How to Build a Solar Heater to Melt Beeswax

If you keep bees and harvest honey, you will wind up with a lot of wax left over, as the bees secrete the wax in the construction of honeycombs. Beeswax has many practical uses, including making candles and bath and body care items. To make your beeswax useful, you will need to melt and strain it to remove any debris and dirt. A simple way is to use everyday items to make a solar heater in the backyard.

Large wooden box or ice chest
Black spray paint
Glass baking dish
Water
Cheesecloth
Beeswax
Glass sheet
Duct tape

Instructions

- 1
  Purchase or locate a large container that is able to withstand high heat. Build or use an existing wooden box or crate, or use a styrofoam ice chest from the grocery store.
- 2
  Coat the inside of your container with black spray paint. This will add to its heat conducting properties and assist in melting the wax.
- 3
  Place a glass container inside your heater box. The container should fit easily inside the box; a glass baking dish works well for this purpose. Fill the bottom of the glass container with approximately 2 inches of water.
- 4
  Cover the entire top of the glass baking dish with cheesecloth. Wrap the cheesecloth around the sides and bottom of the container and use the weight of the container to hold the cheesecloth in place.
- 5
  Place a block of beeswax on top of the glass container in the center of the cheesecloth.
- 6
  Cover the outer heating box with a sheet of glass. If you purchase cut glass, use duct tape to cover up the edges so you do not cut yourself. The sheet needs to be large enough to completely cover the top of the container, with a little extra glass projecting over the edges.
- 7
  Allow the beeswax to melt in the heat of the sun. Remove the wax from the glass container once it has fully melted and strained.

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