My Cheap, cheap solar wax melter works!

[tillie]

Last year in October I built a solar wax melter from a Styrofoam ice chest.  It cost next to nothing....$8.00 total.  The most expensive part was the glass top ($3.50).  To be fair, I already owned a Tupperware container, keep paper towels and string in my kitchen, and keep duct tape in my tool kit.  So if I had to buy all of those things, it would have cost more.

I found the plans on the Internet --->  http://www2.gsu.edu/~biojdsx/solmltr.htm

So I built it in October when the heat of the day isn't hot enough nor does it last long enough for the solar wax melter to work.
I crossed my fingers and saved it until this year.  I tried it today.  AMAZING!

If you want to see it at work, there's a slide show on my blog:

http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/2007/06/today-im-trying-solar-wax-melter.html

Linda T in Atlanta, continually amazed by all the bee stuff there is to learn

[Patrick]

Thank's Linda.  love it.

[Barngodess]

GREAT idea,., and it really really works !! thanks for sharing..... the slideshow and commentary was very educational !

Melissa
 

[sean]

Great tillie, i did mine after i read your post and it works. I had asked but no-one responded, why paper towel?

[tillie]

I did it because the instructions from Australia said to - but there's a real advantage - the wax filters through the paper towel and there is some wax that soaks into the paper.  When all is said and done, the paper towel is great for starting the smoker - I keep them in a plastic bag and use the wax infiltrated paper towel every time I start the smoker.

Another advantage of the paper towel is that it is recyclable and disposable - it's impossible to clean stockings, for example, which some people use for filters or other cloth - you have to throw it away after use.

Linda T in Atlanta

[sean]

ok fine. folks, you need to use good paper towels. Iused a cheap one the other day and it tore after the wax started to melt and everything fell into the container.

[randydrivesabus]

i used cheese cloth...i think window screen would work pretty good too. one thing about solar stuff...you need the solar for it to work and around here its been inconsistent.

[tillie]

I've had 100% good results with Bounty - no torn towels, all successful - and I've used the wax melter about 10 times now.

Linda T in Atlanta

[Zoot]

Linda,

Great plans. The melter works perfectly. But since I'm a cabinet maker I couldn't resist making a reproduction of Brushy Mt's solar melter and I've since retired your model. The only real advantage to the bigger one is the bigger tray which seems to help seperating the pollen, honey and other impurities quicker. I still use bounty paper towels for a filter.

[TwT]

I like the my buddies got, its a nice meltr and works great
http://www.owensapiaries.net/wax_melter.htm

[Cindi]

So nice to read posts that I have missed.  I just don't seem to get into all the forums that I know that I should go to, so many wonderful life events that occur and I seem to miss so many!!!!!    Have a wonderful life, greatest of health.  Cindi