Recent content by BigAshW

Got down to an apiary today. Didn't go poking around too deep as the winds were ridiculous. All but one of the hives had packed any spare space they had with wild comb, honey, and had raised drone brood in it. So cleaned them up and dropped QE and drawn supers on them all.

Popped around the apiaries today to check weights. I went around a month ago and gave everything a pollen sub and the light ones some fondant. Today I'm still at 100% survival although three of the 21 I started winter are touch and go so gave another fondant block as next week looks pretty poor.

https://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/news/national/24158641.simple-test-check-whether-beehive-healthy-according-scientists/ I could have saved so much time.

One of my apiary landowners agreed to let me expand the apiary I have on their land. So went up and got my pallet in and levelled today. Takes that site up from 8 to 12 hives. That landowner is also my best customer for bulk jars so extra colonies there will help me keep up with their demand.

eBay unit from china arrived today. It took 11 days, including a day my end to get an EORI number set up. Unit is identical to the maisemore and Thorne units but worked out over £200 cheaper. Next plan is to adapt my settling tank with a stainless steel skin fitting from a boat water tank...

Link to the eBay version HG Automatic Honey Filling Machine Intelligent Numerical Control Weighing | eBay The Amazon version with "brass" pump is in the original post.

They do have a peristaltic pump version but your theory about the viscosity may be correct. It also seems to have a 300g limit. Automatic Liquid Filling Machine Peristaltic Pump Bottle Filler 2-300g Weighing Filling Machine with 2 Filling Nozzles for Essential Oil, Oral Liquid, Perfume, Nail...

I noticed that. It then went on to say brass in all the other sections. I think I'll give it a miss to be on the safe side and get one with a plastic pump. I've noticed the same unit on eBay for a similar price.

Yes would definitely be doing that. My only worry was the material the pump is made out of. I'm used to food safe being stainless steel or plastic So was just worried that brass pump wouldn't qualify.

Looking for your thoughts. I have some Amazon vouchers and I'm considering this bottling machine. Looks pretty much identical to the one Thorne sell and others I've seen on eBay with the exception of the pump which appears to be made of brass? The description states that it is food safe but I...

I started on commercial kit as that was what my mento used. I now have commercial broods using Hoffman frames and a mix of national and commercial supers. I'm slowly getting rid of the manley frames in the supers as I've settled on castellations with sn1 frames as the best for my set up. If...

Popped to one of my sites today and pulled out the feeders and replaced with celotex. Mouseguards on the hives I haven't got around to putting on underfloor entrances. Hives felt nice and heavy with plenty of activity in the sunshine. Another 2 sites to sort out in the next couple of days...

I've used 20mm celotex all around the main compartment, all of the outsides seem cool to touch. But you maybe right.

Have run the cabinet for four hours today and it's got from 18c to 31.5c. So I've ordered a second tube. Hoping 120w will be enough.

Thankyou. If I find a dehumidifier that works with the control unit i may be able to use it to lower water content as well.