So this came up in the thread about "100 hives for cheap" and I have read Michael Bush's paper on it. Can anyone else offer me any insight? I found a really good price on microcrystalline wax locally and I understand fire safety and temperature control so what I am looking for is firsthand experience with this preservation method. I am not looking to kill foulbrood or anything, I want to do wooden ware preservation as I build my apiary.
Steve, I don't have first hand experiance yet! I am heading this direction myself. I am curious to know your source/price for microcrystalline wax? I love the idea of dipping boxes and not need to do it again for another 15-20 years!
There is a place here in Portland called fiberlay, it used to be Stephenson pattern supply. They have a surplus of microcrystalline for $1.00 per pound.
I heard it works well, some people opt to paint right after they pull the boxes out of the dip too. I'll see if I can find the video showing both steps.
Well, thanks to all the help with the YouTube links and input from people like Michael Bush etc I am building my very own hive body deep fryer, this just seems perfect for me. Thank you all
I used to do it myself. Now I have a person do it when he assembles the equipment. I have done like Keith was saying where dip first let boxes cool a bit then spray. The paint stays on forever it seems. I did this to 1000 or so nucs 8 years ago and the equipment looks almost new. The only ones that do not look so good are the ones where the paint was added on to soon. The boxes did not cool sufficiently. It only takes 1 minute or two if my memory is correct. You will see from the results if you are painting to soon. The paint kinda flakes off in large pieces. As off now the equipment builder dips in parrafin and rosen. This will last many years hassle free. This is especially valuable in our wet humid climate.
The tank i use dips about 6 medium supers or 3 1/2 brood boxes. i use 2 part paraffin wax and 1 part gum rosin. i use a temp. of about 165 degrees. i dip them for about 10 minutes, or until the foam starts getting close to the top. DO IT IN ANY OPEN AREA AWAY FROM ANYTHING THAT COULD CATCH ON FIRE! this is by far way easier then painting. my boxes come out looking great. I dipped about 400 to 500 boxes last winter relatively quick. i don't paint after i pull them out because i don't like painting. if the boxes start to turn dark simply spray with bleach water and it comes right of. Oh, and ya get about a 5 minute break while the boxes are cookin!
Now that's what we are talking about! How are your boxes holding up, such as years with out dipping again? Do you have pictures of the dip tank you are using? I am considering having a wider then the tank base plate so that in the event a seam ended up with a leak the wax would run away from open flames.
All the nicecolours of paint makes those nuc boxes awfully pretty. Probably a good idea for queen matin. I tend to place nucs and hives in very close to each other. The regular hives used for pollination are dipped but not painted They take on a tan/brownish colour, good for camouflage. They do not stand out as much as the white boxes do. That can be a plus in my opinion.
So would using beeswax instead of synthetic wax and rosin be as durable, of course negating the price difference, and also how much wax would anyone who has done this estimates gets used up per brood box etc.
Tony,
This was my first year using them, but they seem to be doing great. once the boxes were cooled down i decided to throw some water on it to see what happened. the water beaded of like water on a duck! today i still have the same results. I think the big base plat is a great idea, and you wouldn't lose any wax. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.406518432749951.83448.148943065174157&type=1&l=e10134e5fa
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Beesource Beekeeping Forums
1.8M posts
54.7K members
Since 1999
A forum community dedicated to beekeeping, bee owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about breeding, honey production, health, behavior, hives, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!