On Mon, 3 Apr 1995 07:08:00 -0600
Eric Abell wrote ...                         <[log in to unmask]>
 
...<cut>
> Perhaps we would get more honey if they were not used but our expenses
> would also be greater - they do save time.
 
   I'm not sure there is any difference in honey crop
 
> Related to this:
>    How do people clean the excluders for the next season - or do you?
 
>   I have a cut-down drum with provision below it for a propane
> torch.  I boil the water, dip the excluder, and shake off the junk.  I am
> not altogether happy with this method and would like to hear of others.
 
   The problem is to remove both wax _and_ propolis in one operation !
   According with Brother Adam in his "Beekeeping Method" the only
process to remove this both substances is to _heat_ in _alcaline
medium_  Eric, you heated but in tap water and the results are poor,
very poor.
 
If you alcalinize the water : no more problem ... while boiling, wax
is removed and float and the propolis is dissolved.  We used this also
to clean all the material from the hives : the frames after the steam
removing of the wax, queen excluders, tops and bottoms, even the supers
(our drum is a cubic one!) Attention alcali attacks painting !
 
As the NaOH method don't give us quite happiness we try some
possibilities to alcalinize
 
   1/ the use of SODIUM HYDROXIDE : it is
      the method of brother Adam : 500 g NaOH/ 100 lt of boiling water
      pay attention: use gloves and glasses (or goggles).  The results
      are excellent but with this product the wood becomes rought and
      all painting is removed.
 
   2/ the use of SODIUM SULFATE : 1 kg Na2SO4 / 100 lt of boiling water
      gives good results after a 10 min dipping. Remove floating wax
      before removing the material.
 
   3/ the use of TRISODIUM PHOSPHATE : results idem as sulfate
 
After such a treatment the material is really as _CLEAN_ as _NEW_ !
Rinse to remove the remaining products.  Brother Adam described a
second drum with boiling tap water where the material was dipped.
We used a hose but is isn't the best.
 
Seems this treatment very useful to keep a good sanitary state in the
apiary.  For this purpose, the best is NaOH !
 
I speaked about super (and painting) but for us it was not a problem
because we dipped the treated super in heated microwax (140-150 dC)
(treatment each 5 years or if foulbrood occurs).
 
Hope this helps
 
Jean-Marie                                      Mon 3-APR-95 18:23
 
Local blooming informations ...
Long. : 4deg 56' E - Lat. : 50deg 30' N  -  Alt. : 200 m  -  North sea : 200 km
 
After a week of winter time ... the spring is there !!!
      full blooming of Salix Caprea .. first blooms of Dandelion
 
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 Jean-Marie Van Dyck                    Fax +32 81 72 42 72
 B.P. 102                               email : [log in to unmask]
 B-5000     NAMUR(Belgium)              Medical school - Biochemistry dept
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