Well there is a connection sort of. I went out yesterday evening to sublimate some OA in a few hives. These hives are tall, still 3 deep brood chambers. (note to self; use queen excluders next year) The top box was full of capped brood so I added an empty top box and sublimated from the top. Just to avoid melting any wax, I put a metal QE under the top box. All went well although I treated one hive from the bottom only.
So as it was getting dark I decided to use another sublimation tool that has a thin profile. I inserted this in the front entrance and waited. I did not see any smoke so I wasn't sure how long it took to heat up. This is where things went south. I decided to run into the house for a couple of minuets and subsequently forgot the essence of time. Probably 15 minuets later the brain sent out an alarm.
I fully expected to see a bonfire. Burning building if you will. But no, just a roaring of angry bees. I shut off the heater and waited a bit before attempting to remove the same. I can't get it out. After 3-4 tries and angry bees pouring out the front entrance I retreated. Upon further examination today my guess is the melting wax (I found a pool of melted wax on the screen bottom close out board) globed up on the heater and now it is bigger than the opening.
Aside from calling myself stupid and absent minded, I figured it might be worth posting for a lesson on what not to do. I wish I could see in the entrance to figure out what is obstructing the heater, but the bees seem to have put up an additional line of cops and maybe called out the national guard, all hanging out at the entrance and boiling out at the slightest movement of the heater handle.
I will re-try after donning riot gear.
So as it was getting dark I decided to use another sublimation tool that has a thin profile. I inserted this in the front entrance and waited. I did not see any smoke so I wasn't sure how long it took to heat up. This is where things went south. I decided to run into the house for a couple of minuets and subsequently forgot the essence of time. Probably 15 minuets later the brain sent out an alarm.
I fully expected to see a bonfire. Burning building if you will. But no, just a roaring of angry bees. I shut off the heater and waited a bit before attempting to remove the same. I can't get it out. After 3-4 tries and angry bees pouring out the front entrance I retreated. Upon further examination today my guess is the melting wax (I found a pool of melted wax on the screen bottom close out board) globed up on the heater and now it is bigger than the opening.
Aside from calling myself stupid and absent minded, I figured it might be worth posting for a lesson on what not to do. I wish I could see in the entrance to figure out what is obstructing the heater, but the bees seem to have put up an additional line of cops and maybe called out the national guard, all hanging out at the entrance and boiling out at the slightest movement of the heater handle.
I will re-try after donning riot gear.