Stingless Bee Intermediate – Solar wax melter
Solar wax melter
Making a solar wax melter isn’t something every stingless bee keeper is going to want to do, however, I have found it to be super useful for collecting and recycling wax.
In this video you will see how you can build your own.
Solar wax melter notes
– My first solar melter was made from an oil tray that was cut and shaped to fit inside a timber box. It had a hole at the base of this tray and the wax ran into a silicone baking tray. This works very well and is a good alternative design.
-Heating slowly using the sun helps to prevent plant material from becoming an emulsion with the wax.
-This solar wax melter will heat to 50 degrees Celsius on an average spring day.
-Plant material left over can be left out for bees to collect from.
-Heat wax into blocks using a silicone tray
-This wax contains medicinal properties.
-When building your box make sure it is fairly air tight. It is preferable for the hot air to build up inside your box to do its job.
-Check your box after rain to make sure no rain has entered. If it has, find the leak and fix it.
– Make sure no bees can enter this box. It will cook them within seconds.
-If children come to your house make sure it is kid safe or teach them about it so they don’t burn themselves.
-Do not forget to sand the edges of your glass.
– When heating the wax up in your silicone trays, add water to help bring all of the impurities to the top. You can heat the trays in the microwave (I usually give it a minute or less).
A few uses for refined stingless wax
-Feeding back to your bees
-Sealing hives and connecting tubes
-Attracting solitary native bees (Very effective)
-Making sealants
-Placing around their entrance hole for them to land on.
