Nov. 2, 1920.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 825 



The cask with the one tap is half-tilled with hot water, and steam turned 

 on to keep it hot, and the frames immersed and twisted about in the water 

 until the combs are removed. By this means the combs are removed quickly 

 and cleanly. Meanwhile the wax press (preferably a steam one) should have 

 been prepared, the preparation consisting of pouring hot water into the 

 bottom compartment and keeping it hot by means of either a primus stove 

 or steam from the boiler, putting a strainiug-cloth in the press and placing a 

 fair-sized bucket under the spout. A quantity of the melted mass (not a 

 large quantity, and with plenty of hot water) is then put into the press, the 

 straining cloth neatly folded, and pressure gradually applied and maintained 

 for a while. The hot water and wax are emptied into the second cask, and 

 steam turned on. When the melted quantity has been treated, the hot water 

 can be drained from the wax through the bottom tap and returned to the 

 first cask, and further melting of the comb proceeded with^ When the day's 

 work has been completed, the wax and hot water will be in the cask con- 

 taining the two taps. Drain the water from the bottom tap, until the wax 

 is just below the tap above ; the wax can then be drained into moulds with 

 flanged sides. The moulds containing the wax should be placed in hot water 

 to ensure slow cooling, and the sides of the moulds should be smeared with 

 glycerine to prevent sticking. For a high-grade sample it would be 

 advisable, on completion of all melting operations, to refine the whole 

 quantity. The slum gum fi'om the press can be tested to see if it is worth a 

 second treatment, by again putting a small quantity through the process of 

 melting and pressing. 



To Refine Bees-wax in Small Quantities. 



A fair-sized tinned vessel is a quarter filled with water and the blocks of 

 wax (which have previously undergone the treatment already described) 

 added. The vessel is then heated and the wax melted slowly but thoroughly, 

 the fire withdrawn, and the waX allowed to stand (well covered) in 

 a warm room for a few hours. It is then drained off from the, top into 

 suitable moulds until the underlying impure matter is reached. The moulds 

 should have flanged sides previously smeared with glycerine, and when 

 containing the wax should be placed in warm water to ensure slow cooling. 

 When properly cooled off the wax is removed from the moulds and any 

 adhering impurity scraped off. 



For Larger Quantities. 



When larger quantities of wax are to be refined, steam and the cask with 

 two taps previously described should be used. The water is poured in to just 

 below the top tap, and about a quarter of a pint of sulphuric acid for, say, 

 10 gallons of water and 250 lb. of wax added. The acid is used to clarify the 

 wax. Needless to say, care should be exercised in its handhng. Turn on 

 the steam and when the water is hot put in the blocks of wax, which should 

 then be melted slowly but thoroughly, and stirred occasionally. When 

 melted, turn off the steam, cover the cask and allow it to stand for a few hours ; 



