I ran a simple test to see how hard it would be to burn down a hive with a
vaporizer. It is pretty hard.

I did run the test outside in the open, but the results should be the same
since I made it worst case.

First I calibrated my vaporizer and it hit the temperature range to
vaporize the acid about the 1/1/2 minute point (300F to 366F). My vaporizer
is not uniform in temperature but has about a 40F difference between the
hottest point, by the element, and furthest from it. After I finished
everything I ran it again and it stayed true.

I then ran tests to see if it would ignite wood frames, plastic frames and
wax. I placed the hottest part of the pot directly on the frame bottom to
be worse than worse that would be encountered between the vaporizer and
frame in a hive.I leaned the frames on the pot.

There was nearly no impact on wood frames but the wax on the bottom of the
frames melted into the pot- more on this later in the wax test. I allowed
the element to stay in contact for 2 1/2 minutes after disconnecting power
to the vaporizer, my normal practice. No ignition.

I did the same to a plastic frame and the vaporizer pot melted into the
frame and plastic melt was on the pot. It bubbled a bit but still no
ignition. I had the plastic frame leaning on the pot and it went in about
1/2 inch, so again, worse than worst case.

I placed wax in the pot and ran the test for the full 2 1/2 minutes and all
I had at that point was melted wax. I did not remove power but continued to
boil away the wax for two more minutes and then stopped power because it
did not want to have to clean up the mess.

I did not cool the vaporizer down between tests so it started above ambient
so again it would have been worst case. I still used 2 1/2 minutes but the
OA vaporized long before that.

If you really wanted to burn your hive down, you could do it with an OAV,
but you either want the insurance or you are not paying attention and do
not disconnect power when you should. Even then, I went minutes more with
power on and no ignition. But you could do it.If your vaporizer does not
have a thermostat, and mine seems not to, you can get to ignition
temperatures of plastic and a lesser degree, wood , But even mine is below
those temperatures after 2 1/2 minutes and it takes several minutes more to
get into the danger area. I would be more concerned with wax than the wood
or plastic.

To reduce any problems, the wand needs to be short so the pot only goes a
short distance into the hive which reduces contact with the frames and wax.
I would scrape the bottoms of the frames that are near the pot as well as
the hive bottom below it. Your hive tool is the perfect length to scrape
the frame bottom and then use the other end to scrape and pull out the
debris on the bottom board.Then you are clean above and below it.

And take along a timer that rings when you should remove power. Removes
distractions.

I heard the stories about the OAV hive fires and was concerned, but you
really have to go out of your way to have one.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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