Mixing sugar syrup

**Barney** · 09-19-2009, 08:32 PM

I have not been able to find any sugar syrup in our local area so it looks like I will be mixing all the syrup I'll be using this fall, winter, and spring. I have the formular for the ratio I need but I need ideas on what to use to mix the syrup in. For the amount I will be using I certainly can't mix it on our kitchen stove. What type of container and heating unit do you use and what amount do you mix at one time?
Thanks
Barney

**beyondthesidewalks** · 09-19-2009, 09:17 PM

My situation is unique. I have a propane powered on-demand tankless water heater above my kitchen sink. I turn the dial on the water heater to the highest setting and let the water run until it is as hot as it can possibly get. It's hot enough to scald you so I have to be careful. Then I take quart mason jars that already have the proper amount of sugar in them, fill them up, cap and shake until all the sugar is dissolved. I usually have to add some more water after shaking because the sugar releases some air to the solution while shaking. Then I can add some HBH if that's what I'm intending and shake that in. Then I take the lids off and put on the perforated lids. If you leave the solid lids on as the solution cools the contents shrink. This makes it darn near impossible to get the lids off.

Then I have to remember to turn the water heater back down and let it run until the cooler hot water is coming out of the faucet to prevent my family members from getting scalded.

The tankless water heater makes it very easy. If I didn't have it I guess I'd be heating water on the stove.

**honeydreams** · 09-19-2009, 10:48 PM

Just heat up the water in a stock pot add sugar mix add to feeder not much to it.
Also how much are you doing at one time? how many hives?

**devdog108** · 09-20-2009, 05:50 AM

Look at CL in Atlanta.....there is a guy selling some. Local...not really, but close if you do not want to mix your own. I use to work on the ATM in York.....forget the name of the bank...anyway...He sells by the gallon. That being said. I just use the tap water as hot as it will go and mix it that way....cheaper, easier, effective....

**LenInNorCal** · 09-20-2009, 06:13 PM

Excuse my confusion to this simple question, but you must have a TON of hives, no?
And you never mentioned if you have any gear. I have only 5 hives and manage well enough with meager stuff. For two I have what is called a top feeder, some call it a Miller feeder if I recall properly, and find that to be really a good thing, holding about 3 quarts. I simply mix two cups to two cups, water to sugar. Can use half-gallon containers or any other for storing it in the fridge. Sometimes I put it in a quart jar and shake it up and let the mechanics do what heat does. Too hot for the stove this time of year. Is it really more complicated than that? Oh, and use cheap, white granulated sugar, like C&H or Safeway. It's not hard, but as I mentioned, I have only a few hives, but even if I get to double them next year I probably will use the same method of operation.

**winevines** · 09-20-2009, 08:05 PM

My new technique. Get a paint mixer drill bit, heat up water on stove and pour into bucket with sugar. Mixes up like a charm, even 2 to 1 mix

**alpha6** · 09-20-2009, 08:11 PM

Yeah, what wine says and in a 5 gallon bucket. Oh and don't use boiled water unless you want candy...very hot but not boiling works best.

**BGhoney** · 09-20-2009, 09:51 PM

I use the propane turkey fryer. 1.5 gal water to 25lbs of sugar. then dump it in a 20 gallon plastic barrel with a valve glued into the bottom. I dink around and fill up 18 gallons or so and then can feed for quite a while.

On a cool day I just set the metal kettle on the wood stove and heat it that way, even cheaper.

**bee_wrangler** · 09-21-2009, 07:05 PM

i just use the hottest water i can get from the tap. Homemade paint mixer on a 3/8 drill. My ratio for fall feeding is 20# sugar to 2 gallons - a pint of super hot tap water. I then add 1/8 c. HBH. The weak ones build up very well with this.

Dan

**the kid** · 09-22-2009, 07:45 PM

I use the propane turkey fryer.
Only for fall feeding I use 2 sugar to 1 water ,,, spring one to one mix .. mix up to 5 gal put it in a 5 gal water jug that you buy from menards ..
just set and have a cup of coffee ,, heat the water ,, turn off heat , add sugar , stir.. let cool feed ,, you can make so you can feed for a day or two befor cooking again