How does the sun wax melter work?
The combs of a beehive must be replaced and renewed at regular intervals to ensure sufficient hygiene. This is not only very important for the health of the bees, but also for the quality of the honey. In the brood combs in particular, cocoon residues from previous broods are deposited in addition to the usual residues, so that the wax turns almost completely black over time. As a result, the combs lose size and future bee generations become smaller and more fragile - not something a beekeeper would want to risk.
However, it is still possible to obtain raw wax from the old wax of the hive, which you can use yourself to cast new combs and center walls or process in another way, for example by selling it to a wax processor. For the process of melting down, most beekeepers rely on so-called solar wax melters, which are operated in an energy-saving and environmentally friendly manner using solar energy. The classic models, which were used for melting wax more than a hundred years ago, still used simple wooden frames in which the wax was hung for melting. In the meantime, many beekeepers are convinced of the higher quality of stainless steel sun wax melters, as the heat accumulates inside the metal, allowing the wax to flow off more quickly. At the same time, stainless steel solar wax melters are easier to clean than wooden models.
In order for the solar energy to collect in the best possible way in the solar wax melter, the upper part of the box is provided with a glass plate or double web plate. The honeycombs and wax plates are then either hung directly on the frame in the solar wax melter or separated from the frames and placed individually on existing plates in the solar wax melter. The sun wax melter is angled so that the wax can flow downwards. A wax bucket should be available here to collect the raw wax. This can also be equipped with a wax sieve so that coarse impurities are filtered out during the melting process.
What are the advantages of the solar wax melter?
Compared to the steam wax melter, the sun wax melter offers a number of advantages, which we would of course also like to discuss in more detail here:
- Sun wax melters can be used flexibly wherever sunlight is available
- Sun wax melters do not require any energy and are therefore particularly environmentally friendly
- Sun wax melters do not require much work, because the old wax can simply be hung on the frame in the box and the solar heat does the rest
- Sun wax melters are also ideal for beginners and are available in different sizes
Nevertheless, when buying one should pay attention to the fact that the sun wax melter also brings disadvantages. Especially in the fall, when the largest amounts of old wax accumulate, the available sunlight and heat are not always sufficient to melt the wax effectively. Those who choose a sun wax melter are accordingly always dependent on the weather and weather conditions - in contrast, with electronically operated devices such as the steam wax melter, used wax can always be melted down at the desired time.
The sun wax melters from the beekeeping professional
We have included several sun wax melters in our assortment for you, which are characterized by good workmanship, qualitative materials and easy handling. For beginners, our SMALTO® II sun wax melter for up to 4 combs is excellent. The black construction made of wood is equipped with a stainless steel tub inside, in which the wax melts particularly effectively and quickly. In addition, this stainless steel construction inside the sun wax melter makes cleaning conceivably easy. The resulting raw wax can be collected in the included Teflon tub.
Alternatively, you can use the SMALTO® I sun wax melter, which can be used for up to 3 combs. The very compact version is ideal for mobile beekeeping operations, as the sun wax melter inspires with a very low weight. Here, too, the black wooden cladding together with the stainless steel tub inside prevails. The combs can be placed directly on the frame or detached in the stainless steel tub, so that the old wax melts naturally. In addition, the set includes a Teflon wax tub in which the raw wax can be collected.
Buy the right accessories for sun wax melters online
In addition to the actual sun wax melters, you can also find suitable accessories with which the melting process can be further accelerated. The stand for SMALTO® I and SMALTO® II allows a safe stand at any place, so that the sun wax melter can be hit by the warm sunlight all around. The galvanized surface makes the sun wax melter very robust and durable, but it can also be easily disassembled for storage.
If you want to make your own center walls for the beehive from the raw wax obtained by the sun wax melter, you can also use our center wall casting molds or the professional center wall casting systems. This will give you evenly shaped honeycombs in which your bees are guaranteed to feel comfortable.
Do you have any questions about our sun wax melters or the matching accessories? Feel free to contact the team at Beekeeping Professional to benefit from our years of expertise. We focus on experience and customer support - not only before the purchase, but also when using the sun wax melters afterwards.
