Wax Machine

[bee crazy]

After alot of consideration i have just bought this wax Foundation mould which is air cooled. it cost a fair bit but should save me money in the long run, have i done the right thing?




[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NT0XXqwZhE[/ame]

 

[John M]

A thing of beauty. Hate to think of the cost.

 

[VEG]

Seems slow though how many sheets would you be able to make an hour realistically ?

 

[bee crazy]

£530 delivered, they also have a bee sweeper which looks really good. the reason i bought this is that it's small. it looks time consuming as it's one sheet at a time but the wife needs something to do while I'm out Beekeeping LOL

 

[bee crazy]

Seems slow though how many sheets would you be able to make an hour realistically ?

One sheet every two mins

 

[susbees]

Had a look around his site and did wonder about the suggestion that using several lots of oxalic acid through the broodless patch would give 99% annihilation. It did say of varroa

 

[REDWOOD]

Looks a lot easier and quicker than this ;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=m7fcEkTF-OA#!

 

[REDWOOD]

What's in the spray bottle?

 

[VEG]

water and soap

 

[REDWOOD]

water and soap

Thought so, also told of silicon spray does the job

 

[Chris B]

Mais***re conversion for larger volumes:
£0.70/lb
7 sheets Langstroth deep per lb
= 10p/sheet

So if you manage 30 sheets per hour you've saved £3 for every hour worked. And not even that really as it's cost you something to do it.
I'd send her out to work at Tesco James.

Nice to have your own wax though! All fully traceable with no horsemeat contamination.

 

[VEG]

dont forget to add the time for wiring the frames

 

[Chris B]

dont forget to add the time for wiring the frames

True, but he has to do that whether he gets wax converted or makes his own, so not applicable to a cost comparison.

 

[bee crazy]

I know what you saying chris, i did call a few suppliers today before i purchased but I liked the thought of making it myself, self contained beekeeping LOL, also I've been so bored this winter it will give me something to do.

My wife is a lady of leisure and that's the only way i would have it.

 

[beebreeder]

Put the gas or electricity in to melt the wax and it may get expensive, but I agree its nice to be self sufficient.

 

[beekeeping4you]

Hi there,
This is my 20 year old GRAZE water-cooled wax mould, no washing-up liquid or other solvents needed (silicone spray? milk???) the water is flowing through the lids, no contact with the wax keeping the foundation clean and dry.
30 perfect sheets per hour no problem, 50 to 60 possible but a bit less perfect.
With practice and the right temperature of the liquid wax you get them even thin and pliable enough for rolling candles.
(Tried to upload some picasa pictures, hope it worked...)
Reiner

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/album.php?albumid=493

 

[roche]

Thanks for those pictures Beekeeping4you - very interesting, very informative.

 

[clv101]

...for larger volumes:
£0.70/lb
7 sheets Langstroth deep per lb
= 10p/sheet

I hadn't realised it was this cheap. Am I understanding right that I could give them 1lb of wax, pay them 95 pence (low volume) and they would make me five 14x12 sheets? Add another 8 pence each for wiring (40p) for a total of £1.35 for five sheets, £2.70 for ten sheets. I wouldn't bother with such low volumes, but I might have 5-10lb of wax one day...

This compares to £15.28 for ten wired sheets bought straight off?

 

[Hivemaker.]

I hadn't realised it was this cheap. Am I understanding right that I could give them 1lb of wax, pay them 95 pence (low volume) and they would make me five 14x12 sheets? Add another 8 pence each for wiring (40p) for a total of £1.35 for five sheets, £2.70 for ten sheets. I wouldn't bother with such low volumes, but I might have 5-10lb of wax one day...

This compares to £15.28 for ten wired sheets bought straight off?

Yes, or you can just do a straight swap,wax for foundation, but you get less sheets of foundation per pound of wax, the wax/cash exchange is the best option.

 

[dclewis]

A question for those that make their own foundation, how do you sterilise your clean wax? I know its from your own hives so not infected but do you not take any precautions against contamination from something you didn't spot?