G'day,
I have a good Solar Wax Melter. When it is sunny it does no take too long to melt wax from the frames & Queen excluders. A friend said that if I place two 1" by 2" pieces of wood on the glass and then place another sheet of glass on top making the glass double thickness it would generate more heat. I wanted to place a thermometer on the frames, with only one sheet of glass then two sheets. For the last few days we have not had any sun for me to see the result. Any comments on if the two sheets would generate more heat.
Cheers Perry
Hello Perry,
Two sheets of glass won't so much *generate* more heat (although I know what you mean ...), as save heat from escaping out through the single sheet - so yes, it will get hotter. For maximum efficiency, it's important to ensure that hot air cannot leak away through poor sealing, so the use of draught excluder (or similar) to seal any small gaps is always a good move.
But - I'm surprised to hear that there's a sunshine deficiency 'down under' - pity us poor poms back home trying to get solar wax melters to work during our two or three days of summer. :cry:
LJ
What plans or design did you use yo build your solar wax melter?
G'day feenix3K,
I got my design from looking at these.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Solar+Wax+Melter+Beekeeping&FORM=RESTAB
There are lots to choose from.
Cheers Perry
G'day Little John,
I used a rubber seal which prevent any bees getting in and also retain the heat.
It is our Spring and some days it is overcast and cool. In the Summer it is in the 30 c beautiful clear blue skies. It does not take long to melt the wax. You have to wear gloves to remove the frames they are so hot. It is 6 am now and the sky is clear. I might be able to test with a thermometer.
Cheers Perry
Quote from: AUSSIE POM on September 21, 2016, 05:11:45 PM
G'day Little John,
I used a rubber seal which prevent any bees getting in and also retain the heat.
It is our Spring and some days it is overcast and cool. In the Summer it is in the 30 c beautiful clear blue skies. It does not take long to melt the wax. You have to wear gloves to remove the frames they are so hot. It is 6 am now and the sky is clear. I might be able to test with a thermometer.
Cheers Perry
Hi Perry - G'day - it sounds like you already have a pretty good system there - are you sure you really need that extra pane of glass ? Or maybe it's an experiment you think is worth doing - 'just to see' ? Anyway - let us know how you get on.
I envy you that weather - as you know we're into autumn over here - the days are beginning to shorten and we'll soon be re-adjusting the clocks back from British Summer Time.
LJ
I did not realize that their were so many variation on a wax melter. But I have time to research, since I won't be starting a hive till spring.
Perry,
Sounds like your solar wax melter is already working properly, you do not want to add another pane of glass. If it already is heating your wax to the melting point, adding more insulation will raise the temp too high and you will start to vaporize the wax.
Jim
by the way. don't put plastic foundation in the melter. it will warp in 2 mins. I have post of my melter i built a few years back on here some place. i need to make a new one. I think i'll build next one out of metal. Have some sheet metal laying around not producing. I'll do it this coming spring if i can.
john