What did you do in the Apiary today?

[gmonag]

..the tendency is to apply too much heat. Evident in the discolouration of the copper !...

I agree that is a potential risk.
I pre-heat the vapouriser with a small amount of OA in it. When it starts to vapourise I reduce the gas to minimum and deliver two cap-loads. Then I switch off whilst I reload (the 2 caps that are supplied), then relight on minimum and carry on.

 

[user 819]

U

Is this a bridge cottage vapouriser ?

Yes.

 

[pargyle]

No frills , crude but totally efficient!
the tendency is to apply too much heat. Evident in the discolouration of the copper !
Dangerous? No it’s well made and the delivery system for the OA is neat.
you can charge a series of copper cups leaving one on each hive to use without having to cool the used ones down.

Yes ..it has been refined since the days when John first came on here with his design .. it has had a screw clamp fitted to hold the torch firmly in place, the extra nozzle gives more options, you hardly need any heat from the torch to get it going and nothing comes out from anywhere except the end of the nozzle - it's a small diameter tube so it does come out in a fairly fast stream. The caps are easy to make and if you had a few hives to do a string of caps would make it very quick. It's a clever design but like all gas devices - care is needed - it does get hot if you are not careful, PPE is essential as the vapour does come out at quite a lick. I'm going to make some hardwood sleeves to go over the caps to provide some insulation from the heat when taking them off.

 

[Newbeeneil]

I'm going to make some hardwood sleeves to go over the caps to provide some insulation from the heat when taking them off.

I use a piece of wet towel to remove the hot caps. Much easier than a welders glove!

 

[victor meldrew]

Yes ..it has been refined since the days when John first came on here with his design .. it has had a screw clamp fitted to hold the torch firmly in place, the extra nozzle gives more options, you hardly need any heat from the torch to get it going and nothing comes out from anywhere except the end of the nozzle - it's a small diameter tube so it does come out in a fairly fast stream. The caps are easy to make and if you had a few hives to do a string of caps would make it very quick. It's a clever design but like all gas devices - care is needed - it does get hot if you are not careful, PPE is essential as the vapour does come out at quite a lick. I'm going to make some hardwood sleeves to go over the caps to provide some insulation from the heat when taking them off.

The hard wood screens would be beyond me but there are non bulky oven gloves available almost anywhere.
mine is pre the screw clamp but after a little use, a twist does keep brûlée torch and vapouriser together .

 

[Angry_Mob]

With a wet towel, the heat would travel through it rather quickly and could cause a scald?

When I used to use the gas vap; wide jaw pliers worked a treat for removing the caps and minising the risk of being burnt.

 

[Newbeeneil]

With a wet towel, the heat would travel through it rather quickly and could cause a scald?

When I used to use the gas vap; wide jaw pliers worked a treat for removing the caps and minising the risk of being burnt.

I don't know what kind of water they have in NI but my hand doesn't even get warm!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I don't know what kind of water they have in NI

Like the populace - Hard!

 

[Antipodes]

Moved some hives to the forest. Lovely day, about 24 degrees, but very early start. Some interesting things: a queen cell between boxes (presume that is the royal jelly exposed); inquisitive and hungry Currawong giving us the evil yellow eye; tea tree in full bloom; a dead queen found between my lid and the travel screen (huh?) and some beautiful forest.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Its five degrees outside
8.25 and still not light
Howling Gale
Horizontal rain
Keep those pictures coming

 

[E&MBees]

Its five degrees outside
8.25 and still not light
Howling Gale
Horizontal rain
Keep those pictures coming

Snap! Not got such a strong wind, but the rain is steady.
Yesterday was such a lovely day. Sunshine and the bees were flying.

 

[Etton]

Anyone vaped through the bottom of the hive (either thro entrance or below mesh floor) on double brood and how effective is it? The bottom BB probably empty as the bees have moved up from the nadired box. I’m thinking the OA may condense before reaching the top BB.

 

[user 819]

The darkened gasvap is a lot due to oxidising as air/moisture will naturally discolour copper, though use when I first tested a few years ago would have caused some darkening. Some torches are powerful, though the first one didn't last as was unreliable. My current one is tiny a Cadrim solid metal one, it has dual flame and is highly adjustable and very reliable. It can be adjusted to one flame and then down to hardly a lick of a flame. A rub over with fine wire wool would only take a minute or two to get back to a near natural state.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Anyone vaped through the bottom of the hive (either thro entrance or below mesh floor) on double brood and how effective is it? The bottom BB probably empty as the bees have moved up from the nadired box. I’m thinking the OA may condense before reaching the top BB.

yes, no problem

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

there are non bulky oven gloves available almost anywhere.

Coolskinz - they look and feel like ordinary woolen gloves

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Bit wet today for bee work but, I suppose as it's where the bees were originally, it counts as apiary - braved the elements to finish off spuggie proofing the Brynmair Chickenarium to be compliant with the new Avian Influenza regulations coming in at midnight.
Struggling a bit convincing the hens to wear their facemasks though (bit like their human counterparts - but maybe with a bit more brains)

 

[madasafish]

Maybe an ice cream container wouldn’t stand the temperature of the end of the delivery tube ?
bearing in mind any attempt at extending it etc would cause premature crystallisation? I did say crystallisation

I have been thinking about that..
As the vaping produces a mist of crystals - like white smoke in the air - I may insulate the container with bubble wrap..

The problem is: I don't really like doing experiments inside with a potentially dangerous process. And doing it outside when it's damp - or raining - or windy is not much fun..

I'll report back.

 

[StephenT]

My wife’s outside making our chicken run wild bird proof. Last day allowed to run around and trash the garden for a while.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I have been thinking about that..
As the vaping produces a mist of crystals - like white smoke in the air - I may insulate the container with bubble wrap..

The problem is: I don't really like doing experiments inside with a potentially dangerous process. And doing it outside when it's damp - or raining - or windy is not much fun..

I'll report back.

Try asking your local heating spares depots if they have a bit of thin Fibrefrax which is a material developed for space shuttle heat shield tiles. It can withstand sitting in a blowlamp flame for extended periods. The really thin stuff is quite flexible and could be wrapped round a tube. I used to have a stock of it but over the years it's gradually been used up.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Bit wet today for bee work but, I suppose as it's where the bees were originally, it counts as apiary - braved the elements to finish off spuggie proofing the Brynmair Chickenarium to be compliant with the new Avian Influenza regulations coming in at midnight.
Struggling a bit convincing the hens to wear their facemasks though (bit like their human counterparts - but maybe with a bit more brains)

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Finished mine yesterday - SWMBO preferred the black debris netting!