NOVEMBER 1, 1916 



1021 



The press can pulled forward ready for 



is DO need for rmuiiiig: the refuse tliru a 

 second time. Some wax is left, I know ; but 

 a very small amount after all if the work is 

 carefully done. In fact, I think the refuse 

 is cleaner than I have ever seen it before, 

 even after it has been run thru a pre.?s 

 twice; and there is no hop-skiii-and-jump, 

 nor any need of covers or any otlier special 

 precautions to prevent chilling of the wax 

 in the jiress, so long as there is water in the 

 boiler and gasoline in the tank of the single- 

 burner stove. 



SOME OF THE DETAILS OF RENDERING WAX. 



It is some time since we gave in Glean- 

 ings the process that we recommend for 

 rendering wax. No doubt there are other 

 plans just as good or better; but this plan, 

 except for a very large production of wax, 

 requires the least expenditure for equip- 

 ment of any with which we are familiar. 



Fig. 2 shows the complete outfit, includ- 

 ing stove, press, steam-boiler, unmelted 

 combs, the pressed refuse, etc. 



A large cookstove with a top big enough 

 to hold two good-sized wash-boilers is ideal ; 

 but frequently it is inconvenient to provide 

 such a stove in a basement or outbuilding 

 where the wax-rendering would be done. 

 Two double-burner gasoline-stoves, one for 

 each boiler, will do just as well therefore. 

 Oil-stoves would answer the purpose all 

 right for melting the combs, but would not 

 be as satisfactory for generating steam in 

 the small boiler as a gasoline-stove, owing 

 to the difficulty usually in turning down the 

 blue-flame oil-burner. The wash-boilers 

 cannot be cleaned very easily; hence they 



should be kept for this purpose only. Many 

 prefer to use a large square tank of gal- 

 vanized iron. Or a " feed cooker " may be 

 used, costing anywhere from three to fifteen 

 dollars. 



The press should stand on a good solid 

 box that is firmly anchored to the floor. It 

 should be hinged in front so that it may be 

 tipped over to run the hot water and wax 

 into the can beneath. A large box or basket 

 should be provided for the refuse after it 

 is pressed. 



When ready to begin work, one of the 

 stoves should be lighted and a boiler of soft 

 water put on to heat. If the water is very 

 hard add a little vinegar. When the water 

 is boiling throw in the old comb. It is 

 astonishing the amount of comb that can be 

 put into one boiler. Thirty-five to forty 

 combs (half barrel) may be put in grad- 

 uallj'. provided they are carefully pushed 

 down Avith a paddle and stirred as they 

 melt. When all the comb is in tliat the 

 boiler will hold conveniently the eoA^ar 

 should be put on and the mass allowed to 

 cook thoroly. About this time the other 

 stove should be lighted and another boiler 

 of water put on. The burner under the 

 steam-boiler should also be set going. It 

 makes the "cheeses" more porous and really 

 facilitates the work if a quantity of straw, 

 preferably rye straw, cut up in two-inch 

 lengths, is stirred in with the melted comb. 



It is a mistake to begin pressing as soon 

 as the comb is all melted up. The cooking 

 process must be continued with frequent 



Fig. 4. — A large piece of stout burlap is the 

 material to use for holding the melted comb. 



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