What is a Solar Wax Melter?!
Over the past few weeks I've been working on my version of a solar wax melter. A wax melter is a tool used by apiarists (beekeepers) to clean to old wax/honey off wooden frames. Essentially, the frame is placed within a wooden box and the temperature increased to the wax's melting point (~50-60 degrees) at which point it melts off into a collection point below. With a glass top and black sides a solar wax melter uses the sun's energy to achieve the desired temperatures.Designs
There are various designs available on the internet from a simple foam box with a second hand window frame resting on it to more complex stainless steel models. The limitations of most of these designs however is that they hold only a single frame a time. The design brief for this project outlined the need to hold eight frames, that is an entire box.
My Design
After a few sketches and discussions we came up with this design. The eight frames are arranged on steps at ~30 degrees. (The angle is to allow for maximum sun exposure throughout the day.) Although the vertical design would limit the direct exposure of the frame to the sun the temperature within the box will still achieve desired melting temperature.
This sketchup design only includes the top half. The box is to be extended below to include 1 or 2 filters, the collecting tray, and a back door to allow the access to the tray and filters.
 (Design by Bee Source) |
(Designs by Dadant)
(Design by Envrotom)
My Design
After a few sketches and discussions we came up with this design. The eight frames are arranged on steps at ~30 degrees. (The angle is to allow for maximum sun exposure throughout the day.) Although the vertical design would limit the direct exposure of the frame to the sun the temperature within the box will still achieve desired melting temperature.
This sketchup design only includes the top half. The box is to be extended below to include 1 or 2 filters, the collecting tray, and a back door to allow the access to the tray and filters.
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Great post with lots of really good information!
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I think this tool is something every beekeeper must have in their farm. It is very excellent innovation indeed. Anyway, thank you for sharing it and I will definitely bookmark this site and share it to my friend who has a few hives of bees. I am sure he would love to have one of this.
ReplyDeleteDear tlow
ReplyDeleteI think your 8 frame at a time is a great design and one that no one else has posted to what I've found so far.
A questions or two. What surface to you have under the melting wax to collect, and guide into a dish? In that process, how do you set up a filter for the wax so as to get clean butter yellow wax only in the dish and no detritus? My email address is handyshaun (as one word) @gmail.com
Like the design, but from my reading, the yellow wax colour is obtained from the sun exposure, which this design would not allow. Have you made and used this design and if so, did you find the wax came out darker?
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