brown water

randydrivesabus · August 10, 2007, 11:40:09 AM

i used a solar wax melter and ended up with wax and a bunch of brown water which is a mixture of honey and water....this process took a few weeks since we were lacking somewhat for the solar part of the melter. what can i do with the brown water? feed it to the bees?

wtiger · August 10, 2007, 11:47:43 AM

Did the water ferment after such a long sugary sit?

randydrivesabus · August 10, 2007, 11:49:37 AM

how would i know if it did? by tasting it? smelling it?

Mici · August 10, 2007, 11:58:19 AM

pour it away, as simple as that.

randydrivesabus · August 10, 2007, 12:01:01 PM

yeah....but i was just trying to find out if theres any use for it.

Robo · August 10, 2007, 12:21:21 PM

I feed it back to the bees. You can add a little clorox to keep it from fermenting. It will start to foam if it is fermenting.

randydrivesabus · August 10, 2007, 01:21:05 PM

thanks rob...i set it out a couple of hundred feet from the hives in a flat pan. will check it later. i hate wasting resources.

Scadsobees · August 10, 2007, 02:40:44 PM

Keep in mind that honey that has been heated can become poisonous to bees. I can't imagine that there is all that much sugar left in there, most of the color probably comes from the coocoons in the cappings.

It probably isn't worth keeping. But then again it probably won't hurt the bees.

-Rick

Mici · August 10, 2007, 02:46:09 PM

some say this is the best way to spread disease, that's why i said pour away. bette safe than sorrow (to be honest, how much honey could there be? an ounce maybe?)

Robo · August 10, 2007, 02:54:04 PM

Quote from: Mici on August 10, 2007, 02:46:09 PM
(to be honest, how much honey could there be? an ounce maybe?)

When you do cut outs, there can be a significant amount. Even after attempting a crush and strain first, I have times I render more honey than wax. Now granted I could set the crush and stain bucket in the sun and get more honey out, but that attacks the bees. Dumping it into the solar melter after an overnight drain in the garage is much less work and less harassment from the bees.

randydrivesabus · August 10, 2007, 02:55:05 PM

this wax is from some crush and strain...i'd say theres quite a bit of honey in it. whatever. the bees seem to be having a good time.

Scadsobees · August 11, 2007, 12:21:50 AM

I just put the wet cappings out. The bees clean them up really well, and they won't drown in the water. Then I render the wax, and the brown water is just that...brown water.

Just so that it isn't in a place that will start robbing....

Rick

Understudy · August 11, 2007, 10:54:42 AM

I just dump mine.

Sincerely,
Brendhan