My neighbor is going to work on his frames this weekend and I think that getting some used stuff for the hives I want to start next spring would be a good thing. I think he's going to spend some time cleaning up his frames and I am under the impression that used foundations and old comb would entice a swarm to move in and make a purchased nuc feel more at home. Am I wrong? If I'm right, what should I get? He has offered me frames and I am offering to trade him some of my new ones in exchange. Mine are wax coated, plastic foundation. I'd also like to know if I could collect any or all of the wax that he's going to discard for any reason? Can old wax be cleaned up and filtered somehow?
Oh, and I have a freezer that I can use to freeze anything and everything before storage. I picked it up just for this purpose.
Thanks for the help.
I started with all used stuff. yes, some old wax can be rendered. Even if it doesn't come out clean, you can get enough from it to paint your frames. That old wax smell will help with swarms and packages.
There is risk with old comb, but less if you know his hives are healthy. I got some from an old beekeeper and I froze the frames and then I bleach dipped them and let them air dry before putting them in the hive. This doesn't kill everything, but will get most of it.
DO NOT use anyones favorite pots and pans for rendering wax!! :grin: Grab a couple of beaters from Goodwill and use those. Also either some paint strainers or cheese cloth to strain the old wax. Trick taught to me: Strain the wax into a pot of hot (not boiling) water and let it cool. You'll end up with a nice wax disk on top of the water that is easy to remove.
I agree with Kathy. If you want the wax to paint foundation or attract swarms, anything will work, in fact that dark comb smell is what bees like the most. If you are rendering wax to use for yourself though, I find the black comb just doesn't generate enough to be worth the effort. As Kathy said, every single pot, spoon, bowl, etc. MUST be dedicated for use with wax only, because the stuff is literally impossible to clean off. What I do to melt wax is break up my wax into smallish pieces, and tie it all up in some cheap cheesecloth. Then I fill up my crock pot (which is only used for this) with water, put the bag of wax in it, and put it on low for several hours. The wax will melt out of the cheesecloth, leaving the slumgum (the bee parts, used cocoons, and baby bee poop) in the cheesecloth, which can then be removed with a tongs. Throw out the cheesecloth, turn off the crock pot, and the wax will solidify on top of the water. As Kathy said, cheap utensils, bowls, and even crock pots, can all be found at your local thrift stores.
If you want drawn comb to use in your hives long term (i.e. you aren't just trying to get the oldest blackest stuff to attract a swarm), try to go for frames that have yellowish (basically light brown or lighter) wax. Older comb can harbor pesticide or miticide residues, and of course, be sure to at least freeze the comb first before giving it one of your hives. Drawn comb is gold for helping a bee colony grow, since it takes the bees eating 8 pounds of honey to make 1 pound of wax.
well, I'm not so sure about pots from goodwill ...
A way to get your wife involved with your hobby may be to use her favorite decorative porcelain pots. .. finally, an actual use for the things :cool:
Also, a good accessory for your beekeeping suit is a bulletproof vest with a trauma plate if you take the above "advice"
Terri, You are fortunate to have a neighbor with what you have described.
The black comb is a lot of trouble for little return 'if' wax was simply your goal Terri, but since attracting a swarm of bees is your goal, the black wax is just what the DR Ordered in my opinion. You do not need to trade your frames in my opinion.
Simply pick up what blackcomb he does not want, enough to succeed in doing following will be great!.
Melt it down and 'paint' the liquid part this 'slum gum' on the inside of your boxes. If any is left over, paint the frames as well, and so much the better! Don't worry about any 'small pieces which is in reason', of the black stuff as the bees will take care of that on the frames.. I dont know of a better swarm attractant than this type set up! It's a fun thing to walk up on such a box one day and find a swarm of bees either scouting, or already have set up housekeeping in it!! Good luck!
Phillip
Adding Terri, if you don't have much of the liquid after melting, you can simple grab a handful of the mess and smear it on the insides of the box. Just make sure the wax is not so hot that you burn yourself, but warm enough to be wet. Again good 'fishing'!!
Phillip
OK, Sounds like good direction. Thanks. And I have a stack of AL pots in the garage that I just knew I'd have a use for one day. I'm not a hoarder or anything like that, I'm just a keeper of things that might be of use some day.
If you have a steam generator such as one used for stripping wall paper, you would be able to use it to extract a good quantity of clean wax from old comb.
Quote from: Lesgold on November 18, 2023, 04:07:15 PM
If you have a steam generator such as one used for stripping wall paper, you would be able to use it to extract a good quantity of clean wax from old comb.
The only steam generator I own is called and iron but I can keep on the lookout for one when I go to auctions. Thanks.
Quote from: Terri Yaki on November 18, 2023, 03:46:33 PM
I'm not a hoarder or anything like that, I'm just a keeper of things that might be of use some day.
Preaching to the choir, sir! :cheesy:
He gave me three medium frames of comb, one piece of comb that wouldn't fill a frame but I don't know where it was built, two jars of stuff that was ravaged by moths and some flow hive frames of his to condition in my freezer. I ordered some cheese cloth off of fleabay, which will be here in a couple of days. I'll winter the frames in rubber tubs and seal the lids, probably with Saran wrap. I don't think he did anything with that flow hive but I'll have to ask him.
Quote from: Terri Yaki on November 19, 2023, 06:47:04 PM
I'll winter the frames in rubber tubs and seal the lids, probably with Saran wrap.
If you are storing the tubs in an unheated space, in your climate, the Saran wrap is probably overkill. Even in my climate, a good snapping lid is fine. But hey, overkill is better than underkill.
Quote from: Terri Yaki on November 19, 2023, 06:47:04 PM
some flow hive frames of his to condition in my freezer. I don't think he did anything with that flow hive but I'll have to ask him.
The flow hive frames will be different than normal ones obviously, and they may be difficult to clean if that is your goal. Perhaps people with flow hives can give you some pointers for cleaning and using them.
Quote from: The15thMember on November 20, 2023, 03:53:14 PM
Quote from: Terri Yaki on November 19, 2023, 06:47:04 PM
I'll winter the frames in rubber tubs and seal the lids, probably with Saran wrap.
If you are storing the tubs in an unheated space, in your climate, the Saran wrap is probably overkill. Even in my climate, a good snapping lid is fine. But hey, overkill is better than underkill.
Quote from: Terri Yaki on November 19, 2023, 06:47:04 PM
some flow hive frames of his to condition in my freezer. I don't think he did anything with that flow hive but I'll have to ask him.
The flow hive frames will be different than normal ones obviously, and they may be difficult to clean if that is your goal. Perhaps people with flow hives can give you some pointers for cleaning and using them.
He got the flow hive as a gift and you are right, he's not going to try cleaning those frames. He said that that hive didn't produce any honey this year. It was not all grossed out like his other frames, where they wax moths made a mess of things.
I am a hoarder. But that's because things might be useful one day... All you who are enjoying your antiques can thank people like me that they still exist.
I have some cheesecloth bags inbound off of fleabay and I can hardly wait to see how wax extraction goes. And right now my hives are stacked in the garage but I'll pull them apart and spread them around so I can paint the interiors with the schmutz. It's not what I'd paint my house with but who am I to judge their tastes?
Quote from: Terri Yaki on November 21, 2023, 07:50:44 AM
but I'll pull them apart and spread them around so I can paint the interiors with the schmutz.
:cheesy: I'm laughing about "schmutz". I haven't heard anyone outside my family use that word in a LONG time. :grin:
Do you have your hive exteriors painted already (if you are painting them)? Because I learned a little trick from someone on here (sorry, not sure who it was :oops: ) to rub a little bit of wax on the edges of the boxes so they don't stick together so bad when they are newly painted. Works like a charm! :cool:
My hives are waxed so I won't be painting them, at least not at first. 'Schmutz' is a word that the PA Dutch use and since you said you had lived in Lancaster area, 15thMember, it is understandable that you would use it and I'm not completely surprised that it's regional. I'm thinking that you might know what scrapple is too.
lol. I thought everyone used schmutz. .. best cleaned off a cheek by mother's spit on her thumb.
scrapple fried in schmaltz would still be schmutz, imo. but my yankee-ish wife likes it. :grin:
> I'm thinking that you might know what scrapple is too.
Yummmmm.
Quote from: Michael Bush on November 27, 2023, 06:36:43 AM
> I'm thinking that you might know what scrapple is too.
Yummmmm.
How do you know what scrapple is?
I have some comb in a cheesecloth bag in hot water for my first go with this. The cheesecloth looks like a pretty small mesh, is the wax going to make it through that? Or are there different meshes?
Quote from: Terri Yaki on November 27, 2023, 01:24:01 PM
I have some comb in a cheesecloth bag in hot water for my first go with this. The cheesecloth looks like a pretty small mesh, is the wax going to make it through that? Or are there different meshes?
There are, but I doubt it will be a problem, as long as the wax is truly liquid. I buy the cheapest stuff they have at Walmart, and the mesh is a little too wide, so I usually double bag mine to keep any slumgum from leaking out. If you are doing this on a stove, be sure for safety reasons that it doesn't boil. A wax fire is very dangerous. That's why I like the Crock Pot, because I know it won't get to 212F. Beeswax melts at 147F, so your water should be hot, maybe barely simmering, but NEVER boiling. Don't leave it unattended for too long. SAFETY FIRST!
Quote from: The15thMember on November 27, 2023, 01:36:32 PM
Quote from: Terri Yaki on November 27, 2023, 01:24:01 PM
I have some comb in a cheesecloth bag in hot water for my first go with this. The cheesecloth looks like a pretty small mesh, is the wax going to make it through that? Or are there different meshes?
There are, but I doubt it will be a problem, as long as the wax is truly liquid. I buy the cheapest stuff they have at Walmart, and the mesh is a little too wide, so I usually double bag mine to keep any slumgum from leaking out. If you are doing this on a stove, be sure for safety reasons that it doesn't boil. A wax fire is very dangerous. That's why I like the Crock Pot, because I know it won't get to 212F. Beeswax melts at 147F, so your water should be hot, maybe barely simmering, but NEVER boiling. Don't leave it unattended for too long. SAFETY FIRST!
Got it, thanks! I saw that on the melting temp and that article said that it would change color if overheated. I'm thinking that that's just straight up in a pot, not in water. If I'm wrong, wise me up. Besides, I started with some nasty brown comb first figuring I can't hurt it. There is some clean stuff in the bottom of that jar, that I'll keep clean.
And how long should I cook this for? How do I know when I've reached 'the end'?
Quote from: Terri Yaki on November 27, 2023, 01:46:34 PM
I'm thinking that that's just straight up in a pot, not in water.
Just to keep on this PSA safety train, beeswax should never be melted over direct heat. So it should either be melted in water, using a double boiler/bain marie, or in the microwave in short bursts.
Quote from: Terri Yaki on November 27, 2023, 01:46:34 PM
Besides, I started with some nasty brown comb first figuring I can't hurt it.
Don't be surprised if you don't get much from the very dark stuff. A lot of the gunk in that comb falls into the "unmeltable" category.
Quote from: Terri Yaki on November 27, 2023, 02:35:12 PM
And how long should I cook this for? How do I know when I've reached 'the end'?
Basically you just need to get to the point where everything that is going to melt is melted. Which probably isn't very helpful. :embarassed: The cheesecloth will kind of flatten out as the wax melts out and leaves room inside the mesh. The melted wax won't be very visible in the water, especially if you don't get much. In the Crock Pot, it usually takes me several hours, but I'm melting a lot at one time, so it just kind of depends.
Terri I realize you do not have colonies of bees as if yet, so the following will not be to your benefit at this time as far as wax recovery is concerned. This video demonstrates the 'flammability' of beeswax, as well a 'unique way' to render wax from 'even black comb' to some degree, for those who may have many hives and are serious about recovering wax efficiently..
Phillip
https://youtu.be/0aM_F4pS5As?si=7Hm48bv4tA1AQlGa
Quote from: Ben Framed on November 27, 2023, 04:15:45 PM
Terri I realize you do not yet have any hives, and the following will not be to your benefit to you at this time as far as wax recovery is concerned. This video demonstrates the flammability of beeswax, as well a 'unique way' to render wax from 'even black comb' to some degree, for those who have many hives and are serious about recovering wax efficiently..
Phillip
https://youtu.be/0aM_F4pS5As?si=7Hm48bv4tA1AQlGa
That's OK, my neighbor has them and he doesn't seem to be interested in this recovery so he gives me his stuff. He had a lot of comb that was fit for an Alfred Hitchcock movie and I didn't bother with that. Thanks for the info
Terri you might have already said and I might have missed it. How many hives does he have?
Phillip
>How do you know what scrapple is?
I grew up in a small town. Like less than 1,000 people. The people I went to school with were mostly farm kids. A lot of them were of German decent. My dad was from the South. Things like headcheese and scrapple were not uncommon. People gathered mushrooms and caught crawdads too. Fried mush was also common and almost the same as scrapple except for the meat. Cracklin's were also nice in things to make them "meaty".
Quote from: Ben Framed on November 28, 2023, 05:26:14 AM
Terri you might have already said and I might have missed it. How many hives does he have?
Phillip
He had about five during the summer but he lost three. I don't think he's a very good housekeeper with them, which surprises me because he is OCD on everything else that he does. He just has this mental block about learning from others. I do expect him to do better next year and he might even benefit from a little competition.
Quote from: Michael Bush on November 28, 2023, 06:43:12 AM
>How do you know what scrapple is?
I grew up in a small town. Like less than 1,000 people. The people I went to school with were mostly farm kids. A lot of them were of German decent. My dad was from the South. Things like headcheese and scrapple were not uncommon. People gathered mushrooms and caught crawdads too. Fried mush was also common and almost the same as scrapple except for the meat. Cracklin's were also nice in things to make them "meaty".
That sounds like a nice array of different eats there. I have heard of head cheese but never had it and will probably keep it that way. I didn't find mush to be all that great but it could have been the brand or the way it was prepared. I render my lard and tallow so I do get cracklin's but haven't found a use for them yet. To me, they seemed burned. Maybe I should have pulled them out earlier but they were really greasy too. They could work as an additive to other things though, I might give that a try.
Quote from: The15thMember on November 27, 2023, 03:15:46 PM
Don't be surprised if you don't get much from the very dark stuff. A lot of the gunk in that comb falls into the "unmeltable" category.
You weren't exaggerating with that statement. All I got from that round was a disc that I'd have to measure with a micrometer. That's OK though, I like these kinds of experiments. The disc was interesting. It was rubbery and flexible and not what I expected of it. I did break it into pieces and I put it in a foil container. After I get more, I'll steam it and make an ingot out of it.
Craklin's will be greasy. They shouldn't be burned. You can add them to anything you would add bacon bits to...
Quote from: Michael Bush on November 28, 2023, 10:02:08 AM
Craklin's will be greasy. They shouldn't be burned. You can add them to anything you would add bacon bits to...
I left them in until full rendering was done, next time I'll pull them out.
Apparently, a couple of dabs of wax on the stovetop are not appreciated.
Quote from: Terri Yaki on November 28, 2023, 02:22:00 PM
Apparently, a couple of dabs of wax on the stovetop are not appreciated.
Been there! :embarassed: Unfortunately, unlike the other utensils, it's rarely practical to have your own stove for wax melting.
Teri, head cheese isn't much different than scrapple .. minus the corn meal and liver .. plus more gelatin and a touch of vinegar. Your souse is pretty much the same as our head cheese. Our souse is usually a spicier version our hog's head cheese but everything varies by who makes it, when it comes to spiciness and how coarse the chunks are. Personally, I like the hot and spicy stuff with green onions in it (more Cajun than Mississippi), and will melt/mix it into cooked rice. Usually it's eaten cold. Like anything it depends on how someone makes it and what your tastes are. Even something as simple as grits can be good or horrible.
I always thought it was odd that scrapple is more northern and head cheese more southern ... because of the cornmeal.
Do the leftovers of the brown comb burn cleanly ? Was wondering if it might make a good campfire/fireplace starter. .. or what it might be useful for.
Quote from: animal on November 28, 2023, 08:42:46 PM
Teri, head cheese isn't much different than scrapple .. minus the corn meal and liver .. plus more gelatin and a touch of vinegar. Your souse is pretty much the same as our head cheese. Our souse is usually a spicier version our hog's head cheese but everything varies by who makes it, when it comes to spiciness and how coarse the chunks are. Personally, I like the hot and spicy stuff with green onions in it (more Cajun than Mississippi), and will melt/mix it into cooked rice. Usually it's eaten cold. Like anything it depends on how someone makes it and what your tastes are. Even something as simple as grits can be good or horrible.
I always thought it was odd that scrapple is more northern and head cheese more southern ... because of the cornmeal.
Do the leftovers of the brown comb burn cleanly ? Was wondering if it might make a good campfire/fireplace starter. .. or what it might be useful for.
I don't know how it burns, I didn't spill that much on the stove. :cool: Here's a picture of the first batch. I was pretty careful with my process, the second round wasn't as clean and I'll refine it again. I was surprised that it came up this clean. This disc is like 1/32" thick.
That looks like a nice round of wax to me. :cool:
What I was wondering about was the other stuff that the clean wax came out of.... I've made campfire starter's out of wax and dryer lint (from an all cotton load)... figured all of the wax would not be extracted and was wondering if the stuff leftover might work as a waterproof fire starting material.
Quote from: animal on November 28, 2023, 09:01:27 PM
That looks like a nice round of wax to me. :cool:
What I was wondering about was the other stuff that the clean wax came out of.... I've made campfire starter's out of wax and dryer lint (from an all cotton load)... figured all of the wax would not be extracted and was wondering if the stuff leftover might work as a waterproof fire starting material.
Oh, that went way over my head. Good question, I'll give it a try and let you know.
Don't waste good beeswax on fire starters. You can buy paraffin so much cheaper and once you are keeping bees there is always the slumgum that you can use for that.
I took it that the leftover stuff animal is asking about, 'is' the 'slumgum' that we have been talking about in previous post.
I am wondering about the possibility of any water or moisture that might become trapped 'within' this this stuff, (considering the sealing property of wax), thus allowing a 'thin' wax coatings 'throughout' and 'within' this slumgum as it cools? Perhaps enough trapped moisture to disallow this stuff from working out well as we might hope as a fire starter as such? 🤷🏻♂️
Phillip
Yes, it's the slumgum I was wondering about. I haven't done this yet and was curious about it's properties. Pictures online range from a schmutzy gunk of bee parts, pollen, and nastiness to a syrup looking goo in a picture on wikipedia (of a casting in a torn milk carton).
If all of those pics are of slumgum, it seems like slumgum is a catch-all word for "any gunk left over from whatever you had in the melter" ?
After getting as much clean wax as I can out of the slumgum, I press the rest by wringing the cheese cloth and collecting the wax. There's not much water left in what's left.
I'll find out, it's easy enough for me to hit it with a torch and see what it does. This stuff kind of stinks but to each their own and if the bees love it, who am I to judge? So how am I to apply this stuff? For the most part it's solids that aren't going to spread or stick too good. Or do I just use the water that was used for the extraction? Or do I take the warm solids and smear it on a frame until it sets?
Quote from: Terri Yaki on November 29, 2023, 10:30:12 AM
I'll find out, it's easy enough for me to hit it with a torch and see what it does. This stuff kind of stinks but to each their own and if the bees love it, who am I to judge? So how am I to apply this stuff? For the most part it's solids that aren't going to spread or stick too good. Or do I just use the water that was used for the extraction? Or do I take the warm solids and smear it on a frame until it sets?
I have little doubt that it will catch up with a torch considering the example with spilled wax/water in the open fire of the video which I placed here for your pleasure Terri. The real test would be with a match or a lighter, as in a real life situation and the use for which this is intended by animal, to be used as
a fire starter. 🤷🏻♂️
Let us know how it turns out..
Phillip
Quote from: Ben Framed on November 29, 2023, 10:45:53 AM
I have little doubt that it will catch up with a torch considering the example with spilled wax/water in the open fire of the video which I placed here for your pleasure Terri. The real test would be with a match or a lighter, as in a real life situation and the use for which this is intended by animal, to be used as a fire starter. 🤷🏻♂️
Let us know how it turns out..
Phillip
Oh yes, a full regimen of testing is in order. I'll start with a propane torch first because that definitely reveals whether or not there are possibilities. Should that succeed, I'll drop back to a match and a piece of newspaper and proceed from there based on results. And I like Michael's idea of wringing out the bag whilst it's still hot and malleable.
Quote from: Terri Yaki on November 29, 2023, 10:59:34 AM
Quote from: Ben Framed on November 29, 2023, 10:45:53 AM
I have little doubt that it will catch up with a torch considering the example with spilled wax/water in the open fire of the video which I placed here for your pleasure Terri. The real test would be with a match or a lighter, as in a real life situation and the use for which this is intended by animal, to be used as a fire starter. 🤷🏻♂️
Let us know how it turns out..
Phillip
Oh yes, a full regimen of testing is in order. I'll start with a propane torch first because that definitely reveals whether or not there are possibilities. Should that succeed, I'll drop back to a match and a piece of newspaper and proceed from there based on results. And I like Michael's idea of wringing out the bag whilst it's still hot and malleable.
Sounds good, maybe a third test, 'just' a match?
Phillip
Quote from: animal on November 29, 2023, 09:59:15 AM
If all of those pics are of slumgum, it seems like slumgum is a catch-all word for "any gunk left over from whatever you had in the melter" ?
In my experience, yes. I call all the "unmeltables" slumgum.
Quote from: Ben Framed on November 29, 2023, 11:01:31 AM
Sounds good, maybe a third test, 'just' a match?
Phillip
That would be a viable second step in the testing process.
Quote from: Terri Yaki on November 29, 2023, 11:21:34 AM
Quote from: Ben Framed on November 29, 2023, 11:01:31 AM
Sounds good, maybe a third test, 'just' a match?
Phillip
That would be a viable second step in the testing process.
Yes a match with 'no' paper... :grin:
Thanks,
Phillip
Somehow I missed that video but that was interesting. I have an antique sausage stuffer I could use to press the bags with. :cool:
Quote from: Terri Yaki on November 29, 2023, 11:34:10 AM
Somehow I missed that video but that was interesting. I have an antique sausage stuffer I could use to press the bags with. :cool:
A sausage stuffer should work fine for that.. I will repost the
reply #24 which contained the video, for you convenience in case you might like to see how flammable beeswax really is in an open flame, even in water! :shocked:
https://beemaster.com/forum/index.php?topic=56947.msg524180#msg524180
I find it amazing that bees can make a flammable product like that.
I can never get over that bees make wax. Every time I melt wax or make a candle, I always say to my family, "Bugs made that, can you believe it?"
a bee a bug ? :rolleyes:
gotcha ! :shocked: :cool:
but ... we make methane ! far more flammable, and quite a few funny youtube videos to "prove it" :cheesy:
Quote from: animal on November 30, 2023, 12:28:39 AM
a bee a bug ? :rolleyes:
gotcha ! :shocked: :cool:
but ... we make methane ! far more flammable, and quite a few funny youtube videos to "prove it" :cheesy:
What's your channel? :cool:
Mostly, I was just tickled to catch 15th on a technical error :wink: ... hard to do with bee biology :cool:
Channel?
Nah Teri, I don't document my inquiries with video, plenty of others doing that. I do it with words, silly projects, and injuries.
Alas, while I have personally confirmed the flammability of methane, I received no scars to document it. While the study was conducted in a college setting, it wasn't scientifically controlled(or controlled in any other sense). Plus, the results may have been affected by the copious amounts of alcohol in my system at the time; which definitely precipitated the experiment itself. So on this, we are reliant on other intrepid souls of youtube to document the science.
This particular line of inquiry has brought to mind a question of paramount importance. That question is, of course, "Do bees fart?"
While I have found researchers claiming that they do, all of them merely describe the expulsion of air accompanying solids and/or liquids. I find these claims dubious since a true fart must contain methane and be of gas alone. While methane content can be argued as to whether it is a correct metric for definition, I cannot accept the idea that expulsion of anything other than gas, can be considered a fart. Indeed, not only do I reject the ideas of these researchers, but would prefer to not be anywhere around them, and most especially not behind them.
Even looking to youtube, I haven't seen any documentation of flaming bee butts. Further research is definitely needed to answer this question, so I've begun looking into the process of applying for a federal grant.
Quote from: animal on November 30, 2023, 12:28:39 AM
a bee a bug ? :rolleyes:
gotcha ! :shocked: :cool:
I should think it would be apparent that I wasn't speaking in a strictly scientific manner in this context! :angry: Or am I not allowed to call a tomato a vegetable ever??!! :wink: :cheesy:
Hot slum gum mixed with wood shavings which are then pushed into old cardboard egg cartons make good fire starters.
Quote from: Lesgold on December 02, 2023, 12:16:41 AM
Hot slum gum mixed with wood shavings which are then pushed into old cardboard egg cartons make good fire starters.
I like the idea Les.. Thanks...
Phillip
I went and ordered another four frame hive from Vevor. It looks like they're going to stop selling them as they have them on 'clearance' but the price is the same I paid for my other two. I figure the price will go up (theirs are the cheapest I found anyway) and having extra stuff around is sort of in my blood (I am not a hoarder, I am a keeper of things).
And opening this thread and looking at it reminds me that I need to see how well that slum gum burns.
And the results are in...slumgum will burn if lit with a propane torch but just barely. It would light newspaper or paper towels but that's about it.