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is more than the saving in time and fuel. I doubt it. I have high regard for the solar extractor.
Unfortunately it can only be used in summer.
Melting in an oven
This method is also economical, but it often happens that the wax burns, acquires a brown colour
and an unpleasant smell.
In any case, here is how to proceed with melting this way. The combs are broken into small pieces
and placed in a metal mesh strainer or in an ordinary colander. Underneath is placed a receptacle of
appropriate size containing water to a depth of four or five centimetres. All are placed in a bread oven
after the bread has been removed or in the oven of a kitchen cooker. When the wax has melted, it is
left to cool very slowly and without disturbing the receptacle containing the wax.
Melting with hot water
Melting this way is quicker and gives a good product. It suits all types of wax and any amount.
Three days before melting, the combs are broken into small pieces and immersed in water. After
these three days the melting is carried out as follows.
The procedure can be carried out on a kitchen cooker, but precautions should be taken to ensure
that no wax falls on the cooker as it is very inflammable.
A bowl is placed on the cooler part of the cooker containing four or five centimetres of water on
top of which is placed a mesh sieve or an ordinary colander.
Preparations are made for a plentiful supply of boiling water in a boiler or otherwise.
Then a sufficiently large receptacle is taken, a washtub for example, and filled with water to one-
third full. This water is brought to the boil. The crude wax that has been soaking in advance is tipped
into this water. This tub is filled to no more than two-thirds so that if the water boils, the wax does not
spill on the cooker. Furthermore, such boiling should be avoided so as to keep the wax at its best. It is
useful to have cold water to hand to pour into the tub, in case one is caught by it boiling.
The wax once tipped into the tub is stirred until it has completely melted. Then it is immediately
removed with a large spoon to put it in the colander or sieve prepared on one side. Boiling water is
poured into it until no more wax comes out.
The residue left in the colander or sieve is discarded and the procedure repeated.
When this is finished, or the bowl containing the wax is full, the bowl is placed in as warm a place
as possible. In any case, it is surrounded by insulation, sawdust, etc. so as to slow its cooling. The
remaining impurities sink to the bottom. The slower the cooling, the cleaner the wax.
Alternative method
Put all wax debris in a strong cloth (old sack). Tie it firmly to form a kind of ball. Take your
household washtub, cover the bottom with some twigs to stop the ball contacting the bottom of the
tub. Put the ball in the tub and fill with water so that the ball is covered to a depth of 10 centimetres. A
stone or a weight will keep the wax under water. When the water is sufficiently hot, the wax rises to
the surface of the water. Squeeze the ball from time to time with a stick. When no more wax comes
out of the ball, remove the tub from the heat and allow it to cool slowly.