Build your own Solar Wax Melter

Posted by Jon on Jul 14, 2010 in Equipment | 0 comments

(or how to save yourself a small fortune!)

Here in France, some things are really expensive, including solar wax melters (Cérificateur) which start at about 160€ and go up from there. So given the recent spell of hot weather, I decided to make my own from what I had in the barn. I researched possible designs and decided to build a tilted table with a removable tray (with a mesh filter). This is how it turned out…

What I used:
An old glass door
A damaged super
Some oddments of wood
A printing plate from the local printers (cost about 50centimes)
An ice cream carton
A metal rack (that our wood burner was wrapped in)
Small square of wire mesh
Rivets, paint and glue

(click to enlarge)

I’ve made a second tray in case the first one needs cleaning and all this for under 20€ using recycled materials. Now all I need is for the sunshine to come back!