Solar Wax Melter Test - Bee Vlog

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I've melted wax over the kitchen stove a couple times and the family (and myself) complain about the smell. Sure, beeswax smells good, but when you're melting old brood comb, the old cocoons can really give off a funky smell when they boil. So I recommend doing it outdoors. Or even better...in a solar oven.
The solar wax melter is completed and I finally had a day of sunshine when I had the time to test it out. The oil filter cone didn't work out as I hoped. I think it was just taking too long to get up to temperature. I also had to move the oven a couple times to chase the sunshine. But once I work out all the kinks I think it will simplify the process of melting and filtering wax. And keep the house from getting stinky.
The original plans for this oven came from here:
www.dummies.com/how-to/content...
Dimensions were adjusted to fit some cheap glass I found.
To keep up with my apiary and track the hives, visit My Apiary page at:
thebeevlog.blogspot.com/p/apia...

Опубликовано:

7 сен 2013

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Комментарии : 76

@colin8532 10 лет назад

I can't believe how clean the wax came out!

@darkangelsoaps8258 Год назад

You did a really good job. Well built piece of equipment. I like how you proceeded methodically testing what works and making changes. If you want to keep the oil filter maybe you can try it fitted into a metal funnel. The hot metal may keep that wax from cooling. And maybe it won't haha. That's the fun of testing it out. Great job! Seriously great building on this one. Subscribed and liked.

@bruceturek3412 4 года назад

just found your video and i must say very neatly done on your wax melter looks real nice

@badassbees3680 4 года назад

That thing worked awesome best I can tell,I'd say REALLY good Job!

@javierfernandezsainz-trapa7561 5 лет назад

Very nice design and built!

@BlaineNay 9 лет назад

To reuse that screen, turn it upside down on some newspaper and place it in the sun. The heat of the sun will quickly release the gunk from the screen and it'll drop in a lump on the newspaper (makes a great fire starter). The screen is now ready for reuse.

@TheBeeVlog 9 лет назад

Blaine Nay Great tip. Thanks!

@DonnyT744 4 года назад

That box is awesome.

@georgegoertzen4723 5 лет назад

Just dump your bucket through the strainer - you capture all the wax that is in the bucket and easier then dipping over and over again for diminishing returns!

@georgegoertzen4723 5 лет назад

Great idea!

@jasongentry7405 5 лет назад

Old video, buuuut you might be able to place a 16D nail on top and perpendicular to the top of the frame. You could then use it's shadow like a sun dial to judge right angle to the sun..just a thought.

@Bowcase 2 года назад

I don’t know for sure but I’ve seen a few of these videos where folks just used a paper towel over the screen and it appeared to work really well. It might work in that wire frame cone holder thingy. 😬

@JohnBritton 9 лет назад

I enjoy your video learning a lot. I would have installed a 100 watt bulb int the melter I'm new at this.

@TheBeeVlog 9 лет назад

John Britton Well, that would kind of defeat the purpose of using the sun as a heat source. ;)

@backyardmechanic921 8 лет назад

Never did use any filters when I used a solar extractor. I put the old combs straight in the melter with a baffle infront to let the wax though. I would put it though several times to clean it and if there was any dirt left it would wash right off. I rolled all my own foundation with my wax

@TheBeeVlog 8 лет назад

Yeah, the filter in the solar melter doesn't work. Just clogs up.

@beefriendlychannel7965 2 года назад

Adding weatherstripping on the top bead of the box will get that wax more fluid.

@Xyxox 10 лет назад

You could try using just plain nylon stockings for your secondary filter. I've heard they work well.

@SandraLThomas64 5 лет назад

Try using the paper towels next time in pan. Afterwards they could be used as fire starters 🐝

@rlsnv 10 лет назад

Try putting your screen in the freezer, let the gunk freeze then drop on a hard surface and see if it breaks apart

@tealkerberus748 4 года назад

That filter still had a lot of wax in it. I'd try pouring a bucket of boiling water through it - when the wax is washed out, the rest of it won't stick so much to the filter, either.

@TheBeeVlog 10 лет назад

Good idea. I'll try that out if paper towels don't work for me.

@Piggieelaydee 10 лет назад

I saw a video of someone using a window screen with a paper towel cut to fit on top

@blessedisshegroup 7 лет назад

Genius!!

@jagtarsinghpanesar7315 6 лет назад

Nice

@allaus10 10 лет назад

love watching ur videos..i can tell ur a clean freak like me...lol

@gazinta 5 лет назад

I know this is an older video, but chickens will eat that old brood.

@allaus10 10 лет назад

it just circle of life!

@rbboergoats 10 лет назад

Cheese cloth works great as a filter

@elenacerasela 7 лет назад

I purified wax before by leaving it on dashboard of car in the summer in bright sun. It gets filtered fast and well.

@TheBeeVlog 7 лет назад

Ha! Was that an accident or are you using your car as a solar oven?

@jasonrasheed7670 2 года назад

Bit late commenting but great job. Did you do a follow-up vid?

@TheBeeVlog 10 лет назад

I do have a touch of OCD about some things. :)

@tappakeggaday1 8 лет назад

just put a paper towel on your screen and it will filter the wax

@elleynde 8 лет назад

an idea for your box, build another bigger box next to it, line it with metalic tubing big enough to let air pass trough (vent tubing) paint it all black and connect the tubing to the melt box, (basically a solar air heater)

@TheBeeVlog 8 лет назад

+elleynde An interesting idea, thanks!

@bobwebber8521 Год назад

Good advice. I used tin cans that stack on top of each other with the tops and bottoms cut out and fitted end to end.

@cutiebingham 8 лет назад

Did you design the oven yourself? Could you share your basic plans and materials? Or did you use some other plans? We're just looking for something to build that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

@TheBeeVlog 8 лет назад

+Sarah Bingham I started with this design and adjusted dimensions to fit a cheap source of glass: www.dummies.com/how-to/content/vital-stats-and-materials-list-for-the-solar-wax-m.seriesId-357106.html

@garyburns7850 5 лет назад

Any idea where one could find a flat stainless steel funnel like the one in this video? Outstanding melter, and I'm in the process of building myself one right now.

@TheBeeVlog 5 лет назад

I bought some thin sheet stock at the hardware store and cut/formed it myself.

@garyburns7850 5 лет назад

@@TheBeeVlog Thank you for the quick reply. I was pricing the cost of flashing material and was thinking of doing the same. I was hoping to avoid having to make one because I know I will cut myself on it. LOL.

@karenulrich5930 4 года назад

Can I use coffee filters? Loved your video. Thank you.

@TheBeeVlog 4 года назад

I think so, but I haven't tried it. If you try it I recommend folding it so it's cone shaped.

@beefriendlychannel7965 2 года назад

That gunk is propolis. Soak the screen in grain alcohol to make a tincture. Takes a week or two to break down. Strain the tincture through a single layer of cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer.

@alaefarmestatesllc 2 года назад

Not all of it is.

@beefriendlychannel7965 2 года назад

@@alaefarmestatesllc it might have a few bee parts or wax mixed in, but that's the reason for the grain alcohol. It dissolves anything NOT propolis. I have 10 million bees. How many do you have?

@alaefarmestatesllc 2 года назад

@@beefriendlychannel7965 lol. Probably a lot more than 10 million. But I wouldn’t know because I’ve never tried to count only 10 million of them individually. And I have that number year round. How many do u have year round? I point out the fact that ur comment was wrong and u instantly start acting like a no it all Karen. Lol. Clown.

@beefriendlychannel7965 2 года назад

@@alaefarmestatesllc look. We have a new beek here. Behave accordingly. We don't want the noobs to think we're a bunch of bee bigots. The gunk is propolis. A tincture is the clarification process that makes it pure. Its healthy to ingest. I was keeping 8t simple for the lamen to read. You came out here like: "Actually..." Come on, dude. Be nice.

@alaefarmestatesllc 2 года назад

@@beefriendlychannel7965 yup. You should take ur own advice, no? Admit ur statement was wrong. It’s that simple. No it’s not all propolis, it’s just not. And ur logic of “I have 10 million bees so I’m a better/smarter beekeeper than everyone who has less bees than me” is just idiotic. But not surprised an idiot is throwing out idiotic logic and statements. Then when called on it, chooses to ignore or act like Karen. Guess acting like a Karen just comes natural for u.

@notsunkyet 4 года назад

Another beekeeper said that the process of rendering beeswax in water is what causes candles to sputter, so hence, he processes all his beeswax in a double boiler. Is there any way to know which, or if both, are the cause?

@TheBeeVlog 4 года назад

If water gets in the final candle product it can cause sputtering. However, I haven't had that problem. Probably because I use a double-boiler to melt the wax for one final filtration, then again to melt it before pouring into wax molds. Any water that got into the wax during the rendering process is long gone by the time I pour candles.

@notsunkyet 4 года назад

@@TheBeeVlog Thanks for the clarification. Makes sense, nice tip.

@TomDubYeah 7 лет назад

I know you have not posted a new video in about 6 months, but have you revisited this wax melter? did you fix the issues you had?

@TheBeeVlog 7 лет назад

I do use it still on warm sunny days. I don't bother using the filter anymore. It's not really necessary. Most of the gum stays behind in the screen, then I just change out the screen. This solar melter would probably get hotter if I had the angle of the glass set correctly. I've since learned that the angle of the glass should be about the same angle as your latitude, in my case it should be about 45 degrees. I'd have to completely redesign for something that steep. So for now it only really works on our hottest days.

@TomDubYeah 7 лет назад

Thanks for the update. I live in South Florida, so even on our coolest (notice I didn't say cold)days we still have a healthy amount of sun. Thank you for all of the videos. I have watched every single one, I;m a big fan of your channel.

@gazinta 5 лет назад

@@TheBeeVlog you could flip the screen over to listen the gunk off of it.

@gazinta 5 лет назад

@@TheBeeVlog interesting about the earths tilt and latitude. Does that offset week to week? On the solstice you could safely say a 21° angle and equinox 45°? I'm a tad OCD, too.

@CBob357 9 лет назад

Why rinse the wax? Wouldn't the bees clean the honey from the wax if you just spread it out near the hives?

@TheBeeVlog 9 лет назад

CBob357 Some people do that, but I don't like to. It can induce a robbing frenzy, which can lead to dead hives. I don't take my chances with that. I'm trying to figure out a way to get them to clean it up inside the hive though.

@meganzumbahlen355 5 лет назад

TheBeeVlog what is a robbing frenzy? My grandpa is a beekeeper and always let's the bees clean out the wax, usually it's in a bag of cheese cloth. But I've never heard of that! Robbing frenzy?

@sheilamclaughlin963 5 лет назад

Put it as far away as u can and let the bees have it back, they made it to start with

@dave29123 5 лет назад

@@meganzumbahlen355 honeybeesuite.com/robbing-bees-questions-and-answers/

@tealkerberus748 4 года назад

TheBeeVlog if you put an empty box on top of your hive to form an attic under the lid, you can put the cappings in a tray in that space, and only the bees of that hive have access to it. An attic is also useful for sugar feeding in a bad year, and if they suddenly boom when you're busy with other responsibilities it's an extra space where they can build burr comb if they run out of space on their frames. In Australia it's illegal to put cappings or stickies or anything else with honey out in the open for the bees to rob it, it all has to be inside the hive to minimise the risk of disease transfer.

@commonsensegaming1756 3 года назад

hmm would coffee filters work too ? or an old tshirt?

@TheBeeVlog 3 года назад

Sorry about the late response. Yes coffee filters work and old t-shirts. The problem I ran into with old t-shirts was not having enough of them around.