Bees Wax

[rail]

I need bees wax for wax dipping hive bodies, is the wax that is offered from suppliers (Brushy, Mann Lake, Dadant) safe to use for wax dipping? Concern of chemicals and would assume any disease would not be present due to processing?

[Scadsobees]

For hive bodies I think the preferred wax is paraffin with some gum rosin (and cheaper?).  If you wanted to use beeswax from there, I don't think that would be a problem.  If there were any residual chems in there, any affect on the bees from the hive bodies would be negligible. 

Plus any potential diseases would either not survive the heating process or be locked in by the wax.  But I think I'd still do paraffin anyway.

[Hemlock]

I don't dip but i do brush.  I'd like to use bees wax but there is never enough of it.  Paraffin works great instead.

[BlueBee]

Hmmmm, now that's an interesting thought Hemlock! 

I never thought of brushing wax onto a hive body.  How has that worked for you?

[Hemlock]

I really only do non box stuff; inner covers, top covers, frames, etc.  I have done a box or two lately.  Brushing with a foam brush works great.   A four inch foam brush & a hot pot do the trick. 

I found rubbing the inside of the box with a block of paraffin (like a four year old with a crayon on a wall) and then hitting it with heat is much faster.  The heat can be a simple blow dryer or a torch.  Torch works better but don't over heat cause you'll boil the wax away.

[T Beek]

I melt bees wax in a 'slow cooker' used for this purpose.  WE use it for candles AND to melt wax prior to 'brushing insides' of all new hive boxes, mainly any new equipment is painted (on the inside) this way.  Been doing it for years. 

One of the few positive lessons I learned from the 'commercials' back in the 70's.

thomas

[sterling]

What is the reason for painting the inside of a hive with beeswax? My boxes get coated with propolis on the inside.

[mikecva]

A little off topic, but did anyone else's mom say 'none of your bees wax' when asked about something that was not our business?   -Mike   :lau:

[Hemlock]

What is the reason for painting the inside of a hive with beeswax? My boxes get coated with propolis on the inside.

The bees will seal the inside of the hive.  *Most of the time!*  On several occasions the bees didn't seal the inside of something and it became mildewy during winter.  Plus, some items the bees might not haves access to for sealing.  Such as the inside of the top cover that is over a hive top feeder or the shim that goes with it.   Those too can begin to mold unless sealed.

And since i like to wax the edges of the painted boxes (it keeps them from sticking together).  I might as well wax some other stuff too while i'm at it.

But that's treating the inside.  Lots of folks like to "Dip" their woodenware in wax to seal it on the outside, as apposed to traditional painting for weatherizing.  I would if i could.  I would like to see the natural wood instead of a yard full of ten different mismatched colors.

[Shanevrr]

I think the bees would just remove it and use it to build comb.  But if you want beeswax with no chemicals, call pierco.  They use it on the plastic but they may sell wax bars to you.  They are only ones that claim this in there products

[T Beek]

I like sealing super insides w/ bees-wax, basically any wooden ware that doesn't get paint, gets waxed ;).  Seems right to me, and I've been doing it for as long as I've been beekeeping.  Minimally it helps extend the lifetime use of wooden ware.  I also think bees prefer a box that smells like beeswax over one smelling like fresh cut wood.

I didn't think there was any bees wax that wasn't contaminated w/ some chemicals.  How does pierco remove these chemicals?

thomas

[Hemlock]

I think the bees would just remove it and use it to build comb.

Not paraffin of gum rosin which people seem to use for dipping.  The bees wax that soaks into the wood the bees cant get so it stays and acts as a natural preservative.

But if you want beeswax with no chemicals

I wouldn't trust any bees wax that wasn't from my hives.  'Safe Wax' and all that.  Yeah there's the chemical issue (and i have used some) but there is also the disease issue.  The same with feeding them honey.  It's theirs or no ones.

[Shanevrr]

I seriously doubt I meant paraffin.  paraffin and gum rosin are two differant things, one doesn't come from the other.  But what you could use is mineral oil which is liquid paraffin.

Trust or not, one company would not falsely advertise his product,  I also believe you cannot say your wax or honey is chemical free when you don't know where your bees forage, thus why you cant legally call you honey organic unless you can prove otherwise.

[Hemlock]

..Yeah there's the chemical issue (and i have used some) but there is also the disease issue....

I said that above.  I never said my stuff was organic.

one company would not falsely advertise his product...

I have some investment land in Florida to sell you.

[T Beek]

 8-)Each to their own.  My bees get by on what they and their ancestors provide(d) in the way of comb and/or melted wax.   :-\Makes no since (IMO) to 'buy' something that's amply provided by your own bees :-\  Admittedly it is much easier w/ foundationless to harvest beeswax :).

Sorry, :?Some Companies regularly provide false (call it misleading) advertising to entice consumers to purchase its products.  It is the very real nature of the beast.

thomas

[Shanevrr]

Sorry, :?Some Companies regularly provide false (call it misleading) advertising to entice consumers to purchase its products.  It is the very real nature of the beast.

thomas

Sorry but misleading is one thing, flat out lying is another and grounds for a lawsuit

[Hemlock]

"Caveat emptor"

[Shanevrr]

"Caveat emptor"

Thats only valid with real property transactions like cars, real estate in such

[T Beek]

Don't mean to bust anyones bubbles but...........it really does happen all the time.  There are many companies w/ policies expressly designed to deceive/mislead an unwitting public (most would call that lying) and it is a built-in, if not acceptable (?) factor of the system we all live under, capitalism. 

Unfortunate but true; The bad rap some companies receive for deceptive practices (and worse) are well deserved in most cases.  Seems that some of us will do anything for money :-D 

Have you all heard, Corporations are "officially" people now, with all the rights and privileges belonging to all "breathing" American citizens, (except for that going to jail part when they steal/rob or cheat us or our government).  Thanks Supreme Court ;)

Apologies for getting off topic here but;  This isn't the place for a history lesson and citizens should know the 'truth' isn't taught in our schools (in fact the opposite is largely true), but we are all blessed to live where the truth is widely available to all those seeking it, all we need do is look for ourselves, and limit our desire to follow the leader (loudmouths). 

No excuses for ignorance in a free country, right???? :-D

thomas

[Shanevrr]

Don't mean to bust anyones bubbles but...........it really does happen all the time. 
thomas

Name one?