THE STEAM PRESS 203 



lower is then put in place and the screw handle made ready as 

 shown in Fig. 100. 



The extractor is then placed on the stove and filled with 

 water which is brought to a boil. The contents should be boiled 

 for some time in order that the cheeses be thoroughly heated. 

 From time to time the screw should be turned down to exert 

 the maximum of pressure. The pressure forces out the boiling 

 water and melted wax. The wax rises to the top and runs off 

 through a special spout provided for that purpose. 



The pressure is released from time to time and the cheeses 

 taken out and replaced again in somewhat different position. 

 Some additional wax will be recovered by making several appli- 

 cations of the pressure. 



In the commercial comb rendering plants these presses are 

 connected with steam pipes and are kept boiling for several hours 

 for each batch in order to secure the maximum quantity of wax. 



By breaking up old cheeses and repeating the process one can 

 usually secure enough more wax to justify the extra labor. The 

 second, or sometimes even the third rendering, will yield a 

 surprising amount of wax. This is especially true where insuffi- 

 cient heat and pressure have been used at the first trial. 



For a time the Massachusetts Agricultural College operated 

 a wax rendering station for the bee-keepers. They were in- 

 structed to use a barrel for storage purposes and as combs were 

 thrown in, to tamp them down tight, and when the barrel was 

 filled to ship to the station for rendering. Smaller containers 

 were used for small quantities. The station was very popular 

 with the bee-keepers and large quantities of wax were shipped 

 there to be rendered. It has since been discontinued. 



The Steam Press. — At one time steam wax presses were in 

 common use but they are generally being replaced by the method 

 previously described. The steam press is heated by steam gener- 

 ated from water in the bottom of the can. It will be necessary 

 to set the press on a hot stove or to make some provision for 

 heating the water. Above the water is a basket to hold the 



