For a short time now I've been considering various alternative methods of melting wax in small quantities for various beekeeping jobs, and it was while mooching around one supermarket yesterday that I noticed that bottom-of-the-range slow cookers and rice cookers are absurdly inexpensive - with a price-tag little more than the cost of a one-off stand-alone heating element needed to make any similar diy project. So, think I'll investigate further next week and buy a couple.
I have no doubt that their temperature control will be none too accurate - but that should be easy enough to remedy.
LJ