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Author Topic: wax is expensive!  (Read 3397 times)

Offline madscientist

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wax is expensive!
« on: July 23, 2008, 11:31:01 pm »
I've gone back to feeding to build up comb for next year, which will be my 2nd.  My five hives can easily go through 50 lbs of sugar a week used in a 1:1 syrup.  At walmart's 25lb bag price, that's 80 bucks a month that I'll be spending on sugar.  Hopefully I'm doing something wrong and it shouldn't be this expensive.  Please tell me what it is...


Offline SgtMaj

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Re: wax is expensive!
« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2008, 11:48:15 pm »
You just want them to build comb, right?

If so, try cutting back to light syrup (1:2), which may trick them into thinking a flow is about to start, which should trigger them to build more comb, at least according to master beekeeper George Emirie... That should also save you about $40 a month since you get twice as much syrup from the same amount of sugar.

Offline Kathyp

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Re: wax is expensive!
« Reply #2 on: July 24, 2008, 12:57:18 am »
also, it's not a think you have to do year after year unless you expand.  you'll have the drawn comb and can replace a bit at a time.
Someone really ought to tell them that the world of Ayn Rand?s novel was not meant to be aspirational.

Offline SgtMaj

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Re: wax is expensive!
« Reply #3 on: July 24, 2008, 02:15:53 am »
Unless trying to harvest and sell the wax... but in similar words to those of George Imirie... drawn comb is a beek's most precious resource.

Offline Ross

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Re: wax is expensive!
« Reply #4 on: July 24, 2008, 08:49:21 am »
As it gets later in the year, the bees like drawing wax less and less.  Even with a fall flow it's hard to get them to draw wax.  They seem to want to pack down.  They will use drawn comb and fill it, but not draw much new. 
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Offline Robo

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Re: wax is expensive!
« Reply #5 on: July 24, 2008, 08:52:49 am »
that's 80 bucks a month that I'll be spending on sugar.  Hopefully I'm doing something wrong and it shouldn't be this expensive.  Please tell me what it is...


I guess that makes HSC look like a bargain.
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas Edison



Offline madscientist

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Re: wax is expensive!
« Reply #6 on: July 24, 2008, 10:27:48 am »
I guess I should know what HSC stands for but I don't.  What is it?


Offline Robo

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Re: wax is expensive!
« Reply #7 on: July 24, 2008, 10:42:11 am »
Honey Super Cell.  Fully drawn 4.9 frames.

www.honeysupercell.com
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas Edison



Offline SgtMaj

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Re: wax is expensive!
« Reply #8 on: July 24, 2008, 12:08:13 pm »
It looks expensive at first, but it's only like $6 per frame...

ok, it still looks expensive, when was it supposed to look cheap again?

Offline Robo

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Re: wax is expensive!
« Reply #9 on: July 24, 2008, 01:13:55 pm »
When you look at the big picture.

Last almost indefinitely
   - how many years do you plan to get out of wax before replacing?  3,5,? 

no $$ treating for wax moth
no $$ feeding sugar to build comb
instant regression, no wasting comb

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas Edison



Offline SgtMaj

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Re: wax is expensive!
« Reply #10 on: July 24, 2008, 01:36:52 pm »
That just makes the normal method look expensive too... It still doesn't make any of them look cheap...  ;)

 

anything