Wax Dipping Bee Equipment

The only alternative methods of sterilization are gamma irradiation and complete destruction by fire.

Wax dipping bee equipment.

What is wax dipping. This process is quick does not require space for drying and should last much longer than paint or stain. It is the placement of various beehive components or parts in hot molten wax. It would have been nice if it were taller but it works ok and i didn t have the time or money to get a better one made.

Wax dipping is also an effective way of disinfecting wooden parts and can be used to salvage equipment exposed to foulbrood as spores are eradicated by the extreme heat involved. Fully refined with 0 8 oil content. Wax dipping is an alternative to painting for wood preservation. When to wax dip wax dipping can be done at any time of the year subject to the precautions listed below.

Hivefive apiary bee supply llc 149 trident point rd. A small amount of wax may drain from the dipped item. I haven t switched to using beeswax because it is so low temp and will get sticky. Parrafin wax is one of the industrial wax that you can use to dip your boxes in.

Here is a fact sheet from the new zealand. The wax is super expensive but having it full means i can do 6 deep boxes at a time compared to 4 which really makes a difference when you are doing a lot of equipment. Melt temperature range from 60c 62c. The initial set up for wax dipping is both complex and costly.

This process cooks. I got the tank from a friend who had it custom made. The term dip means a brief immersion into a liquid. Coating the wood in wax is beneficial for the bees and the hive itself.

Dipping is often conducted during the winter months when the active beekeeping season has finished and apiarists have time to attend to maintenance of hive material and other equipment. Wax dipped beehives and beekeeping equipment. Wax dipping bee equipment. I was expanding my beekeeping and bought a lot of new equipment so i decided to try dipping in wax and gum rosin to preserve the equipment.

Even better it can sterilize equipment including killing afb spores and is a recommended method for dealing with disease risk.