Geoff wrote > Many moons ago when I was getting my PhD in beekeeping by working for Norm > Rice, he said IIRC that the microcrystalline was to make the dipping > material > more pliable, rather like beeswax. Presumably to allow the expansion and > contraction of the timber in the field. Painting also helped this, thus > avoiding cracking of the timber. This method was not successful as a preservative. I bought many of those boxes years ago and all have now surcumbed to decay (rot) of various degrees. Boxes treated with copper naphthenate over 20 years ago are still in service. > He had considered using copper in the mix, but was concerned about the > effect of the hot mix fumes on the (human) workers. Graham Kleinschmidt said that in New Zealand many years ago they used copper naphthenate then wax dipped. Trevor Weatherhead AUSTRALIA *********************************************** The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html