What did you do in the 'workshop' today

[Michael Palmer]

Do you reuse your wax Michael making foundation, or do you exchange?

I don't reuse the wax from the old combs. Just not worth the added work. I do use my own cappings to dip the unwaxed plastic foundation.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I don't reuse the wax from the old combs. Just not worth the added work. I do use my own cappings to dip the unwaxed plastic foundation.

Thanks for that what do you do with your old comb wax render and sell it?

Im processing some dark wax at the moment both honey and brood frames.

 

[drex]

I let my home made solar wax melter do all the hard work for me, summer only obviously. Then as per MP the frames are boiled and scraped in winter, ready for the new foundation in the spring. Old wax traded in for foundation, of which I have an excess at the moment, as I did a vigorous swap out last year.

 

[Michael Palmer]

Thanks for that what do you do with your old comb wax render and sell it?

Im processing some dark wax at the moment both honey and brood frames.

We make some truly awesome bon fires

 

[JamezF]

We make some truly awesome bon fires

I render the wax from mine and whatever is left goes on the compost heap.

James

 

[0bee-1]

"Curly green finger's, post: 806315, member: 18818"]
A few boxes completed ready for the new season

Nice Mark what paint do you use 'Shades'??

 

[Curly green finger's]

"Curly green finger's, post: 806315, member: 18818"]
A few boxes completed ready for the new season

Nice Mark what paint do you use 'Shades'??

Yes cuprinol country shades

 

[Erichalfbee]

That's one of my favourite colours. I have a darker green too and I like to mix the paint to get a range of greens. I see you have the same problem as me though. Coverage isn't too good in places so mine get three coats. I wonder what Abelo use? Their paint sure sticks.

 

[Curly green finger's]

That's one of my favourite colours. I have a darker green too and I like to mix the paint to get a range of greens. I see you have the same problem as me though. Coverage isn't too good in places so mine get three coats. I wonder what Abelo use? Their paint sure sticks.

Aye one coat isn't enough even on wooden hives that have been sanded down, but two coats is enough.
I have used just normal paints which is thicker. I don't just like willow green.

 

[Moobee]

Started making up supers for the new hives and next week, more brood boxes as am going to try double brood on the stronger colonies.

 

[Newbeeneil]

That's one of my favourite colours. I have a darker green too and I like to mix the paint to get a range of greens. I see you have the same problem as me though. Coverage isn't too good in places so mine get three coats. I wonder what Abelo use? Their paint sure sticks.

I have paint bubbling on a couple of my Abelo hives.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I have paint bubbling on a couple of my Abelo hives.View attachment 30182

Heavens. I don’t have any of their painted roofs though. The broods seem to be ok

 

[Newbeeneil]

Heavens. I don’t have any of their painted roofs though. The broods seem to be ok

I have no problem on the broods, just 2 out of 5 roofs. It's not a majof problem and I assume it was a few spots of moisture on the surface whilst spraying. The fact it's bubbled and not flaked shows it's a very flexible paint!

 

[Swarm]

It's not as durable as it appears, I have some older ones where the paint has worn, quite a bit of white showing. Had to swap one back to a cedar roof as Pigeons roost above and the paint on the Abelo roof was peeling up in big flakes.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes bird poo makes good paint stripper

 

[Moobee]

Yes bird poo makes good paint stripper

Seagull poo is particularly strong!

 

[Swarm]

It doesn't lift the paint on the nucs I did with emulsion but the Abelo ones have reacted really badly.

 

[Antipodes]

Do you guys initially use a good three in one sealer, primer and undercoat?

 

[elainemary]

Thanks for that what do you do with your old comb wax render and sell it?

Im processing some dark wax at the moment both honey and brood frames.

I’ve recycled old brood wax but have decided to only keep capping wax from now on. Not to do with work involved but thinking about any residues in comb, think I’m doing the wrong thing by recycling it back into the ‘system’ to other beekeepers and bees. Will compost it or burn outside. Part of the reason I feel it’s a good idea to regularly change combs. Know some residues are not wax soluble eg organic acids, so maybe that’s why you feel it’s safe to recycle.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I’ve recycled old brood wax but have decided to only keep capping wax from now on. Not to do with work involved but thinking about any residues in comb, think I’m doing the wrong thing by recycling it back into the ‘system’ to other beekeepers and bees. Will compost it or burn outside. Part of the reason I feel it’s a good idea to regularly change combs. Know some residues are not wax soluble eg organic acids, so maybe that’s why you feel it’s safe to recycle.

I'm with you on regular change of comb every 3/4 years.
I haven't got loads of frames to process but in the next few years I will and I don't want to waste all that wax which I will probably use myself as foundation probably even make my own.
Have you ever processed it enough to use for candle making brood frames etc?