More rookie Q?s

The15thMember · June 10, 2019, 08:09:24 PM

I like to use a bee brush for a situation like that, where there are bees on the edges or outside of a box and it?s hard to get the next box on.

Quote from: FloridaGardener on June 10, 2019, 07:13:39 PM
If you use a bee glove, try gently herding them. Lightly as you would pet the nose of a cat.

Patty-cake them from the edge into the brood box, then patty-cake them down into the frames. They will scurry, and you will have a no-bee moment to put the next layer on.

This totally works. I have done this if my bee brush wasn?t handy or there was a little cluster of bees. If you just lightly tap them they?ll move right away.

saltybluegrass · June 11, 2019, 10:17:26 AM

Yet another good tip- thanks Fla Gardener

saltybluegrass · June 11, 2019, 11:40:32 AM

Non toxic way to clean my pots and bowls after melting wax comb for candle making? I don?t wanna hurt my drains either

Oldbeavo · June 11, 2019, 06:38:54 PM

Boiling hot water or leave them as permanent wax melting pots and bowls so you don't have to clean them.

Acebird · June 12, 2019, 08:21:29 AM

Quote from: Oldbeavo on June 11, 2019, 06:38:54 PM
leave them as permanent wax melting pots and bowls so you don't have to clean them.

Absolutely, dedicated utensils for wax.

CoolBees · June 12, 2019, 10:40:24 AM

Quote from: saltybluegrass on June 11, 2019, 11:40:32 AM
Non toxic way to clean my pots and bowls after melting wax comb for candle making? I don?t wanna hurt my drains either

Fill the pots with water to the rim - bring water almost to boil. Turn off heat, and let cool. Wax is on top. Pot(s) is clean below.

Definitely do not pour wax down the drain - I'm not sure you'll ever get it out.

I was raised in a house built by the Amish. The house was the 1st one listed in the county records when they started keeping records - 210 yrs before I was born - so the house was standing already then. The basement was full height, hand dug, and stone walled with no mortar (and still straight). Clearly, the basement was made before the house was erected. There was a large black "stone" built into the basement wall - it was flat, jet black, about 3' long, 6" thick, and the depth of the wall. One winter, we went on vacation for a week, and loaned our house to some friends. They didn't know how to properly use out Central Wood Furnace (located in said basement). They got the furnace so hot, it melted the telephone wires running along the basement ceiling - melted them clear through, copper and all. That large black "Stone" also started melting - turns out, it wasn't Stone, but rather a massive slab on bees wax - built into the wall. I've often wondered - did the Amish know it was wax? ... or did the "Stone" pre-date them? ... hmmm ...

Not sure why I just thought of that ... just goes to show how long beeswax lasts - "forever" maybe. Don't put it down the drain.

Nock · June 12, 2019, 10:57:47 AM

Nice story thanks for sharing.

The15thMember · June 12, 2019, 11:36:03 AM

Amazing story, Alan! It must have been cool to live in a house that old.

I also agree about having utensils that are only used for beeswax.

saltybluegrass · June 13, 2019, 01:54:57 AM

Momma went to the dollar store for me - I got some dedicated pots and utensils
Alan, my great aunt (who also raised bees) had a 1880 log house on civil war property - the bedrooms had heavy iron latches like thumb latches with a flat piece of iron that fit in the slot.
Some nights We could hear those latches rattling.
Now the most ironic part was she moved to Florida upon retirement and her neighbor came over and asked if she was from Ky. She said yes and the neighbor said my son and daughter in law just bought a house in your state .
It was the log house.
Great memories on her farm there as well she took me to a bee warehouse where they processed honey and wax. I?ll never forget how sweet it smelled in there.
Thanks

CoolBees · June 13, 2019, 12:52:00 PM

Good stuff Salty, good stuff! ... it's amazing how childhood exposures, (smells and memories), change/make a person later in life.

The15thMember · June 13, 2019, 01:46:42 PM

Quote from: saltybluegrass on June 13, 2019, 01:54:57 AM
Momma went to the dollar store for me - I got some dedicated pots and utensils
Alan, my great aunt (who also raised bees) had a 1880 log house on civil war property - the bedrooms had heavy iron latches like thumb latches with a flat piece of iron that fit in the slot.
Some nights We could hear those latches rattling.
Now the most ironic part was she moved to Florida upon retirement and her neighbor came over and asked if she was from Ky. She said yes and the neighbor said my son and daughter in law just bought a house in your state .
It was the log house.
Great memories on her farm there as well she took me to a bee warehouse where they processed honey and wax. I?ll never forget how sweet it smelled in there.
Thanks

Amazing! What are the odds!