Advice on mixing 75 Gallons of 2:1

[HockenberryHoney]

Preparing for fall feeding, and I'd like to try and do this one right.. I've tried a number of different ways, but I can't find one that I'm happy with yet.

When I'm done, I'd like to have 75 Gallons worth of 2:1 sugar/water that I can feed to my bees in 2gallon pails.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

previous attempts...

-55gal drum filled with bags of sugar and hot water half way, then mixed with a cordless drill and a large paint mixing paddle.

-mixed in 5 gallon pails, and then poured into 2 gallon pails

-mixed in 2 gallon pails, and then swore at, back aching, and lots of spilling... the ants still wander my driveway.

again, any help appreciated.

[alpha6]

Get an old washing machine. Hook to hot water and then your drain hose into your storage container (55 gal drum) Fill with hot water, add sugar and wash. It will agitate and spin and then it will drain out your mix. (Haven't tried this myself, but in theory it should work) Caution...get wifes permission if thinking about using the one in your laundry room.

[Zane]

Thats one heck of an idea using a washing machine!!!! why not I guess?

[beemandan]

I'm not sure that the pump in a washing machine would be able to move 2:1 syrup. I'm thinkin' this isn't a good idea.
I surely wouldn't try it with the household washer....unless I was ready to buy a replacement.

[Bizzybee]

I had an old trolling motor last year that I used in a 55 gal drum. Worked like a champ. Fill the water to level you need, start up the motor then add sugar (not all at once). Mixed quite well with cold water.

My arms loved me for it!!!!

I hooked up on HFCS this year so my trolling motor retired to fishing.

[beemandan]

Mixed quite well with cold water.

Man Biz, if you were able to get 2:1 mixed in cold water you're surely a better brewmaster than I am.

[Bizzybee]

28lbs o thrust and 12 speeds wooohoooo we bee a mix master!!

[riverrat]

28lbs o thrust and 12 speeds wooohoooo we bee a mix master!!

First the presto I have a fire wax melter. Now the evinrude mix master power mixer. What you going to do next store syrup in the bottom of your boat and use the bilge pump to fill feeders. I bet I can spot you out of the crowd. You be the guy with singed hair and waving a hand with only 3 sticky fingers attached.

[Illinois]

55 gal drum, sump pump tied to a stick upside down so that the outflow is a couple of inches above the bottom of the drum. Put in the water, turn on the pump and add the sugar over time. This mixes 2:1 in cold water with no problems. Takes a little while. My old sump pump ($5 at the thrift store & I've used it for 10 years) cycles out from time to time when the syrup gets thick but comes back on and gets the job done.

[Bizzybee]

How'd you know??? Man I got TWO bilge pumps and can drive down the middle filling em from both sides!!

Shaved my noggin and just ordered screw in replacements fer my fingers yesterday...

[Ian]

I use to use an old washer before i switched to buying surip. It worked great!
Use warm water, let it run as long as you feel you need to get it well mixed.
This way, you will not have any spots that arnt mixed properly, I know exactly what your asking about. Hand mixing is the pits.

[pcelar]

Man Biz, if you were able to get 2:1 mixed in cold water you're surely a better brewmaster than I am.

I am boiling few gallons at the time and it takes awhile to melt all that sugar. I didnt think it was possible to properly dissolve 2:1 in anything but boiling water.

[beedeetee]

I got a catalog in the mail at work from a company that specializes in mixing equipment. While this probably won't solve the 2:1 issue, they have some interesting stuff. Some clamp to drums, some are food grade. They sell parts to make your own.

Go here:

http://www.indco.com

[Broke-T]

Yesterday I made up 20 gallons of medicated s.s. following the instructions on the Fumagilin-B insert.

9 1/3 gallons of hot water out of the water heater, 150 lbs sugar.

Mixed with sheetrock mud mixer on drill.

Put hot water in tank and slowly added sugar as I ran mixer. after about 10 minutes sugar was completely dissolved.

Checked today and sugar still disolved.

Johnny

[pcelar]

Yesterday I made up 20 gallons of medicated s.s. following the instructions on the Fumagilin-B insert.

9 1/3 gallons of hot water out of the water heater, 150 lbs sugar.

Mixed with sheetrock mud mixer on drill.

Put hot water in tank and slowly added sugar as I ran mixer. after about 10 minutes sugar was completely dissolved.

Checked today and sugar still disolved.

Johnny

Is it 1:1 or 2:1?

[beemandan]

Is it 1:1 or 2:1?

The numbers he's quoting would produce 2:1
Water weighs 8lbs per gallon. 9.3 gallons of water weighs 74.4lbs.
150lbs of sugar is 2x the weight of the water.

[NeilV]

Why do I feel like I just read a "you might be a redneck" joke????

[Sundance]

Here's a great calculator for mixing any sized
batch and different concentrations.

http://www.beekeeping.co.nz/convert.htm#sugarmix1