- Joined
- Mar 27, 2012
- Messages
- 2,978
- Reaction score
- 1,433
- Location
- Suffolk
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 5
I have two Masies poly hives and eight wooden hives in commission. Today I decided to GasVap OA, taking advantage of the warm day, 12C. The polys have a landing board which means to use the GV in a vertical position (it goes out if turned sideways) I needed to deploy the extension tube. However I always find the tube never gets hot enough so the OA condenses so that the crystals block the tube.
I got some smoke into the hive entrance using the extension tube and decided to boost this by vaping under the OMF, without the extension tube. However the copper of the GV must have been touching the polystyrene because flames and smoke belched forth and quickly took hold.
Luckily I had 5l of water close by and this extinguished the outer-surface flames but flames continued underneath within. Fortunately I have a soldering mat in my vaping armamentarium so I tipped the hive sideways to 45 degs and managed to quell the fire. The bees were none too pleased but fortunately I was fully suited.
The lesson learned, apart from the obvious, is that for a modest number of hives the GasVap is more nuisance than it's worth. Despite have the expensive recommended torch it is sometimes difficult to ignite and often goes out mid-vape. I'm resolved to return to my trusty Varrox, certainly for the polys.
I got some smoke into the hive entrance using the extension tube and decided to boost this by vaping under the OMF, without the extension tube. However the copper of the GV must have been touching the polystyrene because flames and smoke belched forth and quickly took hold.
Luckily I had 5l of water close by and this extinguished the outer-surface flames but flames continued underneath within. Fortunately I have a soldering mat in my vaping armamentarium so I tipped the hive sideways to 45 degs and managed to quell the fire. The bees were none too pleased but fortunately I was fully suited.
The lesson learned, apart from the obvious, is that for a modest number of hives the GasVap is more nuisance than it's worth. Despite have the expensive recommended torch it is sometimes difficult to ignite and often goes out mid-vape. I'm resolved to return to my trusty Varrox, certainly for the polys.