Oxalic sublimation questions

malabarchillin · January 30, 2008, 07:55:23 PM

I have read a lot and I have bought the materials needed to make a pipe
evaporator. My home depot has not heard of wood bleach or Oxalic acid.
I bought a product called "Snowcap" from Ace hardware. The label is lacking in
info. I does contain oxalic acid.

1. Has anyone here used "Snowcap" brand for oxalic acid ?
2. I am in Fla and I am never broodless. I understand that I will need to do this
3 times at 1 week intervals to catch every brood cell open. Will the acid vapor
kill the brood (sealed and/or unsealed). I only have 1 hive that I will split
in early March so I do not want to risk losing everything right before it gets
interesting in the spring.

Thanks
Mike

Brian D. Bray · January 30, 2008, 08:29:15 PM

If it's fir bleaching wood it should be fine.

malabarchillin · January 30, 2008, 08:32:49 PM

It is for removing well water rust stains from most surfaces. I e-mailed the
mfgr, but I doubt that I will get a reply.

Kirk-o · January 30, 2008, 08:37:34 PM

Don't put that stuff in your hives it is bad for the bees
kirko

kenpkr · January 30, 2008, 10:36:45 PM

I bought DAP brand wood bleach from Lowes for b/t 3 and 4 dollars. Get that and use it instead of what you have.

malabarchillin · January 30, 2008, 10:42:25 PM

Thanks for the replies.
I will go to Lowes tomorrow.

Robo · January 30, 2008, 10:53:55 PM

Another brand that I have found at Lowe's or Ace was Savogran.

http://www.savogran.com/Retail_Products/Repairing_Products/repairing_products.html

http://www.savogran.com/Information/Wood_Bleach_PD.pdf

Michael Bush · January 31, 2008, 08:31:51 AM

If it doesn't say that it IS oxalic acid, I wouldn't use it. Just because it CONTAINS oxalic acid does not make it safe for the bees. If you can't find it in the hardware store you can order it online or from a pharmacy. It will be a bit more expensive, but you need to get plain oxalic acid.

malabarchillin · January 31, 2008, 08:37:49 AM

I understand and agree !

I went to my local Lowes and they did not have any. I guess I will google and try to find the cheapest
shipping.

malabarchillin · January 31, 2008, 07:09:03 PM

This is becoming very frustrating. Does anyone have any sources for "wood bleach" or oxalic acid that does not cost $20 after shipping for $4 worth of acid ? I am a pretty good googler and there does not seem to be any local to me.

Paul Andersen · January 31, 2008, 10:37:41 PM

I can share your frustration I have been looking all over for it.

I finally had success finding the DAP wood Bleach which is just Oxallic Acid without any other additives. I found it at a Private "no big name" HW store called "Winks Hardware" for $5 a pound!

My frustration was that ACE, True Value, Lowes, Home Depot and all the big name paint supply stores in Portland Oregon didn't carry it. I called almost every one of them!!! I did find it for $30 a pound at a lab supply distributor and a similar price at a chemical house, but in knowing what wood bleach cost I didn't want to spend that much.

The big box stores seem to be going to mixes (oxallic acid plus other stuff) so they can charge $20 bucks a gallon and you don't know what is in it or what the real strength is.

If you are on the east central Florida coast, I would try the HW Store in Cocoa, it is on the north edge of OLD Down Town Cocoa. On the corner of the the main east west road that comes across from Cocoa beach and the road that goes down the middle of old down town cocoa.

It is an amazing place and if any one carries it they would, that is the most impressive HW store I have ever been in, and I have been in a lot!

Good Luck!
Paul

Cindi · February 01, 2008, 12:47:52 AM

Maybe just a guess. Try a drug store? I hear your plight and it is annoying for you for sure!!!!!

Oxalic Acid is approved in Canada for use with the honeybees, we can obtain this product with absolutely no problem, and it is also approved in the Europe. I feel bad that it is so difficult to get in the U.S. I still don't understand how two different countries so close together have so many different regulations with so many things, it is a weird state of affairs, :shock: :? :roll: Good luck, but still, have a great day. Cindi

Dick Allen · February 01, 2008, 01:20:55 PM

QuoteACE, True Value, Lowes, Home Depot and all the big name paint supply stores in Portland Oregon didn't carry it.

FWIW, both Ace and True Value carry DAP wood bleach up here. Of course, that doesn't do you much good down there in Oregon though.....

malabarchillin · February 01, 2008, 08:48:56 PM

For those that can not find Oxalic acid. I just ordered from here.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-Lb-OXALIC-ACID-RUST-REMOVER-BLEACH-CLEANER-CHEAP_W0QQitemZ300085022031QQihZ020QQcategoryZ11774QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQtrksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem

I have no affiliation with them, but their feedback looks ok.
It is about $11.50 including shipping for 1lb of 99.6% Oxalic acid.

regards
Mike

Paul Andersen · February 01, 2008, 10:29:10 PM

I just found another source for people to check, if you don't want to do mail order.

Try a marine supply or boating supply, OA is great for cleaning Teak, and you know how picky those boaters are! The product is Macspacs Oxalic Acid -Teak Cleaner about $5 for 2 Pounds at a local marine supply store.

I checked the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on DAP Wood Bleach and it call out 100% OA, which is probably fairly close because the MSDS is a OSHA regulated document.

If you are picky about purity and quality you can try looking under Lab supplies in the yellow pages. This is generally more expensive at $15 to $20 per pound.

BMBeeFarm · February 02, 2008, 08:57:53 AM

sciencecompany.com has it for $ 9.95 for 500g plus ship Buy a couple bottles shipping is still the same.