364 



Beeswax : Methods of Extraction. [July, 



The method of working is as follows : — The perforated basket 

 is filled with comb which has first been broken into small pieces ; 

 these should not be pressed down, but put in as loosely as pos- 

 sible. The basket is placed in position in pan B, and covered 

 with the lid (1). Pan B is now fitted on pan c, which has pre- 

 viously been filled with rain water. The appliance is then put 

 on the fire, and when the water boils the steam will pass in the 

 directions indicated and will melt the wax from the combs in the 

 perforated basket. The molten wax will ooze out through the 

 perforations, run down the sides of the basket into the tray, and 

 thence out of the tube, where it drops into cold rain water, con- 

 tained in a vessel (D) placed for the purpose of receiving it. As 

 soon as it is cold, the w^ax wall be found to have set in a cake, 

 when it can be lifted off. When all the wax has been extracted 

 the dross is removed from the basket and the process repeated. 



As the water boils away very rapidly it will be necessary to 

 replace it from time to time ; by means of the funnel (f) this 

 can be done without removing the appliance from the fire. 



Cappings from the shallow combs, when cut off for extracting the 

 honey, can also be melted in the same manner. Before putting 

 them in the basket, however, they should be drained free from 

 honey, well washed in rain water, and dried in the sun. 



A cheaper form of wax extractor is shown in Fig. 4. This is 

 made on similar Hnes to the Gerster, but the cost is reduced by 

 omitting the central cone-shaped tube ; in all other respects 

 it is identical. As steam is not admitted into the centre of the 

 perforated wire basket, the operation of extraction is prolonged. 



To extract wax by means of boiling water, the material should 

 be tied in a bag made of porous fabric, such as cheese straining 

 cloth, and stood on laths of wood placed across the bottom of a 

 copper or saucepan, so that the bag does not touch the bottom. 

 The bag should be weighted with a stone, and water then poured 

 in until it flows above the bag. The water should then be boiled 

 very gently. The melted wax will percolate through the bag and 

 float on the water, and when cold it can be lifted off in a solid 

 cake. A little dross will be found on the bottom of the cake, 

 but this can be removed by scraping. If a well-cleansed sample 

 is desired, the cake should be remelted in a similar manner, 

 and cooled slowly. Eain water must be used in methods 2 and 8, 

 as hard water contains lime, which would spoil the texture and 

 colour of the wax. More wax will be obtained if pressure is 



