Wax Dipping Bee Boxes | Cool!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ก.พ. 2021
- My friend Boyd created a wax dipping tank for bee box preservation. We tried it again for the second time. I had to get this done as bee season is upon us here in southeast Alabama. We had some issues as you will see in the video but still had a great time. This was the second time we used it. We tried this system out for the first time last year. What are your thoughts about wax dipping boxes?
If interested in finding out more about how to obtain one of these wax dipping tanks check out this link. breathingezy.com/product/wax-...
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What do you think of this set up and the boxes after dipping? Any thoughts on how to control the foam?
Of the dipping operations I've seen, some foaming is normal. Make sure the wood you're dipping is good and dry.
Also: prep an area clean from debris, and lay a clean tarp down to reclaim some of that spillage.
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Great input! I purchased the boxes from Mann Lake last year, but there could have still been some moisture in the wood. If I purchase one of these dipping tanks for my own use I will try to figure out a way to catch the over flow was if it foams over. Thanks!
@@brucesbees no sweat. Maybe a piece of 1/4" plywood laid on cardboard on level concrete?
Any splashing can be reclaimed, and whatever's left can be used as fire starters.
Sounds like a good idea.
What type of wax are you using
Thanks for sharing Bruce.
You’re welcome! Hope you enjoy it!
I keep mine at 220-250F and dip for 10 to 15 minutes until the foaming starts to slow down. The moisture is different from one piece of wooden ware to the next and will require a different amount of time to boil out the moisture from the wood. The foaming problem will increase with higher temperatures and moisture levels. That is why I try to vary the temperature to the moisture level. If the moisture is high, I lower the temperature but no lower than 220 F or you won’t get a good replacement of moisture with your wax. I sometimes get wooden ware with very low moisture and then I can raise the temperature and reduce the time in the tank. If you are not getting the boxes hot enough to pull the wax into the wood, you will have surface wax to remove. I put a drip channel around the top outer edge of my tank to catch the foam and drain it back into a bucket. I enjoy your post. Thanks
Hey this is great information. Thanks!
They do look great. The wax just pops the natural wood look🍺🍺
Absolutely! And I think the wood preservation will be next level as well.
Hey Buddy I am talking to a couple guys about this. I think a lot has to do with your high temp getting it out fast and possibly the wax source. See if I can learn something. Love the wax dipping!
Awesome. Let me know what you find out! Great live tonight. I don’t know how you go for 2 hours! I think I would have been brain dead by then.
Wow....I want one of those when I grow up!!
I'm sure you will get there if you want!
Those boxes look awesome Bruce!! Thanks!
Yes the wax really makes them look good.
Could you pull off an old barbecue grill's thermometer and stick on the tank? Might be helpful to find a temperature that minimizes some of that foaming. Or a handheld thermal gun might work. Love that natural wood look. I did some of my honey supers with linseed oil and beeswax since they are outside for only a few months a year. After the first year they still look brand new. I suppose I should recoat them every couple of years. Thanks for the video Bruce, I am sure your bees will be bringing in pollen and nectar this week.
The problem we had with themal gun is it took.the temp.of foam and not the wax! Thx for the suggestion. May try a grill temp probe!
Yes great advice. Thanks for checking in! A friend of mine caught 3 swarms today in his beeyards so it looks like bee season is here whether we are ready or not!
I agree Boyd. Great idea!
@@boydmay1 If you point the gun at the side of the tank below the level of the wax that should be an accurate temp I would think. Yes the foam would be some other temp.
Interesting thought. Not sure if we tried that.
Nice
Foaming as wax is to hot 160 degrees is about right.The Foaming while dipping is the moist Timber causing the foam the timber has enought wax when the foam stops around 20 minutes is around time to dip each box(Its rare to get cured Timber so 20 minutes) .
Thanks for the input. The temp definitely seems to be an important part of the equation.
I'd like to have some wax dipped hives to try out someday. I do love the ol all natural look!
Awesome! Maybe you can. I really like the look of your stained boxes with the Unicorn Spit stain. I bet if you dipped those in wax they would look incredible. The wax seems to draw out the natural beauty of the wood.
@@brucesbees I bet it would too!
That video you made was really cool. I had never heard of that Unicorn Spit before.
@@brucesbees thanks that actually really means a lot to me. As I'm always my biggest critic when it comes to my videos wondering if I said or explained things properly. Thank the Lord for editing apps LOL.
Yes I enjoy your videos. I am the same way. Always trying to get better.
nice job
Thanks!
Bruce maybe ask Kamon about this I know he wax dips his boxes also .
Great idea. I actually talked to him about it yesterday as we were having the problem. He told us what he does but I think most people have some foam when dipping boxes. Thanks so much for checking in!
250 degrees for your wax and that should help you get where your going Peace
perfect! Thank you! We did some toward the end and raised the temp to 250, then killed heat when we dunked boxes. Temp went down about 10 degrees but did not foam over.
Thanks for the input. As Boyd mentioned that seemed to help. Could be the trick.
The foaming is the moisture coming out of the boxes when the foaming clears you know there done.
Thanks for the info.
Just a thought to consider. When you boil a pot of water on the stove sometimes it will boil over. I have always blown on the foam of the boiling water to make it reduce rapidly. I think you are dealing with a similar situation. There would be two options I can see.
1. Adjust the temperature lower like you do on a boiling pot of water so it doesn't boil over.
2. Maybe set a fan gently blowing on the surface to cool the foam which would then condense the foam back down into the vat. If I were going to try this option I would use a variable speed fan so there is plenty of adjustment.
The cooler temperatures may result in a longer dip time, the fan may allow you to run at a higher temperature reducing your dip time, in either case I would keep the wax away from the flame.
I like this idea. Hadn’t thought of it. Thanks!
Thanks !!
Thank you for checking in!
Try a spray bottle with isopropyl alcohol on the foam. Not sure if it'll work on the wax but it works for other materials.
Hmm that is an idea. Maybe we will have to try it out!
Try some anti foam agent from a brewing supple store. They use it to keep the foam down on their wart. Safe enough to drink. Should be safe enough for the bees. You need two drops per gallon of liquid. It just breaks the surface tension.
Hmm. That is an idea. Do you think it would work in this waxy foam?
@@brucesbees not sure. The worst it would do is evaporate or boil off. It’s only a couple bucks.
Good point. I will try to let Boyd know about this. Maybe we can try it next time. Thanks!
There has to be a foaming agent that can be used and it is safe for the bees. Nice video!!
This is a good suggestion. Maybe we should check into it before we try this again. Thanks!
@@brucesbees I found this info on line but I would only try it in a small batch. Dimethylpolysiloxane, also known as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), is a form of silicone used as an antifoaming agent in food with the European food additive number E900. This ingredient is commonly used in frying oil due to its good deforming effectiveness at high temperatures.
Also read lemon juice might work.
Thanks. Great ideas. I am taking note and maybe we can try some of these things in the future. The more I hear and comments I get it seems some foaming is normal as the water is forced from the wood. But maybe some sort of agent could help keep it to a minimum. It could also have something to do with temperature control. Boyd dipped the rest of the boxes yesterday and was able to keep it under better control by watching the temperature very carefully. Thanks for the input! Maybe between us and viewers’ comments and ideas we can get it figured out. 🙂
Hi Bruce. Can you dip them before you put the boxes together?
Not sure about that. Might not be a bad idea. The wax does penetrate every crack though so I think it preserves any cracks in the corners as well. Great question!
Yes, I believe there is a company called Hoover Hives that sells wax-dipped boxes unassembled. They are pricey, so I haven’t tried them to see how well the pieces fit together, but some reviewers claim the wax helps the joints slides right into place.
Interesting thought. Makes sense.
Bruce, have you tried using a thermometer in the hot wax to figure out what temp works good and produces less foam?
Yes we played around with it a bit. Boyd finished up the boxes today and seemed to figure it out a little better. I think the temperature that he found to be ideal was around 240 or 250
Where are you guys getting your wax from? You said somewhere in California in another video. I’ve heard the foaming could be from moist wood or higher temp wax above 275
Yes I think Boyd ordered it from somewhere out of California. You can contact him at his website for further details. Link is in the description.
Are the dipped boxes more attractive to the bees, are they more likely to make them a home?
Not that I know of. It’s mostly a preservation technique.
Have you considered a drain off one side to a container to keep it away from the fire when it does try to foam over? Seems I have seen that on some ones setup. Thanks for all the great videos Bruce!
Hey thanks for checking in. That is a good idea.
how about drying the wood in a kiln first to remove all the moisture?
That would not be a bad idea but not practical for me.
What type of wax,and what are the tank dimensions ?
I am not sure of the specifics but you can contact Boyd at the link in the description.
It is a custom premixed wax we have made. This allows us to simply add wax without concern about ratios.
Thanks Boyd
unfortunately your introducing moisture with the pine boards of the boxes as your sealing them a deeper tank and higher hear with the wax at the half way point of the tank and you might be able to force the moisture out of suspensions you might be having problems with tannins and sap from the pine too and that cant be boiled out
What’s the cost in a setup like what you all use ???
Great question. Boyd May built had the tank built and could probably give you a better idea of the cost of everything.
Disregard I followed the link in your description and found the cost 😊
Good deal. Thanks!
250 degrees. 300 causes more foam
Good to know. Thanks!
He is paravine??
It is a combination of paraffin and crystalline I think. Boyd could answer that question better.
From like wax . Just more broken down
This wax is a paraffin/crystalline mixture. Not sure if the exact ratios.
White wax. Save it .
We melt it down and then let it harden, then melt it down again when we dip the next time.
Moisture in your boxs
Not sure what you mean. Wax boxes work extremely well. I wish mine were all wax dipped.