At 09:48  8/27/96 -0600, you wrote:
>---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
>Sender:       Discussion of Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
>Poster:       Allen Dick <[log in to unmask]>
>Organization: The Beekeepers
>Subject:      Re: Propolis
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>> I have been contacted by a gentleman who would like to buy some
>> propolis.  I have been scraping a lot of boxes and the mixture I get
>> is mostly wax and propolis.  My question is:  Is there any practical
>> way of separating the propolis from these scrapings?
>
>Place the mix into cold water.  Wax floats, propolis and dirt sink.
>
>The propolis must be dried.
>
>I did this years ago and sent samples to the buyer, was quoted a
>price, sent the same material, and received 2/3 what they promised.
>
>FWiW
>
>Regards
>
>Allen
>
>W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper                                         VE6CFK
>RR#1, Swalwell, Alberta  Canada T0M 1Y0
>Internet:[log in to unmask] & [log in to unmask]
>Honey. Bees, & Art <http://www.internode.net/~allend/>
 
 
What Allen says is true, except...  If the wax and propolis is clumped
together, which most of it probably will be, it will be very difficult to
separate.
 
My suggestion to you is, if you're going to be selling propolis to this man
on a regular basis, spend the small amount to purchase some of the propolis
trap netting.  I say this specific type, because my experience has shown
that the black, rigid type trap is not worth the extra money you have to pay
for it.  I don't know who it's maker is, and I'm not trying to slam them,
but I have been very displeased with the results from that type.  It's hard
to get into the freezer, the propolis doesn't want to come out of it, and
the bees don't like it as much.
 
The netting type works much better, all the way around.  However, I did find
that in order to maximize the yield, the netting needed to be in some sort
of frame, which I am building right now.
 
If you do it this way, you'll get a much better quality propolis than by
scraping your boxes and it's an easy thing to do.  Just throw it on, under
the top, and the bees do the rest.
 
 
Cheers,
 
 
 
 
Mike Wallace
Sar Shalom Apiary
McKinney, Texas   USA
"Out of the heart, the mouth speaks."