I've used a solar wax melter to melt scraps of beeswax. It was a typical design and was heavy, hard to move, complicated with several doors, latches, etc. And the large glass surface was very vulnerable to damage while being stored during the winter.
While looking at some recent innovations in solar cookers, I've wondered if some of the same concepts could be applied to a solar wax melter. Such a design should be cheap to build. It could have a longer operational season. It could be compact enough and light enough when folded to be easily moved/stored.
What do you think? Any neat design ideas?
I got an idea for one shaped like a top bar hive. It would set on the ground on one of the sloped sides. A reflecting lid would concentrate additional energy inside the cavity. HDPC film, the kind used in oven cooking bags would be used instead of glass. Hummm....my first top bar hive is setting idle.:>
Check out: http://solarcooking.org for some neat solar ideas. I like http://solarcooking.org/funnel.htm