cleaning

[MelGar]

Hi,

I'm new to beekeeping. I have purchased some old national cedar hives. Apart from flame sterilising their interiors, I want to clean/restore the exterior wood with oxalic acid.
Would you use the acid as is, ie 1 to 1 for wood treatment or dilute it? if so what dilution? Thanks for suggestions and help.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Hi,

I'm new to beekeeping. I have purchased some old national cedar hives. Apart from flame sterilising their interiors, I want to clean/restore the exterior wood with oxalic acid.
Would you use the acid as is, ie 1 to 1 for wood treatment or dilute it? if so what dilution? Thanks for suggestions and help.

Blimey, a beekeeper using OA for ACTUALLY cleaning beehive woodwork! That must be a first!

 

[Sutty]

Not sure why you'd bother rather than just brushing/sanding it.
However according to this site it's about 60g per litre to make a saturated solution.

https://www.agwoodcare.co.uk/products/oxalicacid/

 

[blackcloud]

Its a thousand times easier and quicker and you don't have dust and fibres everywhere!


If you buy dry crystals youll find the product more versatile....
Ifind keeping it diluted too strong pointless because you have to scrape away the detritus it creates and then reapply.

 

[Ian123]

Hi,

I'm new to beekeeping. I have purchased some old national cedar hives. Apart from flame sterilising their interiors, I want to clean/restore the exterior wood with oxalic acid.
Would you use the acid as is, ie 1 to 1 for wood treatment or dilute it? if so what dilution? Thanks for suggestions and help.

You actually use oxalic to clean wood………

 

[Erichalfbee]

You actually use oxalic to clean wood………

Yes better inside the box though

 

[ericbeaumont]

clean/restore the exterior wood with oxalic acid.

Try washing soda in hot water first. Cheap, and will do the job with less risk.

 

[Sutty]

Try washing soda in hot water first. Cheap, and will do the job with less risk.

Oxalic acid solution is pretty safe if you don't drink it, it's a weak acid.

 

[ericbeaumont]

don't drink it,

Fumes not much good.

 

[Sutty]

Fumes not much good.

Agreed if you sublimate it, but the solution isn't volatile.

 

[pargyle]

Agreed if you sublimate it, but the solution isn't volatile.

It does a great job of bleaching patches on your clothes which then disintegrate into holes .... be careful with it ...rubber gloves, don't get it on bare flesh .. some protection for your clothes and DEFINITELY for your eyes.

Brings stained wood up a treat but if they are cedar hives ... I would not bother !

 

[MelGar]

thanks, everyone, great help, and advice provided by you all.