For those who have their own apiary, the issue of obtaining wax without any special time and money is relevant. For this purpose, a special device is used - wax refining. This equipment has its own characteristics and can be of several types. It can be either purchased ready-made or hand-made.
What it is?
A wax refinery is equipment designed to extract wax from bee honeycombs and to melt it under high temperature pressure. There are several types of such equipment, but the principle of its operation is as follows:
- Honeycombs are steeped and placed in the device.
- Wax material is heated to its melting point.
- The finished material is filtered and flows into a collecting container, after which the beekeeper prepacks it in containers that are convenient for operation and sale.
GOST 21179-2000 defines the requirements for beeswax, its labeling and packaging.
Device views
The quality of the product obtained, as well as the nuances of the wax refinery, depend on how the heating occurs. Without high temperatures, the device will not be able to work. So, depending on how the heating occurs, several types of aggregate are distinguished.
Steam
It is logical that the source of energy is water vapor, which can come in two ways:
- from a special compartment in the device itself;
- from a special container connected to the raw material through a pipe that can withstand high temperatures.
In any case, the device works in this way:
- Water flows into the lower compartment of the tank through an extension tube located in the funnel.
- Raw materials are crushed and stacked on lattices or placed in mesh bags. In more modern devices, you can put several frames.
- When water boils, steam with a temperature of 100 degrees comes out, which freely penetrates the wax raw material and contributes to its melting.
- Through the filters (mesh), the wax flows into the receiving tank, where it cools. After this procedure, the remainder remains in the form of a merv.
Steam units can be made of stainless steel or aluminum. The former are more expensive than the latter, since they are more reliable and safe - during work, the risk of getting a burn is minimized.
Solar
It works due to the energy of the sun, therefore, it does not require energy costs and is an excellent option for regions with a predominance of sunny weather. This type of wax refinery not only carries out heating, but also brightens the resulting product.
The solar apparatus is a glass box that has a glass lid. In the container there is a baking sheet with holes, on which the wax raw material is placed. When the glass is heated, it melts and gradually flows through the hole into the receiving tank. To improve heating ability, the box is painted black and complemented by reflectors.
On average, in fair weather and an air temperature of 19 degrees Celsius, the wax refinery warms up to 120 degrees. It must be gradually turned in the direction of sunlight so that they pass through the glass and affect the wax. In order for the device to work at maximum, it is necessary to clean the glass from any contaminants.
The sunny appearance of the equipment is considered the best, as it gives the highest quality wax at the exit.
Framework
Such a device is a rectangular tank, which is made of alloy steel and is equipped with a steam generator. In its upper part are frames through which melted wax flows. After it passes through the filters and falls on an inclined surface. Next, the product enters the receiving tank through a special hole.
Electric
The design of this device is identical to the sunny view, and the only difference is that electric heating is included in such a wax refinery. In addition, many devices are equipped with a temperature adjustment function. Heating elements are presented in the form of flat infrared heaters. As a rule, such a device is used on an industrial scale.
Centrifugal
It involves equipping a centrifuge and a steam generator. The raw materials are placed in a bag and heated under steam pressure due to the rotation of the centrifuge. During the kindling, the wax enters the receiving tank through an extension tube.
Practical Choices
To make a choice, it is worth comparing the listed models:
- Plus comparison. Solar construction will cost less, steam - gives better quality raw materials at the exit, electric - can work regardless of the time of day, and centrifugal - allows you to get wax in a short period of time.
- Cons comparison. In a solar wax refinery, it is not possible to regulate the heating temperature, since it heats only under the influence of sunlight. It is very difficult to make centrifugal and electric wax refineries with your own hands, and if you buy a factory device, it will cost an order of magnitude higher. In this regard, steam installation is the best option compared to other designs.
When choosing a wax refinery, in addition to analyzing the pros and cons, you should also rely on the characteristics of your apiary. For example, if there are few sunny days in the region where the apiary is located, then a solar wax refinery will be completely useless.
How to do it yourself?
The market has a number of quality models. They are not very expensive and are manufactured in the factory, but some beekeepers prefer to make the device with their own hands, which is more economical and practical (for example, the sunny view can always be improved to electric).
From the washing machine
If there is an unsuitable Soviet washing machine in the basement, then you can do the waxing yourself in two ways, but you need to observe all the technical nuances of this device.
Instructions for the first method:
- Use the drum of the washing machine as a container for raw materials, and for a steam generator, take either a milk can or a kettle.
- Remove all the electronics from the design of the washing machine, because only two elements are needed - the body and the drum.
- The raw material (wax) is placed in a nylon mesh, and then thrown into the drum of the washing machine and close its lid.
- Steam will be supplied from the can or kettle to the resulting structure within 20 minutes. As soon as its supply is stopped, it is necessary to remove the net from the capron and wring it out with your hands (be sure to wear gloves, otherwise you may get a burn).
The second method requires a bit more time and skill, but such a design does not require manual extraction and does not actually need any care. It differs only in that it requires improving the washing machine tank in this way:
- Trim the bottom of the tank.
- Weld stainless steel grill instead of bottom.
- Fix the resulting structure in the upper part of a large pot with a volume of 2 liters or more.
- In the middle of the pan, fix a bowl of aluminum, having previously drilled holes in it around the perimeter of the container.
Water is poured into the bottom of the pan, and the drum from the washing machine is filled with raw materials from which wax will be obtained.
From a cooker or pot
The steam appliance can be arranged by using a conventional food aluminum cooker or a large pan (you can even use a barrel). The procedure is as follows:
- At the bottom of a large capacity, install a stand.
- Put another vessel with a smaller diameter on the base.
- Using hooks on top of the second vessel, fix the metal mesh, which is pre-filled with wax raw materials.
- Close the structure with a lid and put on the heat source.
As soon as molten wax begins to flow into a smaller vessel, its overflow must be prevented.
How to make an external steam generator?
You can also make an external wax generator for yourself, which will make the device more functional. It includes three important elements in its construction:
- water tank with filler neck;
- stove;
- chimney pipe.
Warming up is carried out twice (from the stove and pipe), so the formation of steam occurs faster and more efficiently.
Any container in which it is possible to heat water at high temperatures is suitable for a steam generator. If we consider the simplest manufacturing option, then for the design it is best to use a modified gas cylinder, which adapts to the design of the stove-potbelly stove. The cylinder is connected to a rectangular box, which is made according to the size of standard frames.
You can prepare a steam generator from improvised materials on the advice of a home master:
Are there any ways to wax without wax?
You can melt wax without waxing. For work, special equipment is not required, therefore, every beekeeper will be able to use this method, namely - kindling of wax in a steam bath. You need to perform the following actions:
- Take two pots: one larger and one smaller.
- Put a small pot on a large vessel and lay wax in it.
- Pour water into a large pot, put it to heat. It is very important in the process to ensure that the water does not boil. This can be controlled by making the fire bigger or smaller. The melt temperature should not be more than 70 degrees, so it is recommended to monitor the temperature of the water with a thermometer.
At a higher melting point, the wax will begin to darken, and this will directly affect the quality of the resulting product.
Wax refinery is a convenient and easy-to-use equipment that is useful to every beekeeper. Only with the help of such a device can you get high-quality wax, which can be used both for medical purposes, and for sale or household chores.