I don't have the answers for you on that, but Randy Oliver gives some very detailed instructions on OAD methods at www.scientificbeekeeping.com

 

OA dissolves easily in water, there is no need to heat the water.

 

Randy Oliver suggests mixing the acid and water first and then add the sugar. This would require warm/hot water do dissolve the sugar.

 

Hmm. I guess I never noticed that suggestion. I always mix water and sugar until dissolved, cool, and then add my acid. It always mixes easily. Been doing it this way for a long time now with no problems.


HTH

 

Here is how I do:

I have a little jar with the lid (something like after jelly or so) and for 2 hives I make 100ml of solution (I put the mark of 50ml and 100ml on the jar).

1. I put 50ml of lukewarm water in the jar.
2. add 3.5gr (aproximately 1/2 teaspoon) of oxalic acid.
3. put the lid on and mix it up (in a few sec it dissolved).
4. add 1/4 cup of sugar.
5. put the lid on and continue mixing till it's dissolved
6. top the solution till 100ml if necessary

Then I fill-up my 2 syringes with 50ml and go ahead to shoot.

Rusty Hills Farm, do you know the best temperature for hot water? If water is too hot, will oxalic acid work well ?

 

I usually just use hot-to-the-touch water to start with. It dissolves the sugar okay. Then I cool the sugar/water mix before I add the acid, which dissolves rapidly in tepid water--i.e. just barely warm to the touch.

HTH

 

If I read Randy's directions right on the mixing instructions he mixed 5 oz of water, 5 oz of sugar and 3 teaspoons of oxalic acid. Is that the proper mixing instructions for the solution.

 

this is what I used 5oz =approximate 1/2 cup and 1/8 cup of sugar and water plus 3tsp of oxalic acid about 11gr. randy states 3.7 gr. per teaspoon x 3=11gr. makes about 200 ml .I used 100 ml on my 2 hives first week of November, threw the rest away

 

I weigh my ingredients on a scale: 16 oz. water, 16 oz. sugar, 1.2 oz. OA. I do not trust the accuracy of measuring with cups and spoons. This formula will treat a dozen hives. I discard any leftovers.

HTH

Rusty

 

Agree with Rusty!!!

I made marks for 50ml and 100ml on my jar and I made them using a 50 ml syringe to make sure where the 50 and 100 ml marks are.
I measure 1/4 cup sugar with cup measurer and 3.5 gr oxalic acid using a jewelers scale, so I go between 3.47-3.53 gr for the solution.

Sugar is not that vital - the oxalic acid weight and final volume are important.

You can see the results of my solution here:

Hive #1 : http://pictures.manasyan.com/2016-11-14/IMG_1503.JPG
Hive #2 : http://pictures.manasyan.com/2016-11-14/IMG_1506.JPG

 

Whatever you do, the result should be the most 3.5% oxalic acid in the liquid.
I approximate the liquid as 1:1 - i. e. 100ml liquid = 100gr, and put 3.5gr of oxalic acid - putting minor number with complicated math and chemistry and physics on the side, it becomes 3.5% mix.

Enjoy winter

 

I mean no disrespect, but this sounds entirely wrong.
First of all we can assume that one ml of WATER is equal to 1 g.
Sugar syrup is much heavier than water.
Secondly, 100 grams of water + 3.5 grams of Oxalic combined results in a 3.38% concentration, not 3.5%.
Not wanting to nit-pick but we have to get this stuff right.

 

Here is Randy Oliver's suggestion if you want small quantities, and don't have a scale ...

If you absolutely don’t want to use a postal scale, or a cheap digital scale (plenty on the web for under $10), then an approximate dilution would be 3 tsp oxalic crystals to 5 fl. oz each of water and granulated sugar. This will give you a bit over a cup of treated syrup, or enough to treat about 4 colonies (or 3 really strong ones). Don’t try to mix any less, just discard the excess!

http://scientificbeekeeping.com/oxalic-acid-treatment-table/

Note that a cup of water is 8 ounces, so the suggested 5 oz of water is more than 1/2 a cup.
5 oz of water = 1/2 cup + 2 TABLEspoons ...
. . and 3 tsp is 3 TEAspoons

Sugar is not exactly the same weight as water, but for this purpose Randy treats measuring sugar the same as water, so the complete mixture is .. .
5 oz of water = 1/2 cup + 2 TABLEspoons water +
5 oz of sugar = 1/2 cup + 2 TABLEspoons sugar +
3 TEAspoons of dry oxalic acid

.