my oxalic acid system

[danno]

This turned out so efficient.   I have a 12volt model with 25ft of lamp cord and battery clamps.   I got 6 digital timers w/ memory for 1.00ea at the dollar store.  One blue one preset for 2 min. and 5 red preset for 10 min.  I pull up, pop the hood, set the blue timer on the battery and a red timer on each of the first 6 hives.   Out of the back I pull out my med size cooler/ mite treatment kit.  First I pull out the burner, place it on the ground in front of the first colony along with the tub of acid w/ measuring spoon and a damp rag.  I run the cord to the truck battery and clamp one side on. Back to the cooler i grab a roll of duct tape and 6 strips of carpet pad 2" X 18".  Place 1 pad in front of each of the first 6
1st colony
Fill the burner and slide it in. Push carpet pad in to plug bottom enterence.  Duct tape top enterance.  Back to truck Hook up battery and start blue timer.  At 2 minutes the timer beeps.  disconnect battery and start red 10min timer on top of 1st colony.  Slide out burn, replug with carpet pad and cool with a damp rag.  Move to 2nd colony and start the whole proccess again.  When I get to the 6th colony the 1st is beeping that the 10 min seal up time is up.
I can do 1/2 doz in less the 20 minutes 

[bee-nuts]

Sweet!!

[Vibe]

I'm wondering if a more "natural" way of delivering OA might be effective. Like putting Polk Salad and Rhubarb tops into your smoker. Both plants contain enough OA that they are either parboiled or discarded - wouldn't the dried stems and leaves also have enough to make "some" difference - without being so much as to be a contaminant?

[bee-nuts]

I'm wondering if a more "natural" way of delivering OA might be effective. Like putting Polk Salad and Rhubarb tops into your smoker. Both plants contain enough OA that they are either parboiled or discarded - wouldn't the dried stems and leaves also have enough to make "some" difference - without being so much as to be a contaminant?

Try it and do a mite drop count and let us know, LOL.  Just kidding but go for it if you want.  Maybe your on to something.  Dried rubarb leafs for smoking.  No shortage of rhubarb leaves here in summer.

[David LaFerney]

I'm wondering if a more "natural" way of delivering OA might be effective. Like putting Polk Salad and Rhubarb tops into your smoker. Both plants contain enough OA that they are either parboiled or discarded - wouldn't the dried stems and leaves also have enough to make "some" difference - without being so much as to be a contaminant?

Try it and do a mite drop count and let us know, LOL.  Just kidding but go for it if you want.  Maybe your on to something.  Dried rubarb leafs for smoking.  No shortage of rhubarb leaves here in summer.

That actually does  sound like a good idea, but if there is enough OA in there to effect the mites it might be dangerous to the beek.  Unless you want to wear a gas mask whenever you get into the hives.

[bee-nuts]

It seems to contain one percent or less oxiliac acid so I doubt you would get sick from it.  However that may be green and not dried.  What happens to acid when leaf dries?  Does it stay or decompose?  If it stays maybe it would increase to five percent or something.  Maybe this would be enough to knock some mites dead or maybe do nothing but give you a head ace.  Someone should try this and use a mask for safety and do a mite drop test to see if it has efficacy to it.  If it even knocks ten percent of the mites of the bees and does not bother the bees  and was harmless to the bees or the user I would use it.

[David LaFerney]

You're right.  It's worth trying.  If it works it really wouldn't be too much trouble to use a respirator every once in a while.

[bee-nuts]

I forgot to add this link

http://www.rhubarbinfo.com/rhubarb-poison.html

After taking another look, its over 90 percent water.  If 1 percent oxalic acid when green and all stays when dried that would equal 20 percent or more when dry.  Notice other types of acids present.  What are the effects of these on the mites, bees and human?  One should be aware of this before using it.  However, one would probably wonder this if they knew the composition of anything they burned in there smoker.  Ehh!!

[David LaFerney]

I googled those chemicals and they are all pretty harmless - citric acid is like vitamin c, acetic acid is vinegar more or less.  The others are used as food additives and preservatives.  When you stuff them in a smoker together and cremate - who knows.  Sounds reasonably safe though with precautions.  If your eyes swell shut and your skin turns hot and red, then it probably isn't safe.   :)

[Finski]

If your eyes swell shut and your skin turns hot and red, then it probably isn't safe.   :)

....  to nurse  bees