WAX 
879 
to forty combs (about half a barrel) may 
be put in gradually, provided they are 
carefully pushed down with a paddle and 
stirred as they melt. When all the comb 
that the boiler will hold conveniently has 
been put in, place the cover on and allow 
Fig. 11.—The press can he pulled forward ready 
for filling. 
the mass to cook thoroly. About this time 
light the other stove and put on another 
boiler of water; also set going the burner 
under the steam-boiler on a third stove to 
supply steam to the press-can. 
It facilitates the work if a quantity of 
straw, preferably rye straw, is cut up in 
two-incli lengths and stirred into the 
melted combs. It makes the “cheeses” 
more porous so that less wax is left in the 
slumgum. 
It is a mistake to begin pressing as 
soon as the comb is melted. Continue the 
cooking process with frequent stirrings 
until the combs are reduced to a steaming 
mushy mass. There must be no hard 
chunks. 
When the contents of the first boiler are 
ready for pressing and the steam begins 
to issue from the pipe in the bottom of 
the press-can, pull the can forward on the 
platform, holding it in position by means 
of the spider on the lower end of the screw 
resting on the top of the cauj as ip Fig'¬ 
ll. There should be in readiness a few 
pieces of good strong burlap, at least 40 
inches square. Place one of these in the 
press-can; put the follower on top of it 
and throw a few dipperfuls of hot water 
from the other boiler into the can to heat 
thoroly all the parts. Pour this off and 
spread the burlap down into the can as in 
Pig. 12. Dip about two gallons of the 
melted comb and water into the press and 
fold the burlap neatly over it, as carefully 
as tho tying up a package. This is very 
important; for if there are thick rolls of 
the cloth in any one part of the “cheese,” 
other parts of the refuse will not receive 
as much pressure as needed. To fold the 
burlap over, fold the back edge over toward 
the front, being careful to get the sides 
straight, then push the front edge over on 
top of it; lastly, fold in the sides neatly. 
Place the cleatecl circular follower in posi¬ 
tion (cleats down, of course) ; push the can 
back exactly in the center of the platform 
and run the screw down very slowly— 
Fig. 13. 
Fig. 12.—A large piece of stout burlap is the best 
material to use for holding the melted comb. 
At this time it may be necessary to turn 
down the gasoline burners under the first 
boiler in order that the contents may not 
get too hot; or, if it is on a stove, pull it 
over to the edge, Use the utmost care to 
