336 
EXTEACTING 
The Peterson capping-melter shown in 
the illustration, is a simple construction, 
the long shallow pan having a double bot¬ 
tom, the space between being filled with 
hot water. The water compartment is ex¬ 
tended beyond the edge of the table, as 
shown, so, if desired, knives may be placed 
in the water to heat. 
Peterson capping, melter. 
This melter is large enough to be heated 
by a two-burner stove, hence it has a much 
greater capacity than the round-can design 
described above. Furthermore, there is 
space at the end of the table for the un¬ 
capped combs to rest upon before they are 
placed in the extractor. The bpen end of 
the long trough is about an inch lower 
than the other end so that the honey and 
melted wax run down into the separating- 
can beneath. 
DISPOSING OF THE WAX AND HONEY THAT 
RUN FROM THE MELTER. 
When capping-melters first came into 
use the stream of hot wax and honey was 
run directly into a pail or can, and as soon 
as it was full another was put in its place. 
This plan is objectionable in that it re¬ 
quires too many cans of hot wax standing 
around in the way. Furthermore, the 
honey underneath takes on a taste of the 
wax to some extent, if it is allowed to re¬ 
main in contact with it until the wax cools. 
To overcome this difficulty a gate may be 
provided at the bottom of the can, so that 
the honey may be drawn off whenever the 
can becomes full. Care must be taken, of 
course, to shut the gate before any wax 
begins to run out. In this way the w T ax 
remains in the can until the next day, when 
it is emptied out in the form of a solid 
cake. 
A much better arrangement, however, is 
a separating-can made according to a prin¬ 
ciple first described by E. C. Aikin of 
Colorado. As shown in the illustration of 
the Peterson capping-melter an ordinary 
wash-boiler may be used with a tin parti¬ 
tion soldered near one end, coming 'to 
within one-half inch of the bottom of the 
can. Some honey should be left in the 
boiler before the work is started. When 
the new wax and honey run in, the wax 
floats on top of the honey in the larger 
compartment of the boiler, the honey alone 
escaping into the small compartment, since 
the levels in the two compartments will be 
nearly the same. When the boiler is full 
the honey will escape continuously from 
an outlet in the end of the boiler, while 
the wax will remain in the large compart¬ 
ment. 
In actual use this separating-can should 
be insulated by being placed inside a 
wooden box, having a cover fitted over the 
top with a funnel to receive the wax and 
honey. It would be all the better if some 
insulating material could be wrapped 
around the boiler before it is enclosed in 
the box. 
E. L. Seehrist of California uses a spe¬ 
cially made separator, as shown herewith. 
He provides a wax outlet, but if the sepa¬ 
rator is large enough this is not necessary. 
Seehrist’s honey and wax separator. 
A small stream of drizzling wax is a 
puisance. If a can as large as a wash- 
boiler is used, it will hold all the wax for 
the average day’s run even in an extensive 
yard, and, therefore, the wax part of the 
outfit requires no attention. When the work 
is over for the day, the cover of the box is 
