Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
it, while placing another collection pan in the extractor. You then invert the cooled pan
and a block of wax will fall out of it.
If this wax has been made from old black comb, it will be a darkish-brown colour (but
nowhere near as black as the comb). If it came from cappings after the harvest, it will
be clean and white (and so more valuable). These blocks of beeswax can then be stored
until sold or employed to make new foundation using a hand foundation-maker that is
available from most bee-supply companies.
Fig. 35.
A solar extractor
The only disadvantage of solar extractors is that, if they are used to render old wax comb
that is full of cocoons, they will not extract all the wax from the cocoons. The remaining
slum gum can, however, be steam rendered (see below) to extract the maximum amount
of wax or, perhaps more practically for the hobbyist, it can be used as firelighters.
Steam extractors
A steam extractor will become a necessity if you build up your hives into a commercial
operation of around 100 hives. Figure 36 explains the procedure. I use a portable gas
ring below the extractor and a cylinder of butane to power it because I have access to
solar power only, but an electric element could also be used if you have a mains supply.
