Melting comb in crockpots?  What a crock!  :)

Why use an electrical appliance, when you can
use the sun for free?  If insulated, these things
work even in winter, and work well without posing
any of the risks inherent in putting wax near a
heating element.

One really needs something big enough to accept the
largest frame size one uses, to permit "melting down"
a complete frame or two at a time.  Why?  Comb has a
"useful lifespan", beyond which it becomes a risk to
the entire apiary.

Here's a primitive solar wax melter
http://www.gsu.edu/~biojdsx/solmltr.htm

Here's one made from a Styrofoam picnic
cooler (or "foam fish box", if you work
in the food service industry in New Zealand).
http://www.beehive.org.nz/tips-and-advice/taa-easy-solar-wax-melter.htm

Here's a fancy one that requires tools and skill to make.
If you can't make it, someone who owns a table saw can.
http://www.beesource.com/plans/solmeltr.pdf

Here's one you can buy, if you have over $200
to spend
http://www.mannlakeltd.com/publications/solar%20wax%20melter%20hh185.pdf


The basic concept is an insulated box with a glass top, a mesh
or tray to hold comb, and a collection container to hold the
melted wax.  Clearly, there are an infinite number of variations
possible.

                        jim (Have you ever found yourself rooting for
                       a cow struggling to cross a rain-swollen
                       river on Amazing Animal Videos while eating
                       a hamburger?  Beekeeping is kinda like that.)

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