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Decontamination of old comb
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Topic: Decontamination of old comb (Read 640 times)
Bill Murray
Field Bee
Posts: 542
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Decontamination of old comb
«
on:
February 21, 2024, 08:25:05 pm »
So, here is the question.
Can you render old comb and get the contaminants out?
I appreciate all input.
I guess this is what Im thinking. Why will the bees accept wax rendered from contaminated comb, after rendering if its still contaminated?
«
Last Edit: February 21, 2024, 09:20:17 pm by Bill Murray
»
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Terri Yaki
Super Bee
Posts: 1887
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Re: Decontamination of old comb
«
Reply #1 on:
February 21, 2024, 10:53:13 pm »
Contaminated with what?
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The15thMember
Global Moderator
Galactic Bee
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Traveler of the Multiverse, Seeker of Knowledge
Re: Decontamination of old comb
«
Reply #2 on:
February 21, 2024, 11:32:09 pm »
It depends on what it is contaminated with, I'd imagine. And I expect that if the contaminant is in low enough quantity, the bees won't notice or care, but that doesn't necessarily mean it won't have sublethal effects on them or the brood.
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I come from under the hill, and under the hills and over the hills my paths led. And through the air, I am she that walks unseen.
Michael Bush
Universal Bee
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Re: Decontamination of old comb
«
Reply #3 on:
February 22, 2024, 06:41:03 am »
Fluvalinate (Apistan) and Cumaphos (CheckMite) break down in ultraviolet light. So do a lot of (but not all) other pesticides.
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Bill Murray
Field Bee
Posts: 542
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Re: Decontamination of old comb
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Reply #4 on:
February 22, 2024, 07:53:20 am »
That was what I was looking for, thank you Michael.
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BeeMaster2
Administrator
Universal Bee
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Re: Decontamination of old comb
«
Reply #5 on:
February 22, 2024, 08:18:38 am »
So using a solar wax melter as the first step in recovering the wax is a really good thing.
Thanks Michael.
Jim Altmiller
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Michael Bush
Universal Bee
Posts: 20017
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Re: Decontamination of old comb
«
Reply #6 on:
February 22, 2024, 08:47:49 am »
>So using a solar wax melter as the first step in recovering the wax is a really good thing.
Yes.
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Ben Framed
Global Moderator
Universal Bee
Posts: 13037
Mississippi Zone 7
Re: Decontamination of old comb
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Reply #7 on:
February 22, 2024, 09:27:32 am »
Good to know Michale, thanks!
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NigelP
House Bee
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Re: Decontamination of old comb
«
Reply #8 on:
February 23, 2024, 09:43:53 am »
Glass absorbs a lot of UV light (the type hat gives you a sunburn (UVB). You cannot get a suntan through glass.
It does however let through some of UVA, so solar wax melters (with glass) may not be as good at ridding impurities in wax as full spectrum UV light.
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Michael Bush
Universal Bee
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Re: Decontamination of old comb
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Reply #9 on:
February 23, 2024, 10:01:29 am »
When I was wax dipping PermaComb plastic combs I had a lot of wax that ended up in a thin layer on some plywood. The sun would bleach it white in a short amount of time. Anything that makes a thin layer and exposes it to the sun should make a difference.
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NigelP
House Bee
Posts: 280
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Re: Decontamination of old comb
«
Reply #10 on:
February 23, 2024, 03:57:32 pm »
Yes, we do something similar to produce white beeswax. Cheese grater and lots of unfiltered sun and frequent turning.
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Decontamination of old comb