For processing and giving commodity qualities to beekeeping products, special equipment is needed. So, for example, for processing wax, a wax refinery is required, which can easily be done independently from improvised means. How to make a wax refinery at home and how to use it, read below.

Did you know? The average bee family consists of 50,000 bees.

The principle of operation and the purpose of the wax refinery

The wax in its original form is not suitable for use. First you need to process it. They do this with the help of remelting, for which, in fact, a wax refinery is needed. All types of devices must have a heating function. In order to separate pure wax from honeycombs, it is necessary to be able to heat the raw material to + 70 ° C.

Types and types of wax refineries

There are several types of wax furnaces that differ in the type of heating device:

• steam;
• solar;
• electric.

Steam

The steam type wax refinery works on the principle of a water bath. This design has many advantages. The first of them is the lack of direct contact of raw materials with water, which allows you to get clean products at the exit. In addition, with repeated processing, it becomes possible to completely drain the merv. For small apiaries, household steamers or factory models are perfect.

Did you know? The bees that emerged from the autumn brood live 6–7 months, and their relatives, who appeared in the spring, live no more than 40 days.

The bulk of such devices is intended for the grinding of small raw materials and crushed land. For large apiaries, similar designs are produced that are designed to process solid frames. The heating of raw materials in steam wax refineries occurs due to the steam that rises. Wax melts already at + 62 ° C, and steam has a temperature of + 100 ° C. Hardening, liquid wax flows into special pallets.

There are 2 types of steam structures:

• consists of 2 containers inserted one into the other - pour water into the lower one and heat it, penetrate the upper vapor through the holes directly to the raw material;
• the water tank is located separately from the tank with raw materials, and steam flows through pipes or hoses that can withstand high temperature conditions.

Sunny

Remelting occurs due to the heat of solar energy. The design is presented in the form of a box with an inclined metal or glass tray-baking sheet inside, designed to accommodate raw materials. The top is covered with a double cover, the inner side of which is covered with reflective material. The external walls of the structure are covered in black paint.

Important! The internal parts of the wax refinery in contact with wax must always be made of high-quality metal that is not susceptible to corrosion.

Heating occurs due to direct sunlight on the box and the accumulation of heat by black walls. Under favorable weather conditions, in the summer in such a wax refinery temperature + 100 ° С is stably maintained, sometimes higher. Remelted raw material flows into a special trough in the lower part of the tank. The raw material freezes overnight. In the morning, new raw materials are placed in the wax refinery, and the frozen one is removed from the trough.

Electric

Such models make it possible to melt wax in a short time. Most often, such designs are bought in the store to reduce operational risks. Electric models can be heated by steam or by glowing parts.

Do it yourself

A wax refinery is not a complex structure. Home-made wax-heating tank is a good opportunity to save money.

The device from the refrigerator

If the farm has an unnecessary refrigerator, you can make a wax refinery from it. Such equipment will allow you to immediately process a large amount of raw materials. Due to its large dimensions, it is possible to place products for processing directly on the frame.

Important! It is better to pick up a frying pan from cast iron. This material has a higher ability to retain heat.

To create a wax refinery you will need:

• old fridge;
• fine mesh suitable for the size of refrigeration equipment;
• tin plate;
• heat resistant hose;
• a metal container for supplying steam - a can or a barrel;
• bricks or pallets - for stand;
• stainless steel bucket for collecting melted raw materials.

Of the tools required:

• scissors for metal;
• bolts, screws;
• heat-resistant sealant;
• drill;
• screwdriver.

Step-by-step instructions for performing work:

1. Eliminate all unnecessary parts from the refrigeration equipment - only a housing is required.
2. In the rear wall at a height of 1 m closer to the side of the door opening, drill a hole with a diameter of 5 cm.
3. From a piece of tin, build a watering can and insert it into the resulting hole. Seal all seams.
4. In the area where the motor was located, make a hole for the hose. The second part of the hose will be connected to the steam supply tank. Accordingly, a hole of suitable diameter in the upper part should also be made in this container.
5. Lay the refrigerator on its side, having previously placed pallets or bricks under the body.
6. Install a wire mesh. On it will remain the spent merva and the bee bread. Install the mesh so that it can be completely placed inside the frame body. A distance of 2-3 cm should be maintained between the frames and the grid.
7. Place a container under the outlet to collect raw materials.

Video: do-it-yourself wax refridgerator

Water heating in tanks can be carried out on a gas stove or with the help of heating elements mounted in them. It all depends on the capabilities and imagination of the user. For beginner beekeepers, drawings of similar designs are attached. In the same way, a steam wax frame from a washing machine is performed.

From an old skillet

From the old deep frying pan you can make a version of the solar wax refinery. For work you will need the following materials:

• pan;
• glass lid on the pan;
• fine mesh suitable for the diameter of the pan;
• heat-resistant hose for the removal of raw materials;
• capacity for collecting products - a can of stainless steel;
• foil;
• fasteners for mesh.

From the tools you will need:

• drill;
• self-tapping screws;
• sealant.

Did you know? Before the invention of paper, letters were applied to flat wooden planks coated with wax.

Step-by-step execution of work:

1. Make a hole in the center of the pan that matches the diameter of the hose.
2. Insert the hose and seal the seams.
3. Make a hole in the can lid and connect the second part of the hose.
4. From the sides, parallel to each other, install fasteners under the grid.
5. Lay the net on the fasteners.
6. Fasten the foil to the inside of the lid.

Install the design on the stands. Choose the most illuminated place in the area under the open sun. Broken honeycombs are placed on the grid or, if the container volume allows, whole frames. The structure is covered with a lid and left in this position until the raw materials are completely re-heated.

Is it possible to heat wax without wax refinery

To melt the product, if it is not too much, it is possible without wax refinery. This can be done in a steam pan. During heating, make sure that the liquid does not run away, as it will foam very much. Prepare a smaller container in advance and tie the top with gauze folded in several layers. As soon as the products melt, they need to be drained into a smaller tank.

Thus, all the garbage can be collected on gauze, which must then be carefully hung over the pan and wait until the liquid drains. You can easily make a wax refinery with your own hands, following the instructions, even if you do not have much experience in designing. This is a great way to save money and show your creative skills.