:57:05 pm
Something that is not brought up much, but if the attic of your house is anything like mine, it does not take much to get the wax to flow on a warm sunny day like today.   No glass needed.
Title: Re: solar wax melting
Post by: beyondthesidewalks on April 07, 2012, 08:20:12 pm
I've also used an old dead pickup truck before I hauled it to the juck yard.  Works great.  Sometimes I wish I still had it for this purpose.
Title: Re: solar wax melting
Post by: Indiana Dave on April 09, 2012, 04:22:46 am
Now you've got my wheels aturnin!
Title: Re: solar wax melting
Post by: Beeboy01 on April 09, 2012, 10:43:55 pm
Take a piece of 1/4 inch screening and put it over a plastic container then put the comb on a piece of paper towel on the screening. Once the wax melts the towel will act as a filter and keep the crud out of the melted wax. I use a styrofoam coolr with a piece of plexiglass glued over an opening cut in the lid. It works great.
Title: Re: solar wax melting
Post by: beyondthesidewalks on April 09, 2012, 11:42:50 pm
I run it all through screening and then filter through paper towel on  a second pass.  Between those first two passes I'll let it sit and wash off any honey that is on it.  I'll do successive runs through the melter until the sun bleaches the wax to my liking.