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If you keep a small apiary, then you will definitely need a wax melter. In order to process a small amount of wax, it is not necessary to spend money on buying a new apparatus. You can make your own wax melter from a washing machine.
A home-made device will perfectly cope with the processing of foundation, cutting frames or growths from the walls of the hives.
Pros and cons of homemade
The advantage of making a steam wax melter is that you can use any old washing machine. Most often, Soviet-made machines are used – their thick, durable drums are great for making the device.
What’s more, you’ll save money by using the parts you have on hand.
Why is it better to use a steam wax melter than a solar wax melter:
- With the help of steam, you can produce much more high-quality raw materials.
- You can use the device at different times of the year in any weather.
The disadvantages of a home-made wax melter in front of the factory one are lower productivity and power. It’s also not that easy to use. However, if you do not manufacture wax on an industrial scale, then you do not need a factory apparatus.
Instructions: how to make a wax melter with your own hands
Let’s look at the example of a washing machine, how to make a wax melter at home. All you need from a car is:
- the body;
- tank and drum;
- sealing cuff of the hatch;
- drain pipe;
- intake hose.
All other details must be removed. How to disassemble a washing machine, we wrote in other articles.
After disassembly, prepare the following components:
- a flask with a volume of 15-20 liters;
- trough (preferably metal);
- rubber plug;
- silicone sealant;
- stove for heating (gas or electric), you can make a fire.
You will also need a metal cover – larger in diameter than the drum hole in the washing machine. It is really possible to assemble such a design yourself in an hour and a half.
Assembly sequence
From the body of the washer, you only need two side and rear walls. The front panel is removed.
If a service hatch is provided in the rear wall, it must be unscrewed and removed. If there is none, then make a hole yourself, based on the diameter of the tank with the drum. Additionally fasten the walls with bolts for strength.
Then place the case on the side walls, with the back panel facing up. For stability, you can put it on special spacers. Then proceed like this:
- Drill a few holes in the back wall of the tank. All other holes that were provided by the manufacturer (except for the hole for the drain pipe), close with rubber plugs.
- Install the tank with the drum on the hole at the top of the body.
- Bolt them in place.
It remains to re-equip the flask. If you are using a large can, then it has a “native” lid in which you need to make a hole with a diameter like an inlet hose. If this is a simple flask, you need to find an airtight lid for it and also make a hole.
Connect the drain pipe to the tank. Insert the inlet hose into the lid of the flask and connect the other end to the nozzle. Seal the joint with silicone sealant.
Everything, the steam wax melter did it with her own hands. It remains to understand how the device functions.
How a wax melter from a washing machine is arranged and works
We have already dismantled the device of the steam frame wax melter. Now consider the principle of operation.
Load the dried wax waste into the drum, then fill the flask with water ¾ of the volume. Then place a flask of water on a heat source: stove or fire. Close the waste tank with a lid and install a press on top so that steam does not escape. Install a trough at the bottom of the tank.
After the water in the flask boils, steam will begin to be generated. Passing through the hose and pipe, the steam will enter the tank and melt the wax. Wax along with hot water will drain from the drum into the tank, and then into the trough. As it cools, it will float to the surface where you pick it up.
In such a simple way, you can process wax waste in your own apiary. At minimal cost, you will receive high-quality wax for your needs or for sale.
On average, wax extraction takes 3 to 4 hours. But if you adjust the heating power of the flask, you can reduce this time.