RELIABLE WAX AND CAPPINGS PRESS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 28 August 1925, Page 7

RELIABLE WAX AND CAPPINGS PRESS.

( ij‘ wr WAX PRESS NECESSARY '.* Details of Construction. 1 ' Unless a press is used only a portion of the wax . can be secured fi«in combs, especially in those combs in which brood has been reared. Kuch bee larvae leaves in the cell a silken cocoon, and when these combs are boiled the cocoons absorb and retain a large percentage of the wax. To secure this the hot mass must be pressed. A good press, such as that illustrated, can be cheaply and easily constructed. It will serve the double purpose of a wax and cappings press. The horizontal frame, the two short legs, and the long uprights. which form both legs and standards for the press screw, are made of 15 to 2inch angle iron. That from a worn-out "eaper and binder is specially sv>able. The irons can be marked out, and when cut to right lengths and drilled with holes th e whole frame is secured together with a small bolt. The horizontal frames should bo made 43 in. long by 18 in. wide by inside measurement, and the angle irons set so that one side of the angle will point inward all round. This is a necessity, particularly for use as a cappings press. Six inches from cne end of the side of the frame drill holes and bolt on a cross piece of 2 x 2 angle iron, and 9 inches further along bolt on another cross piece of 2x2 angle iron. These two cross pieces bolt on under the frnin-\ Midway between them the two legs are bolted on to the frame. These two press standards should be 40 to 43 in. long from ground to top. and across the top of the standards is nred with iron stays a piece of 4 x 2 hardwood. Under the centre of this is set the steel piece to carry the thread through which the press screw is worked. For Fast Work. This press screw should be of 1 in. steel, on which is worked a strong worm thread. It is important for fast work that this thread be coarse, so that only a few turns are needed to raise or lower the press head quickly. The press screw should have about 15 in. of thread on it, and at its lower end a strong iron head of about 6in. diameter is secured. At the other end of the horizonta' frame two short legs are bolted on to the frame. These could be made of wood if desired, but are safer if of angle iron also. The four legs of the fraine should be 20 to 24 inches long.

Having thus made the press frame, construct from 20 gauge galvanised iron a square bucket 17 Jin. square by 20in. high, to hold the combs and water. About 3 Jin. down from the top of this bucket solder on a lin. tap or spout. All the joints of the bucket must be securely riveted and soldered. To fit neatly into this bucket, make a square of wood from lin. flooring board, carefully and wen braced across with lin. x 3in. pieces of hardwood, to prevent warping or buckling. HeSsian Bags. In apparitions place in this bucket

a square of strong hessian having 2ft. of the hessian lapping over the top of the bucket sides. Cut up the comb and pack this bag till it is twothirds full. Then fold in the loose top parts of the bag so it laps over each section. Fill the bucket to threequarters with w'ater, place it under the press screw, insert the square of wood in the top of the bucket

When the water is boiling screw tile press, screw down hard on the tag of comb and apply pressure as hard as possible, thus forcing the last ounce of wax out from the bag of comb. As the wax -rises to the surface of the water, it can be easily drained off through the tap near the top of the bucket. if care is taken to have the right depth of water always in the bucket. Before applying pressure to the comb, it is well to let it boil fiercely for 10 minutes.

A number of hessian bags, as described, should be provided. As soon as one bag of comb is pressed this can be lifted out and left to be dealt with later, and a fresh bag of comb inserted into the tank and pressed as before. Car e should be takqn t 6 add more water as necessary. Heating Apparatus. A furnace for heating the melting bucket can be easily made from a large oildrum, from which the top is cut, also a large hole near the bottom.' A chimney of ordinary 3in. spout piping should be riveted on to this drum near the top and opposite the hole in the bottom of the drum. Such a furnace can be pushed in under the bucket, and once the water is boiling it will require only a little wood to keep up to heat. Great care must be taken that the wax does not boil over or get spilt into the fire, for wax is extremely inflammable, and burns fiecrely. During the honey season this press can be used as a capping press. For this purpose, have made from 20 gauga galvanised iron a square trough to fit neatly inside the iron frame, and 2in. high. At one end of the trough fix a honey gate. Next make two buckets from 20 gauge galvanised iron, size 17 x 17 x 18 high. Pressing- Cappings. In the bottom of these buckets have 20 holes of Jin. diameter, and place a cross-slated, neat-fltting false bottom, made of hardwood strips lin. wide by Jin. thick leaving a space of gin. between each strip of wood. Uncap the combs into these buckets, and when one is half full, slide it under the press, and apply pressure to the mass of cappings in the same way as described for the wax and comb.

In pressing cappings, apply pressure a little at a, time at intervals, until the mass is pressed clean or honey. Then the dry lump of cappings wax dumped into a drum to await boiling and pressing for wax later on.

To hasten and aid the honey to drain off, it is an advantage to perforate the sides of the cappings buckets with numerous large nail holes. The honey from the cappings is drained off through a strainer into tins through the honey gate at one end of the trough.