Thymol crystals and oxalic acid

[Dr/B]

Anyone know of a good supplier for thymol and oxalic acid?

How about an oxalic vaporizer?




Thanks :)


Dr/B

[buzzbee]

I don't think you'll find a dealer for oxalic in the US for mite treatment. It has not been approved here for that but you may be able to get it under some other name.Most bee supply companies can probably get you thymol crystals.

[Michael Bush]

Oxalic acid is in a tub labeled "Wood Bleach" in the paint section of the hardware store.

[Robo]

Anyone know of a good supplier for thymol and oxalic acid?

Oxalic acid can be obtained from your local hardware store.

How about an oxalic vaporizer?

http://www.members.shaw.ca/orioleln/Vaporizer.htm

I have the JB200 and am very pleased with it.


Dr/B
[/quote]

[Cindi]

Anyone know of a good supplier for thymol and oxalic acid?

Oxalic acid can be obtained from your local hardware store.

How about an oxalic vaporizer?

http://www.members.shaw.ca/orioleln/Vaporizer.htm

I have the JB200 and am very pleased with it.


Dr/B

[/quote]

Rob, I have the JB600 currently on order.  It is operated with a propane torch, it takes about 3 minutes of vapourizing, compared to the model that you have that I believe only takes under a minute.  I have used the Oxalic Acid sugar syrup trickle, but I think that it would be far easier to use vapour, much quicker and the hive doesn't have to be disturbed in the cold weather.  Oxalic Acid is applied during the broodless period, we apply it about the first of December in my area.

I was surprised when I saw that you have the device from this company, they are located on Vancouver Island, which is not too far from where I live.

I sure don't get why Canada and the United States have different products (this is speaking of every product under the sun) that are approved or not approved for stuff.  Kind of weird, why not make products acceptable worldwide.  That makes no sense to me.  For example, I see that in the site that you cited above, thymol strips cannot be sold by their company to Canadians, but it can be sold in the U.S.  Go figure that one.  I guess we don't have Thymol registered for use in bee colonies in Canada, just like Oxalic Acid is not registered in the states , but is in Canada.  Hmmm....come on eh, let's get this together  :) :roll:  Have a wonderful day, best of our great life.  Cindi

[Robo]

Cindi,

The JB200 is a rather simple device,  but does a fine job bleaching my woodenware.   It just uses a diesel glow plug as the heating element and an aluminum cup to hold the oxalic acid.   If we have any members who are machinists,  I would be interested in working with them to build a couple more.

As far as registration, I have given up on that as being anything more than financial based a long time ago.

BTW,  I wouldn't mind getting a copy of the JB600 instructions from you when you get them, if you don't mind.

Rob....

[Cindi]

Rob, no problem, the copy of the instructions will be at your disposal.  I'll probably scan them and send them to you via e-mail, when they come, or I could just type them out, that would probably be faster for me.   Regulations, smegulations, oh brother, why can't life be simple.  Have a wonderful day, best of our beautiful life.  Cindi

P.S.  I thought the JB200 worked on a 9 volt car battery, sounds like it is even better using the diesel glow plug, that is great and good!!!!!

[qandle]

Cindi:

If you see this, I would love to get a copy of the instructions that came with it as well.

For some reason, the board is not letting me email you.

Quint

[Cindi]

Quint.  OK, I see you post, hee, hee.  I think that you are speaking about the forum not allowing you to PM me within the forum.  You could e-mail me personally, but my e-mail is not available for anyone unless I give it to you in an PM, sounds rather strange.

What I am going to do is type the vapourizer pamphlet information and set it here in this thread.  That way, anyone can have access to it.  I will type it as exactly as it is on the brochure.  I will do this sometime today, post it later on today, or early tomorrow morning, whichever comes first.   :) :) :)  Have a wonderful and beautiful day.  Cindi

[Old Timer]

>I will do this sometime today, post it later on today, or early tomorrow morning, whichever comes first.

"later on today" comes first!!!!! ;)

[Cindi]

Old Timer, OK, so it is later on today, hee, hee.

Quint.  I have typed the information from the brochure out, it is in a word document.  Thinking about this, I am a little bit leary of putting this information onto the forum.  Just to let you know that.  My worry is that it may be promoting a product for sale and that may be against forum regulation.  I am going to ask one of the Moderators of the forum if this is acceptable action.  Pretty obviously, this information on the Oxalic acid vapourizer won't be on the forum today (maybe not tomorrow either).  Have a wonderful and greatest of days.  Cindi

[buzzbee]

I think it will be okay to post instructions as It is not for commercial purpose.. Asking questions about a product is not the same as trying to sell it. Even getting rid of extra equipment and what not is okay, we are just trying to keep commercial operations from making this a free place to advertise. Consumers speaking among each other about products is a good thing!!Even a manufacturer answering questions about his own products is okay!!

[Cindi]

OK, Quint, I got the word from John (through PM) and Ken in this thread that it is OK to bring on this information that I typed out for you (and any other forum friend that may be interested in reading a very lengthy post), hee, hee.  But you know me, I ramble  ;) :)

I treated 9 colonies in under one hour.  The next time it will be a much shorter time period.  I had not used the apparatus before and I had experience to gain here, so I took my time, slowly.

Below is the text word for word from the pamphlet that came with my Oxalic Acid vapourizer, and it killed mites by the hundreds, quickly.  Have the best and most wonderful day, Cindi

OXALIC ACID VAPOURIZER
JB200 Electric Oxalic Acid Vapourizer

Heilyser Technology Ltd.
685 Dalkeith Ave.
Sidney, B.C.
V8L 5G7
Canada
Phone/Fax: 1-250-656-8727
http://www.members.shaw.ca/orioleln

How to use the JB200 Oxalic Acid vapourizer

Preparation:
Preparing Vapourizer and your 12-volt battery
Preparing protective mask, glasses and suitable acid-resistance rubber gloves
Cutting foam material strips for sealing the entrance

Caution:  Oxalic acid is not dangerous if precautions are taken
Vapourized oxalic acid – safety precautions for the apiarist
Pure oxalic acid is an unhealthy, toxic and corrosive substance.  Therefore, special safety precautions for the beekeeper are necessary, as with other products for Varroa control.  With every handling of Oxalic Acid there is the danger that the dust of the acid is breathed in.  A protective mask, gloves and protective glasses should be worn.  The low amount of Oxalic Acid that can eventually escape from the hive through gaps can easily be avoided.  During treatment the beekeeper pays close attention to the wind direction.  Colonies in a bee house – the house must be well ventilated during and after the treatment.*
The amount of Oxalic acid that escapes is, in any event, only a fraction of the amount that surrounds the beekeeper when spraying with Oxalic acid.  Spray treatment with a 3% solution of Oxalic acid is recommended in certain countries.  Therefore when vapourizing with Oxalic acid a special protective mask (FFP 3 S/L) for solid (=S) and liquid (=L) acidic aerosols should be worn.

Start with your evaporation
1.   Make sure the Oxalic tray is attached to the heating element – tighten the screw
2.   Fill the vapourizer with the required amount of Oxalic acid (2 scoops = approximately 2 grams).  USE OXALIC ACID CRYSTALS ONLY, NOT LIQUID ACID
3.   Place the vapourizer inside the hive and seal the hive with foam to prevent leakage of acid vapour during treatment
4.   Connect the vapourizer to your battery.  Positive (+) mounts to the wire and negative (-) to the handle.  After 60+ seconds the Oxalic acid should be vapourized.  Disconnect from battery and remove the vapourizer from your hive immediately.
Do not overheat the vapourizer as this can destroy the tray and the heat element.
5.   The hive should remained locked for at least 10 minutes to enable the vapour to penetrate.
6.   Prior to the next treatment, cool the vapourizer with a wet sponge.  This will prevent early evaporation of the next fill.
7.   After all treatments clean your vapourizer to remove the acid residue

How often can I treat my bees?
You can treat your bees as often as necessary, with the right amount of Oxalic Acid vapour there is no harm to bees, queen or brood.
Colony without brood or swarm – 1 treatment
Colony with brood – up to 4 treatments – 5-7 days apart
Remember – Oxalic acid does not penetrate closed cells
Always monitor mite fall

The JB200 electric is the fastest vapourizer available and was developed for beekeepers who care for large numbers of hives.
With this system, it is possible to connect several vapourizers “in line” to treat more than one colony at the same time.
The JP200 is powered by a 12-volt car battery.
The treatment takes approximately 60 seconds, but depends on the power of each individual battery, therefore, we recommend that you perform an initial test, outside the hive, to establish the evaporation time for your particular battery.
Accurate calculation of the evaporation time will save time and also protect the bees from excessive heat.
The JB200 comes with heat protection for the acid tray to prevent scorching.

[Kirk-o]

Try this out go to Ecologicalbeekeeping.com read the stuff about small cell
the bees will appreciate that.This is good old fashioned chemical free beekeeping
kirko

[Dr/B]

The JB200 electric is the fastest vapourizer available and was developed for beekeepers who care for large numbers of hives.
With this system, it is possible to connect several vapourizers “in line” to treat more than one colony at the same time.
The JP200 is powered by a 12-volt car battery.
The treatment takes approximately 60 seconds, but depends on the power of each individual battery, therefore, we recommend that you perform an initial test, outside the hive, to establish the evaporation time for your particular battery.
Accurate calculation of the evaporation time will save time and also protect the bees from excessive heat.
The JB200 comes with heat protection for the acid tray to prevent scorching.

[/quote]

Let me ask a crazy question;

I see the method above for crystalized oxalic acid use with the JB200, but..........

Anyone every used liquid oxalic acid in an insect fogger (propane fueled)?

It would seem to me that the aerosolized foggers that you can use to apply mineral oil could be easily used for this same purpose, just using oxalic acid from our local hardware stores.  It'd be much easier to use than the above mentioned JB200 with the liquid form..............

just asking.....

Dr/B :roll:

[Michael Bush]

>Anyone every used liquid oxalic acid in an insect fogger (propane fueled)?

The subject comes up from time to time.  I don't know of anyone doing it.  If you COULD figure out how to do it, I'd be afraid of the corrosion.  It's hard enough to keep a fogger working using just oil...

[Cindi]

Dr/B.  Haven't seen you on here for awhile (unless I am missing something), hi and welcome back.

I think that Michael hit that nail right on the head.  I have,many, many years ago, fogged trees with the fogger using the mineral oil.  It is messy and man oh man, yep, gets rather gummed up.  That was my experience.  I think that it would be a messy thing to put into a colony.

The vapourizing of Oxalic Acid crystals provides very tiny molecules of vapour, really fine and is efficient.  It kills mites by the hundreds, first hand information here, I tried it and was impressed.  I am hoping to to into this season with hygienic queen stock.  I am getting New World Carniolan Queens from California, so I am hoping that I won't have to use drastic measures as this for mite controls anymore.  Time will tell that tale.  Beautiful day in this life we live. Cindi

[Kev]

I didn't see an answer to his question about thymol, so I'll venture that one.

Apiguard is thymol based. Here's a link to the Dadant catalog, but most beekeeping suppliers have it

http://www.dadant.com/Apiguard-Howtouse_003.htm

I've used it successfully in my hives. Smells funny.

Kev

[DayValleyDahlias]

Bumping this up...Just saw this in the ABJ, apparently runs on a battery?

Uses oxalic crystals? 

What do y'all think about it??

[Robo]

Bumping this up...Just saw this in the ABJ, apparently runs on a battery?

Uses oxalic crystals? 

What do y'all think about it??

Are you referring to the JB200?
http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/downloads/beekeeping/JB200ElectricOxalicAcidVaporizer.pdf

It is what I used before going to HSC.  Worked quite well and one Fall treatment was all that I ever needed.