[applebwoi]

I read in one of the posts that one beek was using parafin to wax coat his permacomb frames to reduce cell size. Everyone else was using bee wax. Any thoughts on the appropriateness of parafin as opposed to bee wax?

 

[Patrick Scannell]

Paraffin:
Pro - cheap, AFB-free, works
Con - cappings-contamination?

Beeswax:
Pro - bees like it, smells great, good karma
Con - costly, AFB-concern

What am I missing?

[ November 16, 2006, 07:31 AM: Message edited by: Patrick Scannell ]

 

[Michael Bush]

I've never tried parafin in the hive. It just sounds like a bad idea.

 

[Dave W]

What does parafin and FGMO have in common?

 

[BULLSEYE BILL]

>What does parafin and FGMO have in common?

They are both food grade?

 

[Dave W]

FGMO is also known as "Liquid Paraffin" or "Paraffin Oil" [http://www.socplas.org/public/worksafe/mineraloil.htm].
Both may be food grade, and neither should be used in the hive.

 

[BULLSEYE BILL]

>neither should be used in the hive.

I guess you don't waste much of your time in the FGMO forum either.

I do use parafin and pine rosin to boil my boxes in with good results.

 

[Michael Bush]

What do FGMO and paraffin They are simply different viscosities of the same basic thing.

But the difference is that the COMBS are made out of paraffin if you coat them with that. The hive doesn't worry me much. But bees like to live in beeswax. They never seem that fond of anything else.

 

[Patrick Scannell]

Some folks dip wooden frame ears in paraffin to discourage bees from propolizing them. Bees seem to dislike paraffin, and so it seems they would dislike permacomb dipped in it.

However, in my experience, they use it, and raise brood in it without a problem.

 

[thebee]

where can a guy buy paraffin?

 

[PA Pete]

Local supermarket sells it, though if you plan to dip woodenware, I'm guessing you'll need a little more than a couple boxes of Gulf canning wax. Not sure where you can buy it in bulk.

 

[dickm]

If you ask for parrafin in the UK you get kerosene.

Dickm

 

[BeeKeep]

You can buy large blocks of pure parafin at craft stores (AC Moore, Michaels, . . .) in the candle making sections.

 

[Michael Bush]

Mann Lake sells it in bulk for dipping boxes in.

But it seems like Bullseye Bill has listed cheaper places. I'd do a search on here.

 

[BULLSEYE BILL]

Hobbie Lobby sells ten pound blocks for ten dollars. I haven't found a cheaper source yet.