What do you do with your scrapings?

[handyman dave]

As a nubee I find myself with a hive tool loaded with scraped-off propolis and burr comb wax. How you deal with it while you are still in the hive?
I am at a loss to know how to deal with this abundant, sticky material while I have my hands full and need to get it off the hive tool.
Please let me in on the secret.

[g.gill]

I use an old fashioned Coffee Can. I scrape the scrapings into the can and then take it with me when I leave. I don't save that stuff (some folks do) so its keeps it out from around the hive. I just toss the contents out in the trash when I'm all done.

[beedeetee]

Coffee can. Then into the wax melter. Then into candles.

[Pete0]

Most importantly notice all responding mention collecting your scrappings in lieu of tossing them on the ground. Keep a neat bee yard. All of that mess will attract vermon and give pests a place to start outside of the hive.


Pete0
Bena, VA

[NasalSponge]

You may want to keep in mind that wax is a valuable by product of the hive. I keep all my scrapings. Another thing is I do not scrap burr comb off every time I go into a hive...they will just put it back and use more resources.

[Countryboy]

I don't get enough surplus burr comb or propolis to justify the effort of saving it. If I had a ton of hives it might be different. I use the edge of the bottom board or the corner of a box to scrape the wax off the tool. Leaving it where the bees can access it allows them to save any honey in the wax, or to reuse propolis.

I carry two hive tools also. If I get a thick buildup of propolis on my tool and scraping it against the edge of a box doesn't clean it, I scrape the hive tools against each other to clean them up.