Jon, beekeeper from Kentucky here. The casings that are left in the cheesecloth make for a wonderful fire starter. My daughter calls it nature's napalm. We set aside and the kids cut off chunks when they want to have a fire with friends.
Very cool. We were challenged to make something like this in school. Turned out the best version used about an inch sand as an insulator. It'd be much heavier, but might hold the heat better.
If you paint the inside of the box white it will heat up more. Black absorbs the light, white Mel’s it bounce around more and drives the heat up. I know it’s a little counter intuitive but it works.
🐝🐝 Excellent video Jon, I have sent the link of it to our bee club here in Melbourne I'am sure a few of our members would benefit from it 🐝🐝 we are preparing now for spring as our winter is now coming to a close and I am excitingly now waiting delivery of new Langstroth eight frame Flow hive to modify the one I have 🐝🐝 I only have one hive and don't sell the honey as I just give it to family and friends and there is certainly enough left over for our needs, 🐝🐝 putting aside the pros and cons The Flow hive makes sense in my situation 🐝🐝 once again excellent video Jon thank you,Tim. 🐝🐝
If you have a stainless steel bowl you can cut out the center let it drain into the bottom cup but hang the wax in the center top of the bowl. It will focus sunlight on the wax. Careful of fire though. Baked a muffin in school science project that way.
Jon, I know this is an older video, but if you are going to slant the top take your latitude and subtract 15 degrees. It's how people figure out the angle to tilt solar panels for maximum efficiency (in the summer). Then aim it south (if you are in the northern hemisphere).
John Black if you put an nail perpendicular to the glass on the face of the frame and it casts no shadow the angle is perfect. Max light enters the box. Since how high the sun travel in the sky according to the seasons you’ll want to make it a little adjustable.
Awesome video. I agree cutting on an angle is a good idea. Maybe if you wanted to get fancy install an adrino controlled motorized sun tracker! But that would be over kill but I'd sure watch that video! Keep up the great videos.
Someone here on TH-cam made a similar project (but it was for reclaiming wax from old used candles), the big difference was that the device was in two sections. One was the black box, no light passing through, otherwise almost identical, even with a dowel rod instead of the piece you have, and the other was a piece of aluminium (i think it was some left over heat sink material from some transformer or something) that passed inside the box. Above the other end of the metal was a fresnel lens. It would heat up the bar, which would then heat up the box. If someone knows the video hit it up, it was pretty effective.
Hey Jon. What a good idea ! Thank you. What about 3 legs (one adjustable) to get the perfect angle to the sun ? a pivoting frame inside could maintain both the cup and the bag level. Maybe some exterior insulation may help the temperature rise.
Hi! I just wanted to send some good vibes, and thanks your way! Figured that on one of your lesser-watched videos, it might actually have a chance of being seen by you, so I posted it here. Your videos are outstanding, and I’ve been binge watching them for days now. Already used your log rack video as a template for the one I built for my house. No clue where in the US you are, but if you’re ever in NYC or the area, I’d love to buy you a beer! Be well. And thanks again for the inspiration!
I adopted your technique for cutting miters a few months ago; I spend less time fussing around with alignment and get much cleaner results now. Thank you, great videos. Quick question, I think I missed it, did you end up using two pieces of glass on the lid?
Nice project. Curiously enough glass it's the perfect material for the cover. Everything is radiating energy away as light, not so hot glows infrared (invisible), hotter goes red, insane hot goes ultraviolet (invisible, part of the sunlight). Glass allows UV from the sunlight in, black absorbs it and gets hot, but glas is "black" for deep IR radiation and blocks it from coming out.
Make the box out of metal as it is a conductor of temperature much better than wood keep the glass lid as mount to a metal box on an angle the results 100 percent better
I'd agree with this. It could have done with some explanation at the start as to the problem and what is trying to be achieved. What is left behind in the bag if not wax?
Respectfully disagree. My first solar box was lined with Mylar. I reached temps of just above 150F. Removed Mylar and painted the inside black not I reach 220F on the same full sun 95F days.
Jon, beekeeper from Kentucky here. The casings that are left in the cheesecloth make for a wonderful fire starter. My daughter calls it nature's napalm.
We set aside and the kids cut off chunks when they want to have a fire with friends.
Really like your videos Jon P.
Very cool. We were challenged to make something like this in school. Turned out the best version used about an inch sand as an insulator. It'd be much heavier, but might hold the heat better.
Hey Jon! What a coincidence. I study product design and just had to hand in my bachelors project a few days ago. We had to design a solar wax melter.
If you double pane the glass and seal the top, you can add/maintain an additional 30°F
Probably too late?
Very cool👍🐝🐝🐝🐝
If you paint the inside of the box white it will heat up more. Black absorbs the light, white Mel’s it bounce around more and drives the heat up. I know it’s a little counter intuitive but it works.
These videos you make soothe my soul, I have no idea why!
🐝🐝 Excellent video Jon, I have sent the link of it to our bee club here in Melbourne I'am sure a few of our members would benefit from it 🐝🐝 we are preparing now for spring as our winter is now coming to a close and I am excitingly now waiting delivery of new Langstroth eight frame Flow hive to modify the one I have 🐝🐝 I only have one hive and don't sell the honey as I just give it to family and friends and there is certainly enough left over for our needs, 🐝🐝 putting aside the pros and cons The Flow hive makes sense in my situation 🐝🐝 once again excellent video Jon thank you,Tim. 🐝🐝
Nice video Jon
If you have a stainless steel bowl you can cut out the center let it drain into the bottom cup but hang the wax in the center top of the bowl. It will focus sunlight on the wax. Careful of fire though. Baked a muffin in school science project that way.
Aluminum foil will suffice too
Liked it a lot John,though I agree about the sun not getting it hot enough with the flat top. Perhaps an A-Frame top for catching more sun?
Well done video, Jon. An old 10 gallon aquarium might do the trick too.
Really cool device, thanks for sharing
Jon, I know this is an older video, but if you are going to slant the top take your latitude and subtract 15 degrees. It's how people figure out the angle to tilt solar panels for maximum efficiency (in the summer). Then aim it south (if you are in the northern hemisphere).
John Black if you put an nail perpendicular to the glass on the face of the frame and it casts no shadow the angle is perfect. Max light enters the box. Since how high the sun travel in the sky according to the seasons you’ll want to make it a little adjustable.
Awesome video. I agree cutting on an angle is a good idea. Maybe if you wanted to get fancy install an adrino controlled motorized sun tracker! But that would be over kill but I'd sure watch that video! Keep up the great videos.
you could add a mirrors on the inside to increase the heat. or better yet stick it in your attic, it's ussually hot as hell up there.
What about make a funnel shaped box with foil lining the inside. That might speed up the process.
Someone here on TH-cam made a similar project (but it was for reclaiming wax from old used candles), the big difference was that the device was in two sections.
One was the black box, no light passing through, otherwise almost identical, even with a dowel rod instead of the piece you have, and the other was a piece of aluminium (i think it was some left over heat sink material from some transformer or something) that passed inside the box. Above the other end of the metal was a fresnel lens.
It would heat up the bar, which would then heat up the box. If someone knows the video hit it up, it was pretty effective.
Hey Jon. What a good idea ! Thank you. What about 3 legs (one adjustable) to get the perfect angle to the sun ? a pivoting frame inside could maintain both the cup and the bag level. Maybe some exterior insulation may help the temperature rise.
Always enjoy your videos. great job!
i like your work 👌💚
pretty good idea.
Thanks Jon!
I don't have all the tools u have but enough that I might try it to dry herbs in this coming summer in Georgia
How about using a fresnel lens on the front too?
I wonder if adding a fresnel lens to the top would speed the process. You can pick up an 8x10 inch rear-view lens for about $4 on ebay.
Great idea Jon! Greetings from DownUnder!
what about adding a reflective collar to maximize the effects
I know you end up with a lot of beeswax. Do you use all of it in different things as you have shown, or so you sell it?
Hi! I just wanted to send some good vibes, and thanks your way! Figured that on one of your lesser-watched videos, it might actually have a chance of being seen by you, so I posted it here. Your videos are outstanding, and I’ve been binge watching them for days now. Already used your log rack video as a template for the one I built for my house. No clue where in the US you are, but if you’re ever in NYC or the area, I’d love to buy you a beer! Be well. And thanks again for the inspiration!
Thanks Burke! That’s really nice 👍 I’m in Jersey so I my just take you up on that. Have a great day man!
Jon Peters literally any time! Be well!
Why two grooves in the frame if the glass only sits in one set of grooves?
great video! i wish i could build stuff....wonder what is the best one to buy?
Güzel bir fikir tebrik ediyorum
The smell of bees wax is great :D
You could make an inclined platform for it on a Lazy Susan bearing...
I adopted your technique for cutting miters a few months ago; I spend less time fussing around with alignment and get much cleaner results now. Thank you, great videos. Quick question, I think I missed it, did you end up using two pieces of glass on the lid?
Jon, May I ask why solar? Would another melting process not provide more resultant filtered wax?
It's cheap.
Excellent...
Cheers...
Thanks Adam
Nice project. Curiously enough glass it's the perfect material for the cover. Everything is radiating energy away as light, not so hot glows infrared (invisible), hotter goes red, insane hot goes ultraviolet (invisible, part of the sunlight). Glass allows UV from the sunlight in, black absorbs it and gets hot, but glas is "black" for deep IR radiation and blocks it from coming out.
Not black so much as reflective. If you look at yourself in a piece of glass with a FLIR camera, you will see a reflection.
what would happen if you used a dome from a skylight?
Make the box out of metal as it is a conductor of temperature much better than wood keep the glass lid as mount to a metal box on an angle the results 100 percent better
I love how we’re all ok with 6mins of watching & figuring it out & 14 seconds of talking 🤣
Awesome
3:00 - you might want to throw out that mozzarella. It's not looking so "fresh" anymore...
2:29 How???
Finger gauge, he used his finger and pencil to act like a divider. Not super precision, but good enough for bracing.
wow smart
Maybe a better design is to build glazing half down on the sides with a clear top.
It'd be cool if the glass were convex and concentrated sunlight.
Why the bowl of water in the box?
Catches the drips of wax and the water keeps it from sticking to the bowl completely.
Is it just me or does this video have a scary movie feel to it? I feel like someone is going to jump out with a saw and attack me! Lol
Black paint sometimes works but try lining the box with foil, HOT HOT HOT..
got tip Paul..thanks
Try to use a reflector above the glass in the top. It will intensify the heat. Have a look at solar ovens.
Paul Espinoza foil versus painting the inside white is only a 2% difference in reflectivity.
Sunny👌
Very good video but please add voice-overs. It is so much more useful if you explain what you are doing and why.
I'd agree with this. It could have done with some explanation at the start as to the problem and what is trying to be achieved. What is left behind in the bag if not wax?
Respectfully disagree. My first solar box was lined with Mylar. I reached temps of just above 150F. Removed Mylar and painted the inside black not I reach 220F on the same full sun 95F days.
I think your fresh mozzarella has gone bad, isn't it supposed to be white not black?
lol “For beginners” Beginners with a fully equipped shop
more word pls :)
it would be better if you had painted the interior white
Make it out of steel
The rain rotted mine in less than one year because of the wood , you were correct.
Beginner my ass. Nice work though.
With Avasva plans doing something like that was easy.