What did you do in the 'workshop' today

[Parsonage Bees]

Just been out to check. The alignment isn't absolutely perfect, but it really isn't very far off. Quite possibly more down to me getting the sheets misaligned rather than the mould being wrong.

James

The Thorne product has lugs(?) that register the 2 sheets together. There's a bit of flex but they are pretty well aligned.
(I don't use mine this way up. Maybe I should?)

 

[JamezF]

Very pale wax btw.

What can I say? I have very clean bees

James

 

[JamezF]

On a related note I've often wondered if you could 3D print foundation rollers.

I believe it has been done. I feel sure I've seen a video or photos of such a thing. Seems like a lot of work if you still have to make the flat sheets though.

James

 

[JamezF]

The Thorne product has lugs(?) that register the 2 sheets together. There's a bit of flex but they are pretty well aligned.
(I don't use mine this way up. Maybe I should?)

View attachment 41906

I reckon mine might be a rip-off of that. It has the lugs, too. It seems natural to use it the other way up though, so the edges retain the wax whilst it is being poured in.

James

 

[Parsonage Bees]

I reckon mine might be a rip-off of that. It has the lugs, too. It seems natural to use it the other way up though, so the edges retain the wax whilst it is being poured in.

James

I might have paid £30 a few years ago for mine. They are now £50!!
Don't know whether yours may be a 'rip off'. There can't be too many people making this product.

 

[JamezF]

Don't know whether yours may be a 'rip off'. There can't be too many people making this product.

I can't help wondering if, when a manufacturer/vendor gets a new product made in China, a whole load more don't get made on the quiet and offered on the likes of Aliexpress or Temu, eventually finding their way onto Ebay and Amazon.

James

 

[Penninetrader]

Nothing to do with beekeeping - made these for my grandchildren ... and boy do they SPIN !!

That is very tidy turning, Beech I presume

 

[pargyle]

That is very tidy turning, Beech I presume

Bits of second hand 40mm beech worktop ...picked up on gumtree for pennies and cut into 40mm strips.

 

[Moobee]

Popped out to the beeshed to grab a bucket of honey as I’m nearly out of jars for customers and found they’re all setting
It’s now indoors wrapped in the greenhouse heat mat to try & loosen it up a bit!
Have never sorted out a warming cabinet as I never had enough honey stored to justify it but might need to rethink that this year….

 

[pargyle]

Popped out to the beeshed to grab a bucket of honey as I’m nearly out of jars for customers and found they’re all setting
It’s now indoors wrapped in the greenhouse heat mat to try & loosen it up a bit!
Have never sorted out a warming cabinet as I never had enough honey stored to justify it but might need to rethink that this year….

Better to look out for one of these on ebay/gumtree/freecycle/pre-loved ...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Electric-Fruit-Preserver-Jam-Maker/dp/B003QXB9TE

They are getting harder to find and you have to be quick when they come up as the homebrew fraternity love them as well. Take a 30lb bucket, accurate temperature control, will do 18 jars if you have set jars as well. I've got two - one for wax melting one for honey .. but with care you could use the same one for both. MIne were less than £30 each - best buy for beekeeping I've had.

 

[Bettenham]

All my honey has well and truly set by Christmas so you are lucky if it hasn't been a problem for you in the past. I suppose it is the type of forage that determines the time scales???
I invested in one of these as I looked for a long time in Lidl for their jam maker but it never came up.
Currently warming a 10kg bucket ready for jarring tomorrow. I think Dani recommended.

https://www.hifi-tower.co.uk/Home-L...-Slow-Cooker-with-Timer-1800W-hifi-tower.html

First site I came to so it maybe cheaper elsewhere!
Works well.

 

[pargyle]

All my honey has well and truly set by Christmas so you are lucky if it hasn't been a problem for you in the past. I suppose it is the type of forage that determines the time scales???
I invested in one of these as I looked for a long time in Lidl for their jam maker but it never came up.
Currently warming a 10kg bucket ready for jarring tomorrow. I think Dani recommended.

https://www.hifi-tower.co.uk/Home-L...-Slow-Cooker-with-Timer-1800W-hifi-tower.html

First site I came to so it maybe cheaper elsewhere!
Works well.

Very similar bit of kit to the Lidl one but finished in stainless rather than enamel. I think Lidl have stopped selling them in the UK as they are useless as Jam Makers in the British sense of how you make jam. You still see them coming up (often unused) on ebay and Gumtree when people realise they don't make jam !

 

[The Poot]

Popped out to the beeshed to grab a bucket of honey as I’m nearly out of jars for customers and found they’re all setting
It’s now indoors wrapped in the greenhouse heat mat to try & loosen it up a bit!
Have never sorted out a warming cabinet as I never had enough honey stored to justify it but might need to rethink that this year….

My tubs have long since set too. I’ve made a warming cabinet (of sorts) and last week installed a 60w tube heater and it’s currently (no pun intended) on test to see what temperature it reaches. I made it to snugly take two rectangular tubs, but have had to add more insulation since, in an effort to retain more heat. I peeked in last evening and the thermometer read it had reached 30c, so here’s hoping.

 

[Erichalfbee]

All my honey has well and truly set by Christmas so you are lucky if it hasn't been a problem for you in the past. I suppose it is the type of forage that determines the time scales???
I invested in one of these as I looked for a long time in Lidl for their jam maker but it never came up.
Currently warming a 10kg bucket ready for jarring tomorrow. I think Dani recommended.

https://www.hifi-tower.co.uk/Home-L...-Slow-Cooker-with-Timer-1800W-hifi-tower.html

First site I came to so it maybe cheaper elsewhere!
Works well.

Yes...that's the one I have only in red

 

[Moobee]

Better to look out for one of these on ebay/gumtree/freecycle/pre-loved ...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Electric-Fruit-Preserver-Jam-Maker/dp/B003QXB9TE

They are getting harder to find and you have to be quick when they come up as the homebrew fraternity love them as well. Take a 30lb bucket, accurate temperature control, will do 18 jars if you have set jars as well. I've got two - one for wax melting one for honey .. but with care you could use the same one for both. MIne were less than £30 each - best buy for beekeeping I've had.

As I bought some thick ply a few years ago and a heater for a game egg hatchery, I might construct a one bucket cabinet I think. Had plans to make a larger one but there’s not much room left in the bee shed these days!

 

[Erichalfbee]

I’d be interested in how quickly a solid bucket melts in a cabinet warmer. I have one and two buckets take five or six days at 45/50 while a water jacket at the same temperature does the job in twenty four hours.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I’d be interested in how quickly a solid bucket melts in a cabinet warmer

a little over 24 hours to be totally clear with no crystalised bits left if you give it a damn good stir after about 20 hours. It may take less time but it depends on my routine and when I get the opportunity/remember to pop the lid.

 

[Superlativesoul]

I’d be interested in how quickly a solid bucket melts in a cabinet warmer. I have one and two buckets take five or six days at 45/50 while a water jacket at the same temperature does the job in twenty four hours.

I made a cabinet warmer for this coming spring I used a black gravel tray as the template can be used for a roof on a national .I made the base using 18mm osb I had in the garage on the btm I got 4 heavy duty Caster wheels of facebook for £5 .I then added four corner posts with some timber screwed to them to form a rebate for 30mm celotex insulation again had a couple of sheets free from facebook market place the heating is provided by 2 tubular heaters one from a kind neighbour and 1 I got for £20 + online .total 100watts .I made a slatted rack similar to one you find in the airing cupboard to allow warm air to circulate under the gravel tray
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base .the 3 sides were screwed to the rebates ,the front is a removable panel ,the roof was a bit of 100mm celotex .I put a double socket inside and used a digital thermostat to come on and off at required temps .the cabinet will take 3 full supers if needed to warm say with OSR prior to extraction.it will take 4 30lb buckets, At the moment I have 7 demijohns of mead fermenting in and the set up has worked a dream the video has only 6 but i added the other after ,This has been in my garage the weather cold and the thermostat has done the job so not using electricity all the time .I have 4 dry ,3 sweet and a blackberry Melomel honey wine on the go the fermentation has stopped so will leave until i bottle or transfer to clean demijohns .I also have a silvercrest Jam maker which works a treat as well removing bubbles in the jars prior to showing at the honey shows , again bargains off Facebook marketplace
https://www.morrisdirect.co.uk/prod...y08VFyST4-5z2brdjhcvJu09_CRI9dDkkODWv0g_i_8sL
John
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[Erichalfbee]

a little over 24 hours to be totally clear with no crystalised bits left if you give it a damn good stir after about 20 hours. It may take less time but it depends on my routine and when I get the opportunity/remember to pop the lid.

That's pretty good. Mine never comes that close

 

[Newbeeneil]

I’d be interested in how quickly a solid bucket melts in a cabinet warmer. I have one and two buckets take five or six days at 45/50 while a water jacket at the same temperature does the job in twenty four hours.

My 3-4 bucket warming cabinet with a 120w greenhouse heater set at 45 clears the honey in 24-36 hours.