Simple Solar Wax Melter Results

Simple Solar Wax Melter Results
Here's the results of the Simple Solar Wax Melter.
Overall I'm very pleased with the results. I have a few modifications that I might still try to make it even better, but in my opinion, this is 100x better than the method I was previously using (propane burner and a big pot).
The filters that I used are at the link below. However, there may be cheaper options now since I bought those a while ago. This is not an affiliate link so I get nothing for your purchase of these or any other filters.
www.amazon.com...
Thank you for watching!

[@wildlifenet]

That's really ingenious, more Beekeepers should know about your innovation! Thank you for sharing your inspiring video and for all the work you do with these important pollinators - Stewart

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Thanks for stopping in @wildlife.net, I really didn't come up this. I just pieced together some ideas that I liked about others that I have seen. The bees are definitely fascinating creatures and an important part of the worlds food supply. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@sarashappyhives1828]

Excellent results! Thanks for sharing! I see a project in my hubby’s future 😊

[@TexasBeekeeper]

LOL. Put him to work! Thanks for watching and commenting Sara

[@lagrangebees]

Simple, effective and more importantly inexpensive! gotta love it :D

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Thanks Alex! Have a great weekend!

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Hey Lagrange. I also just remembered about your Premiere today at 6:00 Central. I have set my alarm and hope to attend!

[@HaleHives]

Looks good, Tex. Wax comes out very nice--sure beats boiling in a pot!!

[@TexasBeekeeper]

My thoughts exactly! So much easier this way. Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@KajunHomestead]

that worked awesome. I'm with you I use my wax myself, I order the cheaper foundation and wax them myself right before I put them on the hive and I find they draw it out quicker if its fresh and thick.

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Thanks Brad! I agree 100%. When you think about how much Honey it takes to build wax, the prices wax is selling for, in my opinion doesn't bring enough for me to want to get rid of it. Too many other uses for it myself. Now maybe if I just had way too much laying around.......that might be a different story. But I'm not there yet. Thanks for stopping in and commenting. Have a great weekend!

[@grahamsbees-jody]

a future project for sure.thanks Texas Beekeeper

[@TexasBeekeeper]

I will hopefully be posting a follow up video soon. I got wax to flow down below by drilling some holes in the middle board (Credit for that idea goes to Larimore Farms). It still wasnt quite warm enough so I may try the reflectix down below also to see if that helps. Thanks for watching and commenting. Have a happy 4th of July!

[@dcsblessedbees]

Hay Texas, before I forget my family is in the Justin area of Texas. I like it, gona have to build me one now :-) Maybe try putting some of the reflectex in the bottom, another thing your could do/try replace you wooden sheet with another sheet pf plexi that way it allows a bit more ambient heat into the bottom box. looks like with a little more tweaking you will get it working just like ya want, and cheap to make. Maybe paint the out side black and a 2nd sheet of plexiglass and some of the reflectex rap? Ty for sharing your time, Blessed Days...

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Hey DC. Ahh, they're up there near Dallas/Fort Worth. Cool. We go up there every now and then to visit with my wife's friend who moved up that way several years back. Oh nice DC. All great ideas. Silver Gorilla recommended painting the outsides black also, so I'll plan to give that a try today. Your idea of the plexiglass floor under the paint tray is a good one. That would get it hot for sure. I'm aiming for just enough to get it to flow just a little more, so I'm going to try these little by little. Will probably do the plexiglass floor last (if it needs it), since I'm sure that would most likely do the trick. I've got more of the reflectix also, so I may try that 2nd. Also, I can paint the plywood under the paint tray black since it's still unfinished too. Thanks for stopping in and commenting! Enjoy your last weekend before you're another year older!

[@dcsblessedbees]

@@TexasBeekeeper Just 1 day older :-) and 1 day closer to the Lord. You have a wonderful Birthday and Fathers Day weekend.

[@TexasBeekeeper]

@@dcsblessedbees You do the same DC!

[@larimorefarms]

Looks like the deal is sealed. Going out to rebuild mine now. Thanks

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Awesome Larimore! Let me know how it turns out! I also just now painted the outsides of the box black as well as the middle bottom (under the paint tray) and the inside of the bottom box. Just trying to draw a little more heat down there to get the wax to flow a little more. I'm very happy with it as is, but getting it to flow just a little would be nice. Have a great weekend!

[@larimorefarms]

I'll drill a few holes in the bottom of the top box to transfer heat down in mine. I'll let you know how it turns out

[@TexasBeekeeper]

@@larimorefarms Another great idea! That definitely sounds like it could help out. Thanks for sharing

[@michelleconabere7063]

Hi from Melbourne Australia. I have a suggestion put 1inch of water in the pan the wax is going to drip into. It makes it easier to remove the wax.

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Hi Michelle, That's a good idea. I've actually started using a silicone pan and removal is very easy since it has flex, but I'll definitely do the water idea when that pan isn't available. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@ECP]

Very nice 👍 Thank you for sharing....

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Thank you! Appreciate you stopping in and commenting. Have a great weekend!

[@SilverGorilla1776]

Looks good Texas. Maybe paint you boxes black. Might help keep the bottom box hot enough.

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Thanks Silver! I like that idea. I'll give that a try and see. I just need it a little bit hotter, so that might do the trick. Have a great weekend!

[@SilverGorilla1776]

The Texas Beekeeper Hopefully that’ll do it. You have a great weekend too my friend.

[@DRIECUTHoney]

Nice

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Thanks William. Have a great weekend!

[@kathyhathaway8823]

Have you ever melted any that may still have a little honey in the wax to see what happens ?. I have some table top glass that is tempered glass I going to try but I have to recheck it it may have some tent to it if so I do not think that would work. Good idea on your melter . Thanks

[@houstonsheltonbees814]

Hello Cathy, I used a tempered glass refrigerator shelf on mine and it has some tint on it but doesn't effect it. If you have Honey in the wax it will flow down just like the wax but will separate in the pan. The wax will still be on top. Hope this helps. 👍 Good health and God bless

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Hello @Kathy Hathaway, a little honey in the wax won't hurt. It will separate out from the Wax. It may end up draining down into your pan though (since it's liquid just like the wax at that point), but it will still separate from the Wax. You may have to rinse it off, but not a big deal. With that said, it's best to set the wax out and give the bees a chance to clean it out. That will feed them back some honey and clean your wax. I'd give your table top glass a try. If it's a slight tent it'll probably be ok. The good news is you already have that, so definitely worth a try. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@dennisbarney869]

Love it. Do you have a link to the filters you used or were you got them. Thanks

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Hey Dennis, I put the link in the description for this video. I bought these a while ago, so there may be better prices now than what there is on this item. Basically any cone filter for fry grease should work fine. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Lsmith-ly2cm]

Pretty cool thank you

[@TexasBeekeeper]

You're very welcome. Thank you for watching!

[@dumasmcgee]

I lined a 10 frame box with a plywood bottom with tinfoil inside put strips of wood on the sides so my strainer can span it and put strips of fiberglass insulation on top of the sides and ends and put a piece of glass on top. I had to ratchet strap the glass down because it wasn't sealing but now in my pan it stays liquid until nightfall

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Very nice! Sound like it is doing the trick for sure. Thanks for sharing

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Was wondering about using a silicone bread pan. Looks good but maybe save some time getting the lower area hot too? Just my 2 cents. Reflectics, so many uses.

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Hey Mike, Yeah, I'm working on bringing up the temp in the lower area. I'm going to put a thermometer in the top to see how hot it actually gets. The wax will scorch at 170-175 so I just want to make sure it isn't getting that hot. If it isn't, then I don't really need to worry about the temp in the bottom. If it does....well, then I would like to gradually bring up the temp in the bottom to where it stays below that. Thanks for watching and commenting. Enjoy your weekend!

[@JimmyLuffjr]

Good Idea.

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Thank you! I didn't come up with everything. I was mostly taking different ideas that I've seen and put them all together. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@shawnboutersebouterseurban387]

Going to go find a video where you made it and how

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Hey Shawn! Thanks for stopping in and commenting

[@TexasBeekeeper]

Hey Shawn, Sorry I wasn't on a computer earlier so cut/paste wasn't available, but if you haven't already found it, the build video is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWfdZJ98a5d9fq8 Thanks for watching

[@shawnboutersebouterseurban387]

@@TexasBeekeeper Thank you very much and the extra efforts

[@TexasBeekeeper]

@@shawnboutersebouterseurban387 my pleasure. Hope it helps