Steam wax melter with press, 3 kW electric and gas

01 · WHAT STAYS IN THE BASKET

Slumgum still has wax in it

When you render frames in a wax melter, solar or steam, the free wax drains off and a dark mass is left in the basket: the slumgum, made of brood cocoons, pollen and propolis. Every generation of brood leaves its cocoon stuck to the cell, and between those layers sits wax that heat alone will not release. Getting it out means squeezing the mass while it is hot, and that is what this melter adds to the steam: a screw that presses the residue inside the basket itself.

02 · HOW IT WORKS

Steam to soften, screw to squeeze

The slumgum or the old comb cut from the frame goes into the perforated basket, the basket goes into the body and the lid is closed. Water goes into the side tank up to half way; once it boils, the steam melts the wax, which drains to the bottom and runs out of the lower spout. As the mass softens, you tighten the screw a little at a time with the T-handle on the lid. Each load takes the comb from about 15-20 frames. The first cycle, from cold, takes 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the room temperature and what you have loaded; the following ones, 15 to 30 minutes.

03 · ELECTRIC OR GAS

Plugged in at the honey house, gas where there is no power

The 3 kW, 220 V heating element is switched on at the back. Where there is no socket, the gas burner supplied does the same job. Either way, the steam stays at around 100 °C: more heat gives more steam, not hotter steam. It melts sooner, not better.

⚠ PRECAUTIONS

The water tank must never run dry while the melter is working: the heating element burns out. Plug it straight into the socket, with no other appliance on the same circuit; if you need an extension lead, its cable must be rated for 3 kW. When you finish, let the water cool inside before draining it: draining it hot also damages the element.

04 · THE WAX THAT COMES OUT

Recovered wax, ready to settle

What runs from the spout is recovered wax, not pale wax for foundation: wax darkens above 85 °C, and this works hotter. Everything that touches it inside is AISI 304 stainless steel, in 1 to 5 mm sheet, because iron discolours it; for the same reason, collect it as it comes out in stainless steel or plastic, then let it settle over hot water at around 75-80 °C so the dirt sinks. Two clear limits: pressed slumgum still keeps some wax, and the unit melts and cleans but does not sterilise. Wax from colonies lost to American foulbrood is not recycled this way.

05 · BEFORE YOU BUY

It comes with the perforated basket, the lid with its screw and the gas burner.