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Every beekeeper needs a wax melter, regardless of the number of hives available. The device can be purchased factory-made or you can design a primitive but effective design with your own hands.
What is a "wax melting pot", its purpose in beekeeping
Beeswax is considered a useful beekeeping product. It is used for medicinal purposes, cosmetology. Candles are cast from wax, used in some branches of the food industry, and new foundation is made. To obtain it with your own hands at a home apiary and on an industrial scale, wax melters are used.
What are wax melters for?
A factory or home-made wax melter is designed for one purpose - heating wax. The bee product tends to melt according to the paraffin principle when exposed to temperatures from + 70 aboutC. The wax melting pot is a container inside which the used honeycomb is melted. The resulting wax in a liquid state is filtered, poured into molds, and left to solidify.
Types of devices
To make a wax melter at home, you need to know about the existing types of devices and choose the most optimal option for yourself. Common in all designs is a tank for loading and melting wax. The energy sources used to heat the bee product differ. Hence, each type of wax melter has its own design features. The following models are popular among beekeepers for heating wax:
- solar powered device;
- steam plant;
- centrifugal machine;
- electric model.
Every beekeeper is able to assemble each device for melting wax with his own hands.
The principle of operation of the wax melter
Regardless of the design and the energy used, the principle of operation of any wax melter is the same. The honeycombs loaded into the tank are heated to a temperature above + 70 aboutC. The combustion process begins. Hard wax turns into a liquid state and then is used for its intended purpose.
Frame wax melter
A feature of the frame wax melter is the ease of use of the device. Do-it-yourself wax can be melted directly from the frames without cutting out the honeycomb with a knife. For a small apiary, a 6-frame steam wax melter, made in the form of a rectangular box, is considered a good option. If there are many hives, they assemble a large structure for 24 frames with their own hands. The golden mean is considered to be a wax melter with 12 frames. In addition to steam, the sun's energy or electricity can be used to melt the wax.
Pros of the frame model:
- a high temperature is maintained inside the container between the frames for uniform melting of all honeycombs at once;
- simple device;
- there is no need to cut out the honeycomb, since they are loaded into the tank together with the frames.
Minuses:
- the beekeeper must constantly monitor the temperature inside the pot while heating the wax;
- using steam or electricity increases the flammability of the wax melter.
The frame model for melting wax is distinguished by its simplicity of design. The first version of the wax melter is based on the use of the energy of an open fire (fire). First, they weld a metal box with their own hands - the main body. A layer of sand is poured onto the bottom to prevent the bottom from burning out. A metal sealed tank with water is installed inside the box, and another box made of mesh or rods is immersed inside this container to install frames.
For work, the wax melter is placed on a brick. A fire is made under the building. The frames are installed in the box, the device is covered with a lid. When the temperature rises inside the body, the molten wax will begin to drain into the water and settle to the bottom of the container, where it will be filtered from foreign impurities at the same time.
When all the frames are melted, they are taken out of the box. The container with water is taken out of the case, after cooling, the solidified pure wax is selected. They wash the device with their own hands in a heated state. Cold residues of adhering wax are difficult to clean.
The second version of the frame wax melter is even easier to assemble with your own hands. You only need one box of water and a box for loading frames. A glass lid is used. Loaded with frames, the wax melter is placed in the sun. Through the glass lid, the honeycomb will begin to melt from warming up by the sun's rays, the wax will drain into the water.
The third version of the frame wax melter is the most difficult, but effective. Melting of the wax occurs in a soft way from exposure to hot steam. This is the principle used by the steam wax melters from Granovsky, which are popular with beekeepers. For homemade products, you first need to build a steam generator with your own hands. In a hermetically sealed container, water will boil, and steam will be directed through a branch pipe with a hose into the wax melter, where the frames are installed. The steam generator itself can be heated over a fire or gas stove.
Steam wax melter
On sale most often there are frame-type steam wax melters. The popularity of factory products for melting wax is due to a number of advantages:
- standard dimensions;
- comfortable, well thought-out design;
- fast melting of honeycombs;
- obtaining high-quality non-burnt wax;
- the wax melting process takes place with minimal intervention of the beekeeper.
A self-assembled wax melter at home does not ensure the completeness of the automation of the process. The beekeeper needs to monitor the maintenance of the optimum temperature.
DIY steam wax melter: drawings, tools and materials
For do-it-yourself assembly, you will need drawings with exact dimensions or, in extreme cases, a diagram of a steam wax sink. The structure can be assembled according to your individual calculations. The steam unit for wax heating consists of 4 main units:
- sealed housing with a lid;
- lattice basket for fixing frames;
- steam generator;
- container for the accumulation of liquid wax.
You will need sheet steel to construct a wax pot. Galvanized and aluminum are perfect. The best option is considered to be stainless steel, but it is more expensive. A basket for frames is made of mesh or rods.
It is optimal to equip a home-made wax melter with your own hands according to the principle of a factory analogue with taps for draining molten wax. The steam generator is connected to the body of the wax melter with a flexible hose. It must be strong with a reinforced braid. It is important to install a tap that regulates the water supply. If the liquid boils away, the container may burn out.
From the tools you will need a grinder, an electric drill, a welding machine, a hammer, pliers.
Do-it-yourself steam generator for a wax melter: drawings
A steam generator serves as a source of energy for the wax melter. The complex name hides a sealed container with solid metal walls. A simple do-it-yourself steam generator for a wax melter is made from a milk can or a gas cylinder. The first option is more convenient due to the presence of a ready-made cover with a lock. It is convenient to pour water through the wide mouth. The upper part of the steam generator is equipped with a connection for connecting a high pressure hose.
How to make a steam wax melter with your own hands
When the steam generator is ready, they adapt it with their own hands under the stove. Heating the water in the cylinder can be done with the help of a fire, by placing it on brick stands. A more advanced option involves a do-it-yourself insert into a cylinder of an electric heating element connected to a thermostat. A high-pressure hose is taken from the outlet fitting, connected to a branch pipe on the body of the wax melter.
The do-it-yourself steam wax melter itself at home is assembled from a metal case with a closing lid. A pallet is placed at the bottom, a tap is removed from it to drain the melted wax. Above, a filter mesh is installed, which will separate the grease from the wax. The frames are positioned above the filter by fitting fasteners or a mesh basket.
An important stage of work is to equip the heating of a steam generator for a wax melter with your own hands. The simplest design involves the use of a modified gas cylinder, adapted for a stove-stove.
How to use a steam wax melter
Do-it-yourself wax heating by filling the steam generator with water to half of the container. Above the liquid, there is a free space for vaporization. Frames are placed inside the basket of the wax melter. In the steam generator, they begin to warm up the water with fire or heating elements, which depends on the chosen design. With the beginning of the boiling of water, steam will begin to accumulate in the steam generator and flow through the hose into the wax melter. The high temperature will cause the honeycomb to melt. Liquid wax flows down through the filter mesh, accumulates on the pallet and flows out through the drain cock into the prepared container.
The video shows the process of melting the wax in detail:
Solar wax melter
The simplest device for melting a beekeeping product is based on the use of solar energy. The design is a box covered with glass on top. A frame is fixed inside at an angle. The sun's rays pass through the glass, heat the honeycomb to a temperature of + 70 aboutC. There is a grid under the frame. The melted wax is filtered through it and flows down into the pallet.
The glossy wax melter works more efficiently, which is arranged according to a similar principle, but with the addition of elements of the device for processing photographs. Mirror sheets are taken from the old photoglossier, fixed on the inner walls of the wax melter. Reflectors will bounce off the sun's rays, directing them to the frame. It is possible to insert the photoglossier itself into the body of the device for melting wax, as an auxiliary source of heating from electricity.
DIY solar wax melter: drawings, tools and materials
From the materials for the manufacture of the box of the wax melter, you will need plywood or chipboard, wooden slats. The window glass will play the role of the cover. For safety, it is framed with a wooden frame. A metal pallet made of aluminum or stainless steel is installed at the bottom of the box. You also need a fine mesh to filter the wax.
Of the tools you need to have a saw for wood, a jigsaw, a screwdriver, a hammer pliers. The elements of the box are pulled together with self-tapping screws. The opening lid is equipped with hinges.
How to make a solar wax melter
Do-it-yourself assembly begins with cutting out blanks for the box according to the drawing. The elements are connected with self-tapping screws. Inside the rails, limiters are installed, on which the frame will fit at an angle. A metal pallet is installed at the bottom - a collection of wax, and a filter mesh is placed on top. A sheet of glass is framed with a frame made of slats, fixed to the body with hinges. At this stage, we can assume that the solar wax melter is made at home with your own hands. It remains to install it in the sun, lay the frame, wait for the result.
Electric wax melter
From the name of the device, it is clear that the source of energy for melting the wax is electricity. Most often, such designs are combined. By covering the tank with a glass lid, solar energy is additionally used. The design of the electric wax melter is similar to the solar model. The additional heating of the wax is an advantage.
A dry heating element or a household appliance acts as a heating element: a kitchen electric stove heater, an old iron, a photo gloss. The connection takes place through a thermostat from the iron. The thermal contact will help to automatically maintain the set temperature. The heating element inside the body of the wax melter is insulated with aluminum sheets.
Diy centrifugal wax melter
A centrifuge is considered convenient and easy to use. However, to kindle the honeycomb, it must be connected to a steam generator. The centrifuge can be taken from an old washing machine. Crushed honeycombs are placed inside the drum in plastic bags for remelting. The centrifuge is turned on and steam is supplied when the drum starts rotating. The melted wax remains in the bags, but then you still have to manually filter it. The advantage of the centrifuge is the speed of processing bee products.
How to make a wax melter
There are many primitive ways to help make a wax melter with your own hands at minimal cost. The simplest example is to melt a honeycomb in a pot of boiling water. The mass is filtered through a filter mesh. The wax is left to cool in a bowl, from where it is then taken out in the form of a thick pancake. To make more effective homemade products with your own hands, they use old household appliances, kitchen items, and dishes.
From a juicer
Owners of an aluminum juicer can freely use it without alteration for remelting honeycombs. The kitchen appliance consists of a container for boiling water, on top of which a juice collector with an outlet is installed. The third container is loading with holes, resembling a colander. Everything is covered with a lid. Essentially, a juicer is used as a steam wax melter.
The lower container is filled with water, placed on a gas or electric stove. Collect the rest of the juicer elements. A honeycomb is placed inside the colander, covered with a lid. The steam melts the wax, it flows down through the holes, is collected in the juice collector, from where it is drained through the branch pipe.
The principle of using a juicer for heating wax is shown in the video:
From the washing machine
An old washing machine, an automatic machine, with simple manipulations, in a couple of hours, can be converted with your own hands into a convenient wax melter. The device is first completely disassembled. For homemade products, they leave:
- decorative cover of the machine;
- plastic tank with a stainless steel drum;
- rubber hatch seal;
- drain pipe and suction hose.
All other parts are thrown away. Separately, you have to make a cover for the drum. It is usually cut from sheet steel. After preparing all the parts, proceed to the assembly of the wax furnace:
- The body of the machine is used instead of the stand for the wax melting tank. It is laid flat without front, top and bottom walls.It is necessary to put spacers inside the body so that it does not disperse under the weight of the tank.
- A tank with a drum is laid flat on the body, the loading window is up. The rubber cuff is left in place for a snug fit of the lid. The tank is connected to the base from the body with bolts. All native holes are muffled with rubber plugs to prevent wax leakage. There should be an open drain on the tank. Additionally, 2-3 holes are drilled on the back wall.
- The steam generator is made from a milk can. A hole is drilled in the lid, a fitting is inserted, and the intake hose is connected. Its other end is connected to the drain pipe on the tank.
The construction is ready. The can is half filled with water, put on fire. A honeycomb is placed inside the drum, covered with a lid, and pressed with a load. When steam appears inside the can, it will go through a hose to the tank, where the honeycombs will begin to warm up through the holes of the drum. Liquid wax with hot condensate will begin to flow from the drum into the tank, and from it through the drilled holes into the trough placed underneath. After solidification, the remelted product will easily separate from the water and float to the surface.
From the fridge
Not every refrigerator is suitable for a wax melter. We need to find an old household appliance with an aluminum casing instead of a plastic inner insert. The refrigerator is freed from all parts. Only the body is needed. A hole is drilled in the center of the back wall, a metal pipe is inserted. This will drain the melted wax. The refrigerator is placed horizontally on the support with the branch pipe downward. The next hole is drilled on one of the side walls of the refrigerator, a metal pipe is inserted, a high-pressure hose is connected for supplying steam.
A filter mesh is fixed inside the refrigerator case, closer to the bottom. Fasteners for frames are placed above or a mesh basket is installed. The other end of the hose is connected to a steam generator. When the water boils and steam fills the body of the refrigerator, the honeycomb will begin to melt. Liquid wax will drain through the mesh on the bottom and out through the drain. A pallet is placed under the refrigerator underneath, where the melted wax is collected.
Conclusion
A wax melter of any design is arranged and works according to the same principle. The honeycomb melts at a high temperature. If you do not follow the safety rules, you can get burned. In the case of a steam generator, there is a risk of rupture or hose rupture if excessive steam pressure builds up from excessive heating. An electrical device is dangerous in terms of electric shock while breaking through the heating element. The safest one can be considered a solar wax melter, but it is inefficient. Which model to choose is up to the beekeeper himself.
