My Thorne 25 Gallon Tank is made in Wisconsin (USA) thornemfg.com/ This is the 1st Prototype model. The Thorne's that are sold have immaculate welding and shaping. Big thanks to David Davenport with goodjobbees.com/ for helping with the screen design. Check out his Rare White Hawaiian Honey! Thanks to Ian Steppler for his tips and his inspirational videos on wax processing. Kamon Reynolds did not receive any pay, free/discounted product, or incentives for his honest review and the above comments.
Had Maxant make me one like that out of a 16 bottling tank. Does this one fit a five gallon bucket. My modified one will decrystallize honey with some water in the tank. I all so make surup in mine. Just some thoughts. See you in a few days.
Kamon, your instructional videos are becoming the industry standard. Your excellent presentation, practical application and lack of nonsense / hype is refreshing! Thank you for your help to the industry!!
Thanks Mr .Vanderpool. I really don't deserve that much praise. Just doing my best to serve our great industry of beekeeping, and much of what I know has been past down and shared from one beekeeper to the next. I am just continuing that tradition. I plan on doing a video on your queen introduction advice if you are cool with that. Hope to do that soon. No monkey motions queen intros haha!
I just rendered down the most wax I ever had. Once I was done I only had a 2 inch disc about 10 inches across. I can't imagine how much comb you melted to get those bricks!! I can imagine Laural's face when you said "get out of the way Women!" 🤣 Happy Mother's Day Laural! God bless
American small business manufacturing (Wausau Wisconsin), brilliant! This is what happens when a good company listens to the customers. I see Thorne is looking into extractors too.
I like your effort towards helping beekeepers become successful. I wish I had a source of information readily available like your channel when I just started out. A health beekeeper makes for a healthy industry, Champion agriculture
@@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog Thanks for that Ian. I feel the same and was glad when I came across yours. Now I got to try some of that Canadian Rocket Fuel for bees
I know! I couldn't believe how much was in the slum gum either! When I filter the wax the rest of the way I will show that too. The filters I am going to try are a 50 micron sock filter
FlowerStreet... Here in Scotland 🏴 a few Beeks, go to Paint Stores, and buy several "Bucket Paint Sieves." aka Large Mesh Bags, with Draw String Tops. Tip:. Do a 1st Pour in Bag "1". Keep "1" for this purpose only. Then, another, Bag "2" for 2nd Pour. And, if needed, Bag "3", with, a "old pillowcase" inside it... Never to be on your Bed ever again ! 🤭 Label each Bag, for same use, then nano particles get taken out, effectively and, completely. ✔ 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 Happy Beekeeping 2022. 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
K&L, great video and looks like a great product! I took the slum, dark water and put it in my wife’s flower bed without telling her and the flowers are fine and looks great. There has to be something beneficial left in that to return back to Mother Earth instead of putting it in the garbage can. You definitely have some good looking wax.
I never see beekeepers using the comb twice to extract or "reclaim" all that extra wax. I'm an armchair quarterback with zero beekeeping experience, but man it is so nice that you actually ran that comb and essentially "junk" material twice. I haven't finished the video yet, but I imagine there's gotta be a decent amount left that you managed to get on the second extraction.
That's a great piece of equipment, I'm still using the crock pot method , lol but hope to grow enough to purchase something of a bigger scale, Thanks Kamon great video.
Hello Kamon I just found your video on your new wax melter . What a great add to your Bee equipment. I have a idea that I think would help on the cleaning up part of it . The screen that goes down in it if you could talk to them about making another one like that one but does not have the legs on this one so it will lay right down flat on the very bottom. It does not have to have the holes in it or it could have the holes in it but after you drain all the water out an it drys out then you could just lift it out an it would lift out all the dry trash so you would not have to lean over an dip out all that trash . It could be put in at the very beginning before you start but have it made so your screen could still fit on top like you used it . Just a thought. As always thanks for all your great information you share with us all. THANKS
Nice melter. With my shoulders getting worn down and the boxes of honey getting to be too much, I may see if there's a market for processing wax for hobby beekeepers. I keep half the wax for payment and give the other half to the beekeeper. Next is to find the price to one of these things and look into it.
Playing catch up here, but if you started with a course screen in the floor before loading the wax, you could then add the scum press on top to salvage the wax from the scum. Then just drain the water, pull upper screen with the salvaged wax cake, and then lift out most of the scum as a solid brick with the lower screen. Less scooping and scraping to save cleaning time.
So I think this could be much better with a few tweaks. Think French press coffee maker. Add some smaller mesh and press it down after the wax is melted.
The hotter the wax when poring, the better the separation will be. The impurities have more time to sink to the very bottom before the wax can solidify on the bottom. I aid that problem with a thick carboard sheet under the forms as well. Edit: also cover the forms up with a big cardboard sheet.
Nice setup there Kamon! I'm still doing mine old school on a propane burner in a 6 gallon stainless pot. I need to drill some holes in the pot and add some ball valves similiar to your setup. That's very nice! (I'm not ready to ruin my 18 gallon brewing pot for rendering wax just yet😀) Appreciate you taking the time to share this with us.
I just subscribed 😍 I would love to see the process where you refine the wax from the blocks of beeswax with bits of debris to really pristine wax used for candles. Just beautiful ! 🌸🐝🌸
Thanks for subbing K M! I definitely will! I am in the process of melting more cappings down into blocks but when I am finished we will film the final refinement!
ever thought of putting heating wire that is temperature controlled at the gate valve? It would keep the wax from solidifying and allow you to pour at any speed or stop and go.
A second screen that would sit on the bottom throughout the process until you remove the slum would make the clean out a lot easier! Just lift it out to pull the slum up and out making clean up quick? Just my 2 cents
Thank you for sharing your expertise with us. That is still labor-intensive and is time consuming. With Pluto in Aquarius over the next 20 years we will witness the birth and death of technological advancements. Beekeeping processes and procedures will be one of many!
After seeing that screen towards the end I can help but think it would be easier once the wax is liquid to drop a multi stage filter in and let it filter out the fine particles as it sinks below the spigot level. I was thinking something with a soft V seal around the edges to make sure nothing slips past. Let gravity do the filtering work as the weight of the filter sinks in.
Agreed !! He has a great sense of humor ! 😁😄 I love his channel. Beekeepers/farmers usually have an amazing spirit, always willing to learn and share what they've learned to help us 💪🏾💪🏾💯
I was waiting for the video to cut off right before the blood shed after your comment. Lol Looks like a great idea that works! Could you put it in the vat before melting the wax and then lift it up, getting the majority of it out, before draining the wax?
Kamon, thanks for the great video again! I love your philosophy on buying good equipment. Buy once, cry once. In my line of work I have learned the same thing. If we decide to go aluminum or carbon steel over stainless we end up paying twice and getting the stainless anyway. In this day and age we have to support American made products as much as possible. Anyway keep up the great work. Hopefully I will be able to attend the conference this year it sounded like a blast!
Yessir. I have learned thru my business cheap costs and time is money. Hopefully I will see you there! We will have just about everything a beekeeper would like to see there! That's the plan anyways!
Hi Kamon, Thank you for contribution to provide the youtube videos. I have certainly picked up ideas from your beekeeping. I have a question on what do you do with the plastic brood frames, how do you recycle them e.g. clean them up for re-use, Would love to learn what you do as I am very conscious on environment and would like find best way to re-use the frames.
Hey Paras, we scrape them down to the plastic and then power wash the foundations off. Once dry we coat with wax and reuse. If we break one they are always placed in the plastic recycling bin at the rubbish station.
@@kamonreynolds Was watching again, it's like the GREAT Mike Rowe says, "Safety Second." :-) Put all that nasty black gold water on your shrubs and trees or compost pile. Yep just like when ya was in Hawaii :-) minus the Hawaii part.
Could you change the water keeping the wax molton? Like Drain the bottom then add hot water . Seems like a waste to let it cool and remelt. It would be like water washing "herbal" infused butter.
Thanks Walter I love it too. It's definitely smaller than Ian's. He does runs 5 times the bees I do though! Hopefully Ian's season will take a turn for the better. By the way Thorne told me they will make them bigger on custom orders.
@@kamonreynolds Thanks for the good word. Yes I hope Ian recovers from the terrible weather and flood. I may be in the market for a wax melter of that size as well. Very happy you featured it. I have a friend who is pushing me to go commercial with my bees.
Hey! hopefully you see this comment- I'm making beeswax candles and scaling up, and I keep running into an issue I'm sure there is a simple solution for: what do you use to pour the giant slabs into? I don't want many pounds of wax solidifying in my melter as it takes aaaages to melt,. Thanks! :)
With all of that wax. I'm curious. How many colonies do you manage/have and how long a period was that wax collect over? And with the slum? Can you sell that to gardeners and the like as high mineral fertilizer or something possibly?
Hi, thank you for the interesting Video. I am already planning such a screen for my own system. So far i have been skimming the floating parts with a sieve and extracted the wax with a press. But your efficiency looks great. I am trying to understand why you did not insert the screen before the first wax draining? Like right after all the wax melted and pushed the dirt down with it? Greetings from Germany, Harry
Kamon, do you have a link to Thorne? I found the UK site but not this wax melter. I have a Maxine with the double valves, but it is not water jacketed. I've been tying my wax capping and scrapings in paint strainers to make the processing easier, but that doesn't scale well!
1st time I came across your videos. Great going most innovative and informative. Enjoy the way you explain and describe the process and lastly great piece of equipment. Though not available in India and prohibitive to import because of size and custom duties and taxes. Will sure try to fabricate locally.
@@kamonreynolds 😯 is it difficult to care for so many bees? I'm looking to start a beeswax candle business here in the north of italy. Do you think it would be possible?🌟
I find this whole apiary process fascinating, although I don't like bees! 😃I wonder why you wouldn't install the screen insert that you used to reclaim the wax from the "dreggs" (sorry, haven't picked up the terminology yet) to render "all" of the wax out at the first tapping. It seems like it could save some time. Something I'm missing, I'm sure. Thanks for the video!
Thanks for watching Curt! I will have to give that a try. This is newer technology in beekeeping and fresh ideas are always welcome! We need more innovation and it never hurts to try to learn new things!
ECP... Not for Food use*! A Charity Shop (Op Shop, Yard Sale) : Crock Pot*, with : Your Wax, and added Water. Heat up... the Wax floats up, and the Slumgum sinks. When Wax Disc is Hard, get an Ex Kitchen Spoon, and scrape the under matter on disc, off, and remelt it with next batch. You can also Pour Wax this Hot (liquid Wax) through an eg old T-shirt, or Pillowcase... all particles are removed, as it filters through the Fabric ! Best done not in the Kitchen.... or add lots of Parchmont Paper on your Counter Top, re any wax splashes etc ! 😖 Or, are you in a Sunny Place ? (Collect your Wax through the previous Year. And .... " Make a DIY Solar Wax Melter" : Metal / Heat attracting Box : A Black/Dark surface : 🌞 Attracts the Sun's Ray's, Nicely. 🌞 Win, win, and it's Free ! (Ex - Cooler Box, Painted Black.) A super large Foil Roasting Tray etc.. And a large piece of Glass (Small Window Frame, a Picture Frame, etc...) Something to hold the all that Sun's Heat in..... ! 👀 All Tilted towards the Sun's Ray's, over 20C 70F should melt your Wax nicely. TIP : Add a Board, Black Plastic / Metal Channel, and Tilt it, ..... to allow the Wax to melt and Trickle towards an internal Collection Tub..... ✔ Add Kitchen Paper, to allow Wax to Filter out as it Drips, through the kitchen paper into the collection tub, Get nice and clean Pure Bees Wax. Simples. 😎 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝 Happy Beekeeping 2022. 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
I really appreciate the informative videos. I have purchased items based on what I am seeing. I plan to purchase the Thorne wax melter. With the investment, I need to establish a market for the wax. Can you provide any sources? Thank you from VA.
Not really anything over a Finlay. These are smaller and more affordable for guys who don't produce semi loads of honey like Ian! This is way better than anything I can get here in the US. Definitely better than Mann lake, Maxant, Dadant, etc
@@kamonreynolds how much is this melter, obviously more affordable than a commercial melter, but are we looking at like 2 grand or 4 grand? Can you give a ballpark price?
The scientific term for that dark particulate on the bottom of the was, Kamon, is ‘SHMUTZ’….in case you need to write a white paper about the process someday…(at least that’s what my grandmother said). ‘Kamon’: “That’s why you wear pants!” Me: ‘oh…..I think there’s other reasons too’
Hi Kamon, I purchased some beeswax but it turns out it has something fermented in it. I cannot return it. Have you had any experience with this before? Do you know if there is a way to get rid of the smell? maybe by melting it for a few hours or something?
Hi, Kamon. Can the slum be composted or does it still have too much sugar? I remember your Hawaiian friend said pigs liked to eat it but I don't plan on having any of those.
Hi Ryan this is the first one of it's kind made by thornemfg.com My model was the first made and is 24.5 gallons. However, the new models are slightly over 25 gallons and are way more refined than my model. This wax melter is the bees knees and I love it. I reclaim 12+ lbs of wax per 2 loads with the screen.
I am considering getting the 8 gallon model. We use beeswax in one of our products and we want to bring the cost per pound down. I was wondering, would it make sense to get one if we provided a refining service for hobby farmers? Would like to get your thoughts on it if you are willing to share them. Let me know if there is a way I could get in contact with you
@@ryanpruneau4937 It does! However, it will change the ratio of wax you glean per fill since there is more slum in brood combs. Buddy of mine runs 3000 for pollination and loves the 2 he has.
Hey Gaylon! This Missouri made Watlow is awesome. I have some Watlow immersion heaters on other equipment from the 80's still strong and accurate. Keeps temp great and made to last. It has a dial on it and if I set it to 170f or whatever it is within a couple degrees. This model plugs into a 110 outlet
My Thorne 25 Gallon Tank is made in Wisconsin (USA) thornemfg.com/
This is the 1st Prototype model. The Thorne's that are sold have immaculate welding and shaping.
Big thanks to David Davenport with goodjobbees.com/ for helping with the screen design. Check out his Rare White Hawaiian Honey!
Thanks to Ian Steppler for his tips and his inspirational videos on wax processing.
Kamon Reynolds did not receive any pay, free/discounted product, or incentives for his honest review and the above comments.
Thanks for sharing this great video. I've been saving my burr comb for a few years waiting for an efficient way to render. This looks great!
It's official I'm going to the hive Life conference. I'll see you there. Put away money already for event and for boxes I want to buy. Can't wait
@@bomchickawahwaaaaah they have a little model now. Same design just smaller
@@kamonreynolds thanks Kamon. I appreciate your advice. Cheers, Mufti
Had Maxant make me one like that out of a 16 bottling tank. Does this one fit a five gallon bucket. My modified one will decrystallize honey with some water in the tank. I all so make surup in mine. Just some thoughts. See you in a few days.
That screen for extracting the last of the wax from the slum gum is pure genius 👏
Kamon, your instructional videos are becoming the industry standard.
Your excellent presentation, practical application and lack of nonsense / hype is refreshing!
Thank you for your help to the industry!!
Thanks Mr .Vanderpool. I really don't deserve that much praise. Just doing my best to serve our great industry of beekeeping, and much of what I know has been past down and shared from one beekeeper to the next. I am just continuing that tradition. I plan on doing a video on your queen introduction advice if you are cool with that. Hope to do that soon. No monkey motions queen intros haha!
I just rendered down the most wax I ever had. Once I was done I only had a 2 inch disc about 10 inches across. I can't imagine how much comb you melted to get those bricks!! I can imagine Laural's face when you said "get out of the way Women!" 🤣 Happy Mother's Day Laural! God bless
Yeah was like walking into a lions den!
No camera on earth can capture the lovely smell in that shed...🐝
You said it!
American small business manufacturing (Wausau Wisconsin), brilliant! This is what happens when a good company listens to the customers.
I see Thorne is looking into extractors too.
Nice to have option to press out that slum, good reclaim of the wax
Hey thanks Ian your videos inspired this!
I like your effort towards helping beekeepers become successful. I wish I had a source of information readily available like your channel when I just started out. A health beekeeper makes for a healthy industry,
Champion agriculture
@@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog Thanks for that Ian. I feel the same and was glad when I came across yours. Now I got to try some of that Canadian Rocket Fuel for bees
Sweet!
See Thorne Mfg. and 60+ other vendors at the Hive Life Conference Jan. 6th and 7th 2023 in Sevierville TN
My compost pile sure does love that slum.
Couldn't believe the wax that came out of the slum! What kind of screen do you use for the final filtration process?
I know! I couldn't believe how much was in the slum gum either! When I filter the wax the rest of the way I will show that too. The filters I am going to try are a 50 micron sock filter
FlowerStreet...
Here in Scotland 🏴 a few Beeks, go to Paint Stores, and buy several "Bucket Paint Sieves." aka Large Mesh Bags, with Draw String Tops.
Tip:.
Do a 1st Pour in Bag "1".
Keep "1" for this purpose only.
Then, another, Bag "2" for 2nd Pour.
And, if needed, Bag "3", with, a "old pillowcase" inside it... Never to be on your Bed ever again ! 🤭
Label each Bag, for same use, then nano particles get taken out, effectively and, completely. ✔
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
Happy Beekeeping 2022.
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
Fascinating...
I thought you were holding a giant cookie on your thumbnail
Did I miss the part where you explain how much water to put in when you start? Thanks for bringing Thorne to the public's attention!
Yes you fill it to right above the second valve!
You with all that wax, I get excited with just a few pounds. Looks like a win on the melter. Good video.
Thanks Steve! I remember back when 2-3 pounds of wax was a big deal to me too!
Good equipment that functions well makes jobs so much easier 😃
K&L, great video and looks like a great product! I took the slum, dark water and put it in my wife’s flower bed without telling her and the flowers are fine and looks great. There has to be something beneficial left in that to return back to Mother Earth instead of putting it in the garbage can. You definitely have some good looking wax.
I never see beekeepers using the comb twice to extract or "reclaim" all that extra wax. I'm an armchair quarterback with zero beekeeping experience, but man it is so nice that you actually ran that comb and essentially "junk" material twice. I haven't finished the video yet, but I imagine there's gotta be a decent amount left that you managed to get on the second extraction.
this is one of the coolest things ive ever seen. i'm shocked that it doesn't have at least 30million views!
Ian Steppler's Finlay wax melter uses a screen as well, lets you reclaim a LOT of wax from the slumgim
Oh yeah his videos inspired this
That's a great piece of equipment, I'm still using the crock pot method , lol but hope to grow enough to purchase something of a bigger scale, Thanks Kamon great video.
Thanks Kajun! We started off using the crock pot method also!
Hello Kamon I just found your video on your new wax melter . What a great add to your Bee equipment. I have a idea that I think would help on the cleaning up part of it . The screen that goes down in it if you could talk to them about making another one like that one but does not have the legs on this one so it will lay right down flat on the very bottom. It does not have to have the holes in it or it could have the holes in it but after you drain all the water out an it drys out then you could just lift it out an it would lift out all the dry trash so you would not have to lean over an dip out all that trash . It could be put in at the very beginning before you start but have it made so your screen could still fit on top like you used it . Just a thought. As always thanks for all your great information you share with us all. THANKS
Nice melter.
With my shoulders getting worn down and the boxes of honey getting to be too much, I may see if there's a market for processing wax for hobby beekeepers. I keep half the wax for payment and give the other half to the beekeeper.
Next is to find the price to one of these things and look into it.
That is one slick wax melter....
Wonderful video Kamon & Laurel! Love that beeswax!
Playing catch up here, but if you started with a course screen in the floor before loading the wax, you could then add the scum press on top to salvage the wax from the scum. Then just drain the water, pull upper screen with the salvaged wax cake, and then lift out most of the scum as a solid brick with the lower screen. Less scooping and scraping to save cleaning time.
So I think this could be much better with a few tweaks. Think French press coffee maker. Add some smaller mesh and press it down after the wax is melted.
That is a very slick unit. Love that screen setup also Kamon👍🤙
The hotter the wax when poring, the better the separation will be. The impurities have more time to sink to the very bottom before the wax can solidify on the bottom. I aid that problem with a thick carboard sheet under the forms as well.
Edit: also cover the forms up with a big cardboard sheet.
Nice setup there Kamon! I'm still doing mine old school on a propane burner in a 6 gallon stainless pot. I need to drill some holes in the pot and add some ball valves similiar to your setup. That's very nice! (I'm not ready to ruin my 18 gallon brewing pot for rendering wax just yet😀) Appreciate you taking the time to share this with us.
Thanks Texas beekeeper!
I just subscribed 😍 I would love to see the process where you refine the wax from the blocks of beeswax with bits of debris to really pristine wax used for candles. Just beautiful ! 🌸🐝🌸
Thanks for subbing K M! I definitely will! I am in the process of melting more cappings down into blocks but when I am finished we will film the final refinement!
Wow. That thing is amazing. I will never have that much wax but that is cool!
ever thought of putting heating wire that is temperature controlled at the gate valve? It would keep the wax from solidifying and allow you to pour at any speed or stop and go.
Thank you
You could make compost tea afterwards with the dirty honey water used in this process.
A second screen that would sit on the bottom throughout the process until you remove the slum would make the clean out a lot easier! Just lift it out to pull the slum up and out making clean up quick? Just my 2 cents
That is an interesting thought!
I think I found my new interest
Thank you for sharing your expertise with us. That is still labor-intensive and is time consuming. With Pluto in Aquarius over the next 20 years we will witness the birth and death of technological advancements. Beekeeping processes and procedures will be one of many!
Love it! Great video!! Definitely something to purchase. Thank youuu Exceeding Abundant Blessings to both of you.
Thanks! They are coming out with a smaller model too!
Looks great. Please show the clean up. May buy one for a melter/bottle tank but just want to see clean up process.
Like pulling out the slum? Or cleaning the whole tank for honey bottling?
Cleaning for bottling
@@burleybeeyard I will do one but it may be a bit before I finish rendering wax. Plan to do one though
After seeing that screen towards the end I can help but think it would be easier once the wax is liquid to drop a multi stage filter in and let it filter out the fine particles as it sinks below the spigot level. I was thinking something with a soft V seal around the edges to make sure nothing slips past. Let gravity do the filtering work as the weight of the filter sinks in.
Interesting idea! Wish I had the time and skill to try it out! Thanks for watching Timmy
Great product! I can’t wait to see what Thorn is bringing to next Hive Life Conference.
Hey Jeremy! Yeah it sounds like it could be not only extractors and wax melting tanks, but also uncapping tanks, clarifiers/sumps and more
@@kamonreynolds That’s awesome! I will be looking to buy a bottling tank and the next conference.
You are very refreshing and knowledgeable. I love watching you and think your wife. She must be a good gal
How come no one is mentioning how funny Kamon is in this video? I'm dying laughing at all these little jokes sprinkled throughout LOL
Agreed !! He has a great sense of humor ! 😁😄 I love his channel. Beekeepers/farmers usually have an amazing spirit, always willing to learn and share what they've learned to help us 💪🏾💪🏾💯
Wow i ise bees wax to style my hair for years 🙏🏾💚😊
I was waiting for the video to cut off right before the blood shed after your comment. Lol
Looks like a great idea that works! Could you put it in the vat before melting the wax and then lift it up, getting the majority of it out, before draining the wax?
Possibly Scott I will look into that. Yes! I lived life a little too close to the edge with that comment
Kamon, thanks for the great video again! I love your philosophy on buying good equipment. Buy once, cry once. In my line of work I have learned the same thing. If we decide to go aluminum or carbon steel over stainless we end up paying twice and getting the stainless anyway. In this day and age we have to support American made products as much as possible. Anyway keep up the great work. Hopefully I will be able to attend the conference this year it sounded like a blast!
Yessir. I have learned thru my business cheap costs and time is money. Hopefully I will see you there! We will have just about everything a beekeeper would like to see there! That's the plan anyways!
Did you ever do the follow up video on the second filtering of the the wax you processed in this video?
Nice!
Hi Kamon, Thank you for contribution to provide the youtube videos. I have certainly picked up ideas from your beekeeping. I have a question on what do you do with the plastic brood frames, how do you recycle them e.g. clean them up for re-use, Would love to learn what you do as I am very conscious on environment and would like find best way to re-use the frames.
Hey Paras, we scrape them down to the plastic and then power wash the foundations off. Once dry we coat with wax and reuse. If we break one they are always placed in the plastic recycling bin at the rubbish station.
Il a l'air bien délicieux ce miel 👍
Some day, Ty for sharing.
Thanks for watch DC
@@kamonreynolds Was watching again, it's like the GREAT Mike Rowe says, "Safety Second." :-) Put all that nasty black gold water on your shrubs and trees or compost pile. Yep just like when ya was in Hawaii :-) minus the Hawaii part.
How many gallons of water does it take to fill the water jacket?
Could you change the water keeping the wax molton? Like Drain the bottom then add hot water . Seems like a waste to let it cool and remelt. It would be like water washing "herbal" infused butter.
I love this product. It looks smaller than the one Ian S. has though.
Thanks Walter I love it too. It's definitely smaller than Ian's. He does runs 5 times the bees I do though! Hopefully Ian's season will take a turn for the better.
By the way Thorne told me they will make them bigger on custom orders.
@@kamonreynolds Thanks for the good word. Yes I hope Ian recovers from the terrible weather and flood. I may be in the market for a wax melter of that size as well. Very happy you featured it. I have a friend who is pushing me to go commercial with my bees.
Hey! hopefully you see this comment- I'm making beeswax candles and scaling up, and I keep running into an issue I'm sure there is a simple solution for: what do you use to pour the giant slabs into? I don't want many pounds of wax solidifying in my melter as it takes aaaages to melt,. Thanks! :)
With all of that wax. I'm curious. How many colonies do you manage/have and how long a period was that wax collect over? And with the slum? Can you sell that to gardeners and the like as high mineral fertilizer or something possibly?
300+ I don't know if you can sell the slum but I use it for my peppers and tomatoes! They like it!
Love your videos.
Hi,
thank you for the interesting Video. I am already planning such a screen for my own system. So far i have been skimming the floating parts with a sieve and extracted the wax with a press. But your efficiency looks great.
I am trying to understand why you did not insert the screen before the first wax draining? Like right after all the wax melted and pushed the dirt down with it?
Greetings from Germany,
Harry
How long does it take the bees to produce that much wax?
I wish I processed enough wax to make an investment like that worth it... Maybe one day.
Nice
Kamon, do you have a link to Thorne? I found the UK site but not this wax melter. I have a Maxine with the double valves, but it is not water jacketed. I've been tying my wax capping and scrapings in paint strainers to make the processing easier, but that doesn't scale well!
Hey Edward hope you are doing well! Here is Thorne's website. thornemfg.com/
P.S. the double jacket is a nice feature. It holds Temp extremely good
@@kamonreynolds Awesome, thanks!
can smaller holes in the screen make a better reclaimed wax? or do you need them to be big for it to pass well?
Hey Juvenal this would make for a great experiment. I don't really know what is best but this works pretty good!
1st time I came across your videos. Great going most innovative and informative. Enjoy the way you explain and describe the process and lastly great piece of equipment. Though not available in India and prohibitive to import because of size and custom duties and taxes. Will sure try to fabricate locally.
how many hives do you have to obtain so much beeswax?
200-300
@@kamonreynolds 😯 is it difficult to care for so many bees? I'm looking to start a beeswax candle business here in the north of italy. Do you think it would be possible?🌟
What use is the slum? Is it useful at all?
Not that I know of. Since the wax is out of it and it is crumbly like earth, I will put it in my garden and see what happen!
Don't some people use it as a fire starter? For smokers and regular fires?
@@thezfunk I think it has to have the wax left in it for that to work well if I am not mistaken.
Is the Thorne screen built the same as David’s? 1/4” holes on 3/8” center?
I am pretty sure it is but he would be the one to ask!
Looks like good equipment, I like the screen.
Now I’m thinking I’m losing 8 pounds of wax in my slum 🤦♂️
Yeah I couldn't believe there was that much wax in the slum!
I find this whole apiary process fascinating, although I don't like bees! 😃I wonder why you wouldn't install the screen insert that you used to reclaim the wax from the "dreggs" (sorry, haven't picked up the terminology yet) to render "all" of the wax out at the first tapping. It seems like it could save some time. Something I'm missing, I'm sure. Thanks for the video!
Thanks for watching Curt! I will have to give that a try. This is newer technology in beekeeping and fresh ideas are always welcome! We need more innovation and it never hurts to try to learn new things!
Will they be at the HLC?
They are planning to be there with extractors, uncapping tanks, bottling tanks and clarifiers!
Great Video.... is there a wax melter for a much smaller operation? Mini Wax Melter?
ECP... Not for Food use*!
A Charity Shop (Op Shop, Yard Sale) : Crock Pot*, with : Your Wax, and added Water. Heat up... the Wax floats up, and the Slumgum sinks.
When Wax Disc is Hard, get an Ex Kitchen Spoon, and scrape the under matter on disc, off, and remelt it with next batch.
You can also Pour Wax this Hot (liquid Wax) through an eg old T-shirt, or Pillowcase... all particles are removed, as it filters through the Fabric ! Best done not in the Kitchen.... or add lots of Parchmont Paper on your Counter Top, re any wax splashes etc ! 😖
Or, are you in a Sunny Place ? (Collect your Wax through the previous Year. And ....
" Make a DIY Solar Wax Melter" : Metal / Heat attracting Box :
A Black/Dark surface :
🌞 Attracts the Sun's Ray's, Nicely. 🌞
Win, win, and it's Free !
(Ex - Cooler Box, Painted Black.) A super large Foil Roasting Tray etc.. And a large piece of Glass (Small Window Frame, a Picture Frame, etc...) Something to hold the all that Sun's Heat in..... ! 👀
All Tilted towards the Sun's Ray's, over 20C 70F should melt your Wax nicely. TIP : Add a Board, Black Plastic / Metal Channel, and Tilt it,
..... to allow the Wax to melt and Trickle towards an internal Collection Tub..... ✔
Add Kitchen Paper, to allow Wax to Filter out as it Drips, through the kitchen paper into the collection tub, Get nice and clean Pure Bees Wax.
Simples. 😎
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
Happy Beekeeping 2022.
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
@@ME_MeAndMyBees Thanks aware of all that just wondering if there was a smaller less expensive version of the one he has...
a lower screen at the bottom would be nice to pull out the majority of the slum left over.
Very nice video! Ive been looking for beeswax. Lolol
Do they sell a smaller version for the small backyard beekeeper?
They don't right now maybe one day!
I would like to purchase some wax to put on my foundations. Is there a link for that?
I don't have a link for beeswax and am not selling mine at the moment sorry
Have you tried extracting the honey first like it does Ian Steppler?
Could you make mead out of that water or would the slum make it unpalatable?
Can the honey water be used as basis for bee feed?
If you rinse the excess sugar out of the slum I bet that stuff makes good compost too!🤔😁✌️
I really appreciate the informative videos. I have purchased items based on what I am seeing. I plan to purchase the Thorne wax melter. With the investment, I need to establish a market for the wax. Can you provide any sources? Thank you from VA.
Hey Kamon watch those fingers! Lol
Right!
Hey Kamon, what's the difference/innovation between that and a Finlay like Ian is using?
Not really anything over a Finlay. These are smaller and more affordable for guys who don't produce semi loads of honey like Ian!
This is way better than anything I can get here in the US. Definitely better than Mann lake, Maxant, Dadant, etc
@@kamonreynolds how much is this melter, obviously more affordable than a commercial melter, but are we looking at like 2 grand or 4 grand? Can you give a ballpark price?
@@shaunsturby997 Hi Shaun. thornemfg.com/shop/ With the screen they are $1950
Getting a bit of a bicep on Yu there mate!!
How do you clean out the scumgum from the bottom? Just best as you can do by hand and move on?
A garden scoop or a concrete spade works pretty good
The scientific term for that dark particulate on the bottom of the was, Kamon, is ‘SHMUTZ’….in case you need to write a white paper about the process someday…(at least that’s what my grandmother said). ‘Kamon’: “That’s why you wear pants!” Me: ‘oh…..I think there’s other reasons too’
वाह क्या बात है सर जी 🙏👍
Hi Kamon, I purchased some beeswax but it turns out it has something fermented in it. I cannot return it. Have you had any experience with this before? Do you know if there is a way to get rid of the smell? maybe by melting it for a few hours or something?
man i need one of these.....that screen you are holding while wax is going into mold....do you have a link Kamon? thanks!!
Yes I do amzn.to/3wfg2eu
However, you may be able to find them cheaper at a discount store
Is that a Grease splatter screen that you were first using? Thanks good health and God bless 👍
Hey Houston! Yeah just a cheap grease splatter screen!
@@kamonreynolds Thanks great idea 👍 Happy mother's day. God bless
Those arms sir 🔥
A short nipple about 2" long will stop most of the splashing.
So where does one buy this melter with screen? California dealer?
Hi, Kamon. Can the slum be composted or does it still have too much sugar? I remember your Hawaiian friend said pigs liked to eat it but I don't plan on having any of those.
Hey Christopher, I had no problems throwing mine in the compost and then later in the garden!
This seems like a great piece of equipment. Is this 25 gallon? I am really liking the screen / strainer
Hi Ryan this is the first one of it's kind made by thornemfg.com My model was the first made and is 24.5 gallons. However, the new models are slightly over 25 gallons and are way more refined than my model. This wax melter is the bees knees and I love it. I reclaim 12+ lbs of wax per 2 loads with the screen.
I am considering getting the 8 gallon model. We use beeswax in one of our products and we want to bring the cost per pound down. I was wondering, would it make sense to get one if we provided a refining service for hobby farmers? Would like to get your thoughts on it if you are willing to share them. Let me know if there is a way I could get in contact with you
@@kamonreynolds I am assuming this works good on brood comb as well
@@ryanpruneau4937 It does! However, it will change the ratio of wax you glean per fill since there is more slum in brood combs. Buddy of mine runs 3000 for pollination and loves the 2 he has.
How does the heating element work?
Hey Gaylon! This Missouri made Watlow is awesome. I have some Watlow immersion heaters on other equipment from the 80's still strong and accurate. Keeps temp great and made to last. It has a dial on it and if I set it to 170f or whatever it is within a couple degrees.
This model plugs into a 110 outlet
Thanks, thinking I might just make one for myself. Seems simple enough 😁
This look like a brew kettle for beer.
I do bees wax but it is not clean like yours. Where can I buy the around screen ?
Lol. Too funny.
Awesome
One day maybe I will have enough wax to justify it. Looks cool though.
why don't you run the wax thru the bag screen when you first drain the tank. this would keep you from having to reheat the wax?