We have been using a series of plastic boxes and bits of paper towel as a solar wax extractor, but these only worked when the day was hotter than hell. So we designed a Solar Wax Extractor from parts found around the house. I built a box big enough to hold the $6 baking tray that I bought from a local shop. The tray is on an angle to allow any melted wax to flow down to the bottom, and then into a plastic container with a paper towel clip over the top.
The plastic container is full of water to make it easier to pick up the wax at the end of the day.
So far itβs been a great improvement on the old system and we have even been getting nice clean yellow Beeswax from some old black blocks of Beeswax.
We still need to build a real lid for the extractor, will have to save up or sell some honey to get the timber and the glass for the cover. At present its an old door from a glass cupboard.
So a great success for not much work, now we need to work out how to make our own foundations and we will be set π
Gary Fawcett
Gary is the web designer and chief Propeller-head at kiwimana. He enjoys designing products which solve problems and is passionate about saving the Bees and encouraging urban beekeeping. Gary loves to write about issues that affect the Bees and our environment. He is one of the hosts of the kiwimana buzz Beekeeping podcast.