Reimagining the Solar Wax Melter

Рет қаралды 415

Phillip Morse, RTXhoneybees

19 күн бұрын

This is my take on rethinking the solar wax melter. Will it work? #waxmelting #wax #beekeeping

Пікірлер: 21

@charlottehoover2039 4 күн бұрын

Greetings from northwest of Fort Worth! I use a commercially made solar oven (for food preparation) and have made solar cookers in the past. The suggestion has already been made to use glass (maybe you can scrounge an old window and just set it on top of the box.) But from my solar cookery experience, there may be a couple more things you might try. The cooking chamber of my commercial oven is black, to help absorb heat; it's made of some sort of super-heavy black plastic. I've also been pretty successful making my own solar ovens using aluminum foil lined cardboard to create a "funnel" that catches and at least somewhat concentrates the sun's rays towards the cooking vessel. I don't think you'd want to paint your brood box black, but maybe lining the inside of the box and maybe even the funnel part with aluminum foil, along with a glass top, can speed things up.

@jimmysneighborhoodbees 17 күн бұрын

Nice comparison on the two. I might have to build myself a Solar Wax Melter for one of my winter projects. Thanks for sharing your design.

@rtxhoneybees 17 күн бұрын

You could probably do something similar with a box with mesh on the bottom, inside of another box. No real need to do the angles so long as the box that holds the comb is smaller than the drip pan.

@rtxhoneybees 17 күн бұрын

Oh, And don't use one of Sharon's baking pans! 🥴

@jimmysneighborhoodbees 17 күн бұрын

@@rtxhoneybees I won't. lol

@larimorefarms 17 күн бұрын

Keep us posted. I like this kinda stuff.

@rtxhoneybees 16 күн бұрын

Thanks Keith, have a look at Hopes comment below. I've seen similar done with a metal paint roller pan.

@MinnesotaBeekeeper 16 күн бұрын

Phillip I use a glass storm window for the lid. Thanks for posting.

@rtxhoneybees 16 күн бұрын

Thanks Mike!

@hopesadler4000 17 күн бұрын

I used a deep with angled rails on the side to hold a sheet of plywood shorter than box length. Put a catch pan in bottom, put a aluminum pan above with holes punched in the end and covered holes with a paper towel. Added wax, put on glass lid and worked like a charm in a few hours.

@rtxhoneybees 16 күн бұрын

That's a nice simple solution Hope!

@profitlauncheryt 17 күн бұрын

16th done Nicely done, stay connected! New supporter friend

@rtxhoneybees 16 күн бұрын

Thank you!

@BrianCooper901 17 күн бұрын

I'm surprised you can't just set it outside it's so hot there! I'll have to try mine without the paper towel. I always use my paper towel in my smoker but it feels like a waste. Thanks for sharing!

@rtxhoneybees 17 күн бұрын

The heat here definitely covers for other deficiencies. You can recover that wax from the paper towel by putting it in hot water and pushing it down.

@BrianCooper901 17 күн бұрын

@@rtxhoneybees Great tip! I'll have to give that a try. Thanks again.

@alku6576 17 күн бұрын

try a mirror to concentrate the sun's heat We'd love to see it

@rtxhoneybees 17 күн бұрын

Not a mirror, but a heat relector like those used on solar ovens or by sun bathers 😂 could be an option on a future model.

@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario 17 күн бұрын

The solar melter needs glass not plastic, no need for water in the bottom pan, and insulates the box. Also try and make sure that you leave no gaps in the paper towel for crap to fall through. I built a solar melter and I am WAY further north, mine will melt a full load of old wax in one day no problem. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bKuFfcp_1c69pmw.html. I will try to shoot an update video soon, but it is working great. Scott

@rtxhoneybees 17 күн бұрын

Thanks for commenting Scott. I am a fan of your melter. This first melter is an attempt to make something quick and easy because I generally tend to overthink things. I am skeptical about not having water in the pan. My pan is non-stick but I don't know... Tell you what, I'll give it a shot and call you out if it doesn't work! Or praise you if it does! I tend to agree with you about glass vs plastic but I still want to try those clear core plastic green house panels. A piece of sheet glass would not last long here. We get a decent hail storm every two or three years.

@BeekeepinginNorthernOntario 17 күн бұрын

@@rtxhoneybees "I am skeptical about not having water in the pan."..I am just using an old bake pan, the wax pops out pretty easy. "I still want to try those clear core plastic green house panels"..We use a product called "Lexan" on the end wall of our greenhouse. I am sure it will take the heat, but glass is cheaper. I think if I was in your part of the world I would just scrounge around for an old window with a wooden frame and build a box to fit it. Try to find one big enough to put your wax funnel thing you made in it and still have room for insulation around the sides. I doubt you will need to make it sloped like mine. I would think you have enough sun shine and the sun spends most of the time straight overhead that it wouldn't need to turn either. Scott I will try to shoot an update on my melter today, it looks like it will be sunny here today