I just finished my solar wax meter today. It's kinda on the big side but it's built to fit the glass I had on hand. Infact the entire thing is made from used, scrap, or left over lumber and plywood I had laying around. Being raised by and around people who went through the great depression, like them I don't throw much away. The only thing that cost me anything was nails, screws, and electricity to run power tools. I loaded it up with a 5 gal bucket of crushed honey comb, and scrap comb from 2 cutouts and it was melting wax until the sun got low. When this batch is done I have 2 more buckets to melt.
I have one video about propolis: ruclips.net/user/liveu9MwcZbZDFM?si=AQnnWkHz1pGjDo3k I've made tinctures with them in the past but I didn't find them all that helpful. Is there something in particular you're looking to do with propolis?
Love your channel. I am a newby who has been watching all of your videos. You have mentioned differences and actions to take when your hive is weak. How do you tell a strong hive from a weak hive?
Great question! The number one way to tell is just by spending time with your bees. It's really one of those things that you just know they're not doing well when you see it. Just like when a loved one isn't feeling well you can tell just by looking at them. But, for the most part, a weak hive doesn't grow when they should be growing. If it's late spring or early summer and there's flowers blooming but your hive still has just a few frames of brood, then it's weak. If you record how much honey and how many frames of brood are in your hive each week, it will be easy to see whether they're growing or not. Also, a hive with a varroa mite infestation is also usually weak. You can easily test mite levels to see if you have an infestation. You may see bees walking around with shredded wings or they're not bringing in much honey. If you see a frame of brood that's not full of bees walking around on it, then it's probably weak. If you see dead bees in the cells with their heads facing out and their tongues (proboscis) sticking out of their mouth, then they probably starved to death while hatching because no one fed them. This is also a sign of a weak hive/low population. The best way to learn if a hive is weak is to spend some time with a beekeeper so you get an idea of what a healthy beehive should look and sound like. If you can't find someone, then I strongly encourage you to start beekeeping with at least 2 hives so you can see the differences between them. Usually one hive is stronger than the other and it's more obvious when comparing one to the other during inspections.
I bought some 1/8" hardware cloth off U.S. Amazon because it isn't a thing in Australia either. But it is a useful material. Fly screen often works fine too.
Wondering if the styrofoam boxes from home food delivery would work. I see a fair amount of them on the curb on trash day in my area. They would be smaller but that may not necessarily be a bad thing. I am in Zone 7b. We get hours of sun a day without any large backyard trees.
@@BeekeepingMadeSimple I'm in SW Iowa. I only use mine when the temps are in the high 80's to 90's. Here's one of my videos with the progress of it melting throughout the video with the finished product at the end. ruclips.net/video/B0XdaObJ6HI/видео.html
I don't think so, but I never tried. I'm very specific about how I harvest propolis because I only use propolis for tinctures so I need it to be free of any chemicals (organic or inorganic) from treatments. If you're using propolis for dying, then it wouldn't be a problem. My hives have so much propolis in them, there's a lot of ways to get it out that's easier.
I usually like your videos, informative and well paced, but this one was unbearable. So much talking and unnecessary info for such a simple device. And then you didn't really show the device in action. Sorry, but I had to skip through most of the video. @@BeekeepingMadeSimple
I was looking for some guidance on this very topic, hoping to render some wax today. Your solution seems to be the most practical and I think your presentation style is great, too. I appreciate the time and effort you have put in to make so many video clips that are very helpful especially beekeeping for beginners like me. Please don’t be discouraged or pull back because of a couple of negative comments (they seem to me to be a bit mean-spirited - probably just a reflection of the environment we are living in that seems to tolerate or even encourage a rude style of communication).
I just finished my solar wax meter today. It's kinda on the big side but it's built to fit the glass I had on hand. Infact the entire thing is made from used, scrap, or left over lumber and plywood I had laying around. Being raised by and around people who went through the great depression, like them I don't throw much away. The only thing that cost me anything was nails, screws, and electricity to run power tools. I loaded it up with a 5 gal bucket of crushed honey comb, and scrap comb from 2 cutouts and it was melting wax until the sun got low. When this batch is done I have 2 more buckets to melt.
Thank you for giving me an idea.
I made it! Almost too pretty to use! Definitely, working in a hardware store full of experienced contractors and discounts help.
Thank you for sharing this! I was wondering what to do with that very dark comb. : )
You're so welcome!
Thank you for this information!
Do you have any propolis videos?
I have one video about propolis: ruclips.net/user/liveu9MwcZbZDFM?si=AQnnWkHz1pGjDo3k
I've made tinctures with them in the past but I didn't find them all that helpful. Is there something in particular you're looking to do with propolis?
Love your channel. I am a newby who has been watching all of your videos. You have mentioned differences and actions to take when your hive is weak. How do you tell a strong hive from a weak hive?
Great question! The number one way to tell is just by spending time with your bees. It's really one of those things that you just know they're not doing well when you see it. Just like when a loved one isn't feeling well you can tell just by looking at them. But, for the most part, a weak hive doesn't grow when they should be growing. If it's late spring or early summer and there's flowers blooming but your hive still has just a few frames of brood, then it's weak. If you record how much honey and how many frames of brood are in your hive each week, it will be easy to see whether they're growing or not. Also, a hive with a varroa mite infestation is also usually weak. You can easily test mite levels to see if you have an infestation. You may see bees walking around with shredded wings or they're not bringing in much honey. If you see a frame of brood that's not full of bees walking around on it, then it's probably weak. If you see dead bees in the cells with their heads facing out and their tongues (proboscis) sticking out of their mouth, then they probably starved to death while hatching because no one fed them. This is also a sign of a weak hive/low population.
The best way to learn if a hive is weak is to spend some time with a beekeeper so you get an idea of what a healthy beehive should look and sound like. If you can't find someone, then I strongly encourage you to start beekeeping with at least 2 hives so you can see the differences between them. Usually one hive is stronger than the other and it's more obvious when comparing one to the other during inspections.
Awesome!
try lining the hardware cloth with paper towels for cleaner wax product.
Hardware cloth must be a US-only thing. Here in the UK, on eBay I found some insect netting with 1mm hole sizes. That should work.
I bought some 1/8" hardware cloth off U.S. Amazon because it isn't a thing in Australia either.
But it is a useful material. Fly screen often works fine too.
I saw your twin /doppelganger at my grandsons school.
LOL I hope she was good looking :p
Wondering if the styrofoam boxes from home food delivery would work. I see a fair amount of them on the curb on trash day in my area. They would be smaller but that may not necessarily be a bad thing. I am in Zone 7b. We get hours of sun a day without any large backyard trees.
I'm sure they would as long as they weren't used to transport something that smells fishy :p Otherwise it might make your wax smell funny.
Looks similar to mine😁
So easy! Right? Where are your bees? I'm curious how well it works in different climate zones.
@@BeekeepingMadeSimple I'm in SW Iowa. I only use mine when the temps are in the high 80's to 90's. Here's one of my videos with the progress of it melting throughout the video with the finished product at the end. ruclips.net/video/B0XdaObJ6HI/видео.html
Also here is my solar melter video. ruclips.net/video/MccFy1l6b6I/видео.html
@@BlanchardsBees thanks for sharing!
Great instructions, so easy. Thanks.
Is there a way to process the propolis out of here??
I don't think so, but I never tried. I'm very specific about how I harvest propolis because I only use propolis for tinctures so I need it to be free of any chemicals (organic or inorganic) from treatments. If you're using propolis for dying, then it wouldn't be a problem. My hives have so much propolis in them, there's a lot of ways to get it out that's easier.
Why a cooler? Is it to keep the heat in?
OMG! Get on with it! We get it. You’re a mommy😒. The only one on the planet. Sheesh, drag it out with all the droning noise. Couldn’t finish it.
Not the only mom on the planet, but there aren't many moms with little kids taking time to keep teach people beekeeping for free.
I usually like your videos, informative and well paced, but this one was unbearable. So much talking and unnecessary info for such a simple device. And then you didn't really show the device in action. Sorry, but I had to skip through most of the video. @@BeekeepingMadeSimple
I was looking for some guidance on this very topic, hoping to render some wax today. Your solution seems to be the most practical and I think your presentation style is great, too.
I appreciate the time and effort you have put in to make so many video clips that are very helpful especially beekeeping for beginners like me. Please don’t be discouraged or pull back because of a couple of negative comments (they seem to me to be a bit mean-spirited - probably just a reflection of the environment we are living in that seems to tolerate or even encourage a rude style of communication).