BRAND MELTER

[Dan Williamson]

I was reading a book by Richard Taylor and he mentioned that one of the best pieces of equipment that a beekeeper could own was a BRAND MELTER OR JR BRAND MELTER. I believe it was for melting cappings.

What exactly is a Brand Melter and where would you find something similar?

Thanks,

Dan

[Mitch]

Good question Dan I have the same book.Hope someone here knows.

[tecumseh]

I think the spelling is not quite right.... maybe Brandt? I think I saw one recently listed on Herb Isaac Sales Inc.

[Dan Williamson]

It may be that the spelling isn't right but I spelled it the same as he has it in the book. Guess I'm outta luck.... doesn't seem anyone knows what it is..

Dan

[Gregg]

Friend on mine has an old one, don't know if they are made anymore or not. But basically has a large tank with a grid on top to circulate hot water or steam through. The wax from the cappings floats on top of the honey and is melted by the grid. Melted wax flows out of the top and honey from the bottom. I have and old Dadant melter that I don't use anymore which is pretty similar to it.

[eris]

Dadant sells something like this...
http://www.dadant.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=35_71&products_id=398&osCsid=deb85d0ee41e60aed2d4b40eef006819

Called the mini melter in case the link doesn't work. They also sell a full size one.

[tecumseh]

Gregg adds:
Friend on mine has an old one, don't know if they are made anymore or not. But basically has a large tank with a grid on top to circulate hot water or steam through.

tecumseh replies:
Yea pretty much like your standard capping melter, but it was pretty commonly set up with a steam generator (essentially a metal five gallon can with a pressure pop off valve that was set directly on a heat source) that melted the wax via a top coil and warmed the honey via the double bottom of the uncapping box. I am pretty certain Kelley sold both devices years ago. Like Gregg, I suspect that the manufacturer no longer exist.

[Dan Williamson]

I went back and looked it up in the book. Yes it was a tank with a grid on top to melt the cappings and heated with steam. The idea was to heat the cappings as they would float and minimize the heat to the honey as the wax and slumgum would be somewhat insulative.

I am also assuming the manufacturer no longer exits.

Thanks for the help though.

Dan

[Jon McFadden]

This discussion really makes me feel old. A few years ago this piece of equipment was second nature to anyone in the bee business.

[olddrone]

Other than Dadant, is it really true that no one makes these anymore? Wow. Isn't the melter made by Betterway a Brand-type?

Regardless of whether they are still made, I'm certain there are hundreds if not thousands of Brand melters in use in the US. It is pretty much standard equipment once a beekeeper gets to somewhere between 500-1000 hives. Of course, the substantial investment was justified by wax prices that were historically 4X-5X the price of honey!

For the hobbyist it is hard to beat the capping melter made by Kelley. Operated properly, the resulting wax is first quality and the honey is table grade. Moreover, it is reasonably priced.

Charles

[John Lockhart]

I have one sitting in my shop that I dont use anymore. If you want it, I'll let you have it real cheap. It's in Colorado
John

[tecumseh]

Is it in good shape John? You should possibly list it on the for sale thread.

[Lew Best]

Hey John

Sent you a private message.

Lew Best

[John Lockhart]

Sorry guys, I spend a lot more time in the bee yards than sitting at the computer. I have not looked at it in a long time, so I'll check it out tomorrow. I want to make sure it is still ok after sitting unused for a number of years.
John

[John Lockhart]

Ok, I looked it over today. The gal. steel tank is good, but the heating coils are missing. Some one took them for something. I don't think you can get it to work without the coils. Something to think about the melter is, they are quite large. It takes about 1/3 of a drum of honey to fill it full enough to melt wax. Not good for a small guy
John