Collecting Propolis

This our first attempt at collecting propolis for apitherapy and commercial sales.
Propolis: A Wonder Bees Product and Its Pharmacological Potentials,
Vijay D. Wagh. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
Benefits of Propolis to Honey Bees: Newest Data - a talk by Marla Spivak
• Benefits of Propolis t...
Why care about Propolis with Marla Spivak
• Why care about Propoli...
www.mannlakeltd.com/10-frame-...

[@juremyclorkson3518]

0:51 guy behind holding a gas nozzle: Always important to top up your bees. You don't want them to run out of fuel in the middle of nowhere

[@TheFiregolem]

One of the most informative beekeepers I ever watched. Thank you soo much!

[@TexasBeekeeper]

I just purchased some pollen traps to give it a try. Love the tip on putting a couple boards under the lid to let light in. I'll have to give it a try.

[@kevinodonnell3017]

Another great video. Thank you Bob

[@30farms70]

Turn your freezer down as cold as it will go. Put the traps in the freezer for 2 full days and then take out and give a twist. You’ll almost get all of it.

[@demetriseliades5932]

Hi there, you may try to roll it in a cylindrical shape and afterwards put it in the refrigerator. So once you place it in the box, and get it straight, the frozen concave surface of the propolis will brake more easy. The cylinder roll will have to be done vertically to the cuts of the propolis trap. By the way you do have so clear and analytical explanations in your videos which are very educational. Very much appreciated. Thank you.

[@houstonsheltonbees814]

Thanks for the Marla link 👍 great talk. Appreciated 👍

[@alanboone9883]

Install the propolis Trap the other way with the small flat slits side down. The bees will seal the slots better with propolis. Also, when you remove the frozen trap from the freezer, and hold it down in the collection tub, get a 18" to 22" dowel rod or cut off a wooden broom handle works great. Rap on the plastic sheet with the wooden rod, and the propolis pops right off........ making this process easy. Hope this helps.

[@bryanrice5259]

I have an idea. Solvent. Water is the universal solvent. Just dunk these bad boys in a shallow pan of really hot water and allow it to dissolve in the water. You have a ready made tincture. If it is too thin, you can evaporate some of the water out. I'd love to have one of these traps for my hive!

[@TennesseeMountainBees]

Seems to work pretty well! Great video!

[@carlsledge3868]

i had a hive beetle problem so baited some traps of type that can open the top, the bees chased about 100 beetles into each of the 4 traps then sealed tops with proplus

[@beebob1279]

I've tried these things myself. I got a little bit but had the same problem as you. It's tough stuff. Think of plaster on a wall. The plaster oozes through and grabs around the backside of the sticks. Same thing here. I've scraped the smooth side first then went after the heavy propolis in the grooves. Never did get it all out because it's just so time consuming. Be careful where you do this too. If it gets on the floor it's staying on the floor.

[@sidelinerbeekeeper]

Windshield ice scraper hand tool that has the plastic teeth on the backside, no snow brush of course. The teeth just might fit the trap slots. You can always make your own tool out of puckboard(kitchen cutting board) and cut/grind the perfect tool to fit between the trap slots.

[@crazy1kid2]

Have you tried a thick bristled brush? (I'm imagine a deck brush) I feel like it might get in the gaps a bit better and maybe put the brush in the freezer as well so it doesn't warm the propolis up to much. Just an idea. Love what you do and for passing on the knowledge.

[@lagrangebees]

First time I tasted propolis from my bees it felt like i had eaten turpentine/glue. STRONG pine aftertaste. Definitely one of the revenue source I'd like to work on as I gain more experience as a beekeeper.

[@richardgragg5092]

Thanks always for your time Mr. Binnie! I saw Black Mountain video and he used screen wire and rolled it after frozen and had great results. I won't to try sceenwire and after its frozen run it across maybe a 1/4 stainless rod, I think it'll fall off. I wouldn't have the patience or time to dig it out of those cracks. God bless you from Texas. This is my second season coming up and if it wasn't for your help and videos I wouldn't have been successful, 62 hives with no die outs yet. Thanks again.

[@bobbinnie9872]

👍 thanks.

[@PatrickPease]

I'd say, don't worry about getting more than 80% and it looks like you get more than that on your 1st shakeout of each one

[@stephaniavanvolkenburg5424]

Is there anyway you can get them to dry out more like older propolis on the hive is. Ty for the vids... several beekeepers I like to watch but yours are the only one that I'll drop everything if possible to watch

[@michaelposner3994]

I like the alcohol idea some mentioned below. Food grade of course. I would try a pressure washer as well and then dry.

[@CastleHives]

I’ve never collected propolis. Interesting how those are used. Thanks for sharing Bob. Was great speaking with you at the Hive Life Conference.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thank you. 👍

[@69GeneralLee01]

@@bobbinnie9872 a narrow stiff bristled brush? Maybe like a mini wire brush

[@brianwentz]

After frozen, try using a metal queen excluder scraper. Mann lake sells them.

[@dp.2766]

I saw a video where a guy built an observation hive for a public venue and dissolved propolis in Alcohol to use as a wood stain. Looked nice. I’d say take what you can get without too much labor and leave the rest. The bees will add to it next round. Maybe even more than the first time…🤠

[@thesidelinebeekeeper-craig6924]

Haha nothing in Beekeeping is as easy as it seems, so true. We were looking to run 50 or so traps at one point, there was a health market in the area that wanted propolis, but it fell through (maybe for the best) We have the traps and may give it a go this season.Thanks for sharing.

[@manukahoneyguru]

You have mentioned a health market is in your area demanding raw propolis. Can you share their name or contact info please ?

[@HaselorHoney]

Thanks for sharing. I have one hive that is full of propolis so I may have to try and harvest it 😃😃

[@antonasgeorge4211]

Hello from Greece . The word propolis is compound." Pro" means pre previous or before or in front at this case because in ancient Greece at the entrance of a hive on a hollow tree the first thing they saw was the propolis. they used to reduce its entrance "polis" means the colony of the bees protected after propolis pro polis - previous of the city . The sticks must not be inserted under the lid the bees have access and they robbing propolis . no freezing needed you can collected with the hivetool as it is on the hive without being removed. do not use them on Italian bees because they use a lot of wax.

[@bobbinnie9872]

👍

[@tolgakrac8768]

Ancient Greece is in the past. These are unnecessary sentences.

[@bobbinnie9872]

@@tolgakrac8768 Myself and others find how meanings and explanations originate interesting.

[@curiousnomadic]

@@tolgakrac8768 I actually just read a similar definition of propolis when looking it up. It's definitely from Greek so maybe Greeks know what they are doing with it.

[@beemetricsorg]

I’m wondering if putting the frozen propolis trap in an empty 50 lb nylon sugar bag and whacking it on a table or 2x4 would work.

[@oleksandrzaika7896]

Hello Bob! Thank you for your videos, you have been doing a great job. In Ukraine, many beekeepers use plastic meshes similar to the meshes that are used to deter mosquitoes and flies on the windows, but a bit stronger (the lines of the mesh are a bit thicker) to use it longer. The main advantage of the mesh is that you can twist it however you like and the propolis gets out much easier.

[@pcelarskisokak]

There is the same practice in my country and that is a much more cheaper version of this tool.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanks for the info!

[@Entercrish]

Hello i'm french beekeeper. We used something like a inox blade suspended and attached above a barrel and I rub the propolis trap on the blade.

[@oderusurungus4438]

Forget that 10-20%. It will be there next time you cleanup and perhaps it will fall out then. There's a reason why the universe is fighting you in that fashion, either to inspire you to think of a new way or for a future gift, yet to be received. Silver linings are everywhere, if you look for them. I like the idea of the scraping, works fast and good enough. Maybe a kitchen fork would be precise and gentle enough. An A.C. coil comb might have properly spaced fingers to scrape troughs.

[@clauspetersen8064]

Hi Bob. An easy way to dissolve propolis in alcohol is when you put the propolis in an electric coffee grinder and then a trip in the freezer. When the machine is frozen and you put the grinder on. You will get a very fine propolis flour. It takes about 20 seconds. Here in Denmark we use 72% alcohol. I drink this medicine every morning 1cl and rarely have a cold and no Corona. regards Claus from Denmark

[@bobbinnie9872]

I will try that, thanks.

[@1bojaq]

I’m going to start bee keeping in 2023 thankyou for all your advice. I have a suggestion for removing the propolis. Try compressed air in a fanned air wand.

[@aidanquick3151]

What if the mats had a negative or opposite template and by putting them together the propolis gets pushed out.

[@PhilSerafinasBeeHappy]

Hi Bob, I too tried the propolis traps but found an easier way. In the hot weather I use the ventilated inner covers (#8 hardware cloth) and migratory tops. It mimics what you are doing with the propolis traps. I found that the bees will put a thick ring of propolis around the Perimeter of the screened inner cover. I just let it air dry over winter and scrape it off the following year. The air dried propolis becomes brittle vs sticky and is easy to scrape off with a hive tool. No freezing required. I can then crush the brittle propolis into a fine powder. I plan to enter my propolis in the county fair. I'll see if the Judge likes it powdered. Keep up with your great videos>

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thank you.

[@donotcare330]

really nice video!

[@robwildfieldhoney]

I like the tip of elevating the lid from the trap with wood. I've used these traps before without doing that and had no success. Great work!

[@beeman1246]

Some bees will propolised lattice very little. But perhaps this trick will help.

[@robwildfieldhoney]

@@beeman1246 That's awesome. Thanks for that @Beeman

[@jesserobinson8915]

when we elevated the lid we noticed that the bees would propolise from both sides.

[@beeman1246]

@@jesserobinson8915 It just looks like that, but the bees propolis only from the inside. Earlier, I did not know this trick with the slats between the lid and the trap. so the bees only had access from inside, and yet there was more propolis on the other side. (lid side where the bees had no access)

[@robwildfieldhoney]

@@jesserobinson8915 interesting, I'll try it.

[@scottosborne6735]

I just take my time and use a hive tool to scrape it off frames and boxes. It's not easy, like you said here, but it's just my time. Propolis is valuable if you have the market. It's sticky, that's exactly why it's so valuable because it's full of resin. Cold and heat, used correctly can help. Interesting to see you are getting into harvesting it. It's more valuable than honey based on volume and given that, it's worth the effort. Also why I don't use chemicals, I don't want anything I can avoid in my propolis.

[@bobbinnie9872]

👍

[@LawsonsCreekApiary]

Thanks for the video, useful information. I have a Caucasian queen ordered. May try a propolis trap once they get strong and established.

[@gradystanley5163]

I wonder if you threw the traps into a machine like a chicken plucker if it that would do thre job or just tear up the propolis traps.

[@jirizhanel795]

smaller diameter roller, that would band that screen more. Maybe lower your freezer temp to make that propolis more bridle.

[@imkereistappert3183]

Would say as you said, leave the rest inside. Store it clean. The bees may propolise the used ones even better next time.

[@plamenkopijetlovic2172]

Hello ser, You are the best, ad most informative beekeeper on youtube. Propolis disolve in 96procent alcohol and silicon trap is very stable in alcohol. You may tray to dislove trap with propolis in alcohol. I lookforward for your opinnion Ser. Sorry for my poor english.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thank you. We may try alcohol.

[@VENAL]

Hello Bob, U need to put the propolis traps at least 24 hours in the freeze so its good frozen and it will come out perfect then. Also u need to put some thin rims above the frames so bees patrol all the surface of the trap. Last, when u try it do dilute with alcohol use only food grade 90% density. Mix it 30% propolis with 70% alcohol in a jar of glass for 40 days in room temperature until 30°C in shade, not direct sunlight. Shake well every day and after 40 days you can filter it with cheese cloth or filter paper so also tje wax get stuck on. Wish u the besy. Keep up the good work!

[@reedjasonf]

You mean put a rim on above the trap or between the trap and the hive body underneath?

[@VENAL]

Between the trap and the hive body so the trap it self doesnt cover the frames The bees need to patrol all tje area. Than u put the rims above the trap as Bob did to create wind tunnels and light so they start propolising the trap.

[@highkicker11]

using alchol with propolis kind of defeats the purpose of using propolis as a natual anti microbial. now if you want to use it for anything else that has a lot less value thats an other thing.

[@VENAL]

I dont know how you liquidate the propolis there but, by mixing it with alcohol the final solution will inhibit ~270 substances found in propolis. By olive oil is ~70 and by water is ~5. The goal is to liquify lit because in the raw solid form propolis isnt digestible. The food grade alcohol is used to absorbe and dilute the propolis , it doesn't destroy it.

[@andreiman7657]

Hi Bob. Thanks for sharing your work with us. Small suggestion: did you try to roll them up before putting them in frezeer? I would expect that when you try to unroll the freezed traps the product will crack down easier. (I think this is how they are doing it in my part of Europe)

[@bobbinnie9872]

We did not try that but will next time, thanks.

[@viklund2725]

@@bobbinnie9872 Roll them with the from the hive downsside inside the roll, then freez

[@soupvis2616]

He is not using the best traps , the other ones are more flexible

[@soupvis2616]

@@bobbinnie9872 You have to use this trap , in the video they started with traps like yours and then the good traps kzbin.info/www/bejne/mofKeaSqhq6ci7c

[@claudiaurueta1027]

@@soupvis2616 could you suggest on some better ones?

[@pcelarskisokak]

I think it is quite well 80% propolis in one round. We don't lose anything, next time it will be there and in one way it will make the process faster. It is important that we do not waste time and job is quickly.Also we have pure product with high qualiti.Colecting propolis is not like honey harvest, it needs several season to accumulate it in the hive .... bees then use it to glue holes and other purposes ... this propolis is not all collected in this seazon and on the result impacts how the bees have natural instinct for collecting and of course how they are strong.This is very good result.We have to be real and put commercials on the side.They always calculate with the best parameters. Cheers.

[@texnichols]

My first thought turn the trap over, giving the smooth side to the bees, then use the plastic puddy knife to remove it.

[@norbertalbu6616]

Hi Bob, Thanks for all these great videos. Try rolling them in different directions like a carpet, instead of folding it. That worked for me, but it still remains some behind.

[@rayjohnson8329]

How about a metal rack/screen and an air compressor?

[@jamesmcnally2519]

Possibly someone with a 3D printer could print something to force it out one frame at a time? Interesting concept I wonder if longer thin openings would work better? I would also like to know did the traps allow or increase hive beetle count over the time the traps were on?

[@bobbinnie9872]

We didn't notice any increase in beetles but there wasn't a lot to start with.

[@TheBradtri]

I wonder if a quick spray of Pam or something similar on the trap before installing on hive would help?

[@bobbinnie9872]

Worth a try.

[@jasonstorm8315]

Thank you so much Bob going to try that this year. Can you tell me how you store it after you et it collected please?

[@bobbinnie9872]

We're going to store it in small buckets and freeze it until we're ready to do something with it.

[@AlexZaboroski]

What if you made a box that had 4 sides and the top had an opening just a few inches smaller then the trap. And after freezing using compressed air and a blow gun?

[@davidshea7880]

Hi Bob, only just saw your video. Isopropyl Alcohol will dissolve all the propolis. You have to leave it submerged in the alcohol and seal the container so the alcohol doesn’t evaporate off. It takes about 2 weeks and the propolis traps will be cleaned of all propolis. Then you just poor the alcohol and propolis solution into a mould or container and let the alcohol evaporate off and your left with pure propolis in a tidy mould. The alcohol is 100% and leaves no residual. I would’ve posted a photo or 2 but couldn’t do that here. Keep the videos coming it’s very interesting to see how other people do things!

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thank you.

[@robertdemers702]

I would make a rake out of nails that line up with the openings on your traps and give that a try. I’d also get that box off the ground a bit, that poor guy is going to break hid back. You could also use a 4x4 sheet of cardboard on a work bench to clean them and then fold the cardboard to dump the propolis in the container.

[@FantaLaStrada]

Great Idea with the nails! If you can make it exact for each hole in the row you can clean out a majority of the rest of the propolis.

[@beeman1246]

@@FantaLaStrada Sorry i think this is a terrible idea. You don't want to contaminate the propolis with plastic, which is why the colleague in the video uses a plastic spatula. I also think that the scratched plastic will hold propolis more and next time it will be harder to remove.

[@robertdemers702]

This just food for thought but you don’t have to use nails, hardwood dowels, aluminum dowels, whatever you have in your area to make the rake. With propolis there is no easy way.

[@codycarter5263]

Air compressor with air blower. May need to cut lid of container to where trap fits over hole in lid and blow propolis down into box

[@kathyhathaway8823]

Bob how about a stainless steel wire brush is a brass brush . You could get these kind of brush at a welding supply store and brush them lightly . 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️. Just a thought

[@johnpierre1898]

What about freezing it in dry ice? Don’t know if frames would crack but if not the propolis would let go I would think.

[@davidgeyer3988]

I would think of the traps as bread starter always leave some.

[@DuckRiverHoney]

Bob maybe after the trap “loads” the first time the collecting would get easier? In other words maybe 15% stuck to the trap on first use, but no more than 15% will stick to it next year? It would be interesting to run one of those through my simple harmony farms uncapper and see if it broke it loose with less labor. Probably wouldn’t.

[@thesidelinebeekeeper-craig6924]

Kinda like priming the trap, that may work,

[@bobbinnie9872]

You may be right. Someone in another comment said that is the case.

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Limited experience here but that seems to be the case. We don't fight with the remaining 15-20%

[@spider2914]

How about one of the uncapping rollers with prongs!

[@herdbrian6662]

What about scraping the back with your scraper then refreezing and bend it once the back is scraped. Perhaps it’s got too much grip through the trap? I’ve never collected it I’m just spitballing based on what you showed.

[@mckeeshoneybees8351]

Hi Bob, are you planning on doing a video on what your going to do with the propolis? Thanks for info.

[@alden1983]

I made honey propolis spray with mine this year. Only downside was of it wasn't used regularly, the propolized seizes the spray nozzle.

[@cecildean3648]

@@alden1983 What is honey propolis spray? What do you do with it?

[@mckeeshoneybees8351]

@@alden1983 I definitely want to get more into it, a little bit at a time.

[@bobbinnie9872]

We will be selling it in our store. We get asked for it a lot.

[@StuartPhoenix]

@@bobbinnie9872 interesting, the market for it here in New Zealand seems to have died.

[@dianetaylor6751]

Sorry I am late to the party. It's 🥶 winter. Everything is slowed down... especially me. One thing my bees excel in is propolis. I find when the pine sap runs that the propolis is stickier and doesn't get as brittle in the cold for 6 wks or so. Maybe an aging process involved here. Just my 2 cents.

[@smatt566]

i feel you needed a strong brush. a strong broom one or one like the shoe kind. What do you think? we dont collect propolis. We have some in tree populated areas but dont take advantage of it. What in your opinion is the benefit? thanks. I love your videos.

[@smatt566]

i dont think it should be done with a circular movement, but in the same direction as the slot. It has to be done by hand. also you can make a tool like a comb with the teeth the same exact spacing that the slots and scrape it. It could be done with wood and nails or with a metal sheet. thin sheets, like the ones used in roofing. im just giving ideas. maybe they dont work.

[@bobbinnie9872]

So far everything like a brush that is strong enough to remove the propolis is also hard on the plastic propolis trap. We're still working on it. Thanks.

[@cecildean3648]

Bob, what are you going to do with the propolis? Do you have a market for it?

[@bobbinnie9872]

I'm not sure yet, but I believe we will probably sell it in our store. We get asked for it a lot.

[@harrisjoubertwithsleepycre1924]

had the same problem. I scrape and roll, then leave the rest. no idea if its right, like most things I do. lol. I leave mine on, inside feeders,then the bees can regulate the air flow as they want it. I have vented lids. I was hoping you had figured out how to make it all fall off

[@bobbinnie9872]

Not yet but hearing some possible ideas in the comments.

[@user-ol6os7pb8b]

Здравствуйте . Может температура в морозилке не достаточная и время нахождения в ней прополиса? Я когда замораживал соты с пергой в морозилке не сильно они замерзли . Оказалось что температура в морозильной камере - 15 с. Надо чтоб было -25 с градусов. Тогда с легкостью отбивается. Можно потом палкой отбить прополюс.

[@brianwashburn4917]

Maybe try a capping scratcher.

[@roelofstienstra3880]

After scraping put the mats in a layer of alcohol for a couple of days. Most of the propolis will dissolve and be somewhat cleaner.

[@dp.2766]

And alcohol evaporates, leaving the propolis behind….👍👍👍🐝🐝🐝

[@roelofstienstra3880]

I would use the solution some beeswax and almond oil to make an ointment for treating inflammations.

[@beeman1246]

I think that adding slats over the trellis causes the heat to escape from the hive, which forces the bees to act (propolising the trellis)

[@bobbinnie9872]

I'm sure that's part of it. 👍

[@beeman1246]

@@bobbinnie9872 Sorry Bob, after watching the movie a second time I think you mentioned it.

[@kimberlypaulson4545]

How about making a small ball and see if it will stick to itself and collect as you run it down the rungs so to speak. I hope that makes sense good luck.

[@agmakr87]

That is the way when it is fresh.

[@josephvogel7234]

Do you have advice for using them on hives that have telescoping lids.

[@bobbinnie9872]

I would try the same type of sticks and lift the cover up like I did here. No need for an inner cover.

[@Dobrojuto.yt-7]

In Serbia some beekeepers use nets against mosquito's, it easier to get whole propolis from net.

[@jimdonbrock1668]

I am new and learning from you and others , However try a stainless steel welding hand brush, the poly not wood kind or a air compressor and blow gun should work .

[@alden1983]

See if you can use a pet undercoat rake with either metal or plastic bristles that meet your rigidity requirements. I used a pen and wasted a lot of time with mine but I only had 2 traps to harvest.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Sounds like a possibility. I'll look at that, thanks.

[@Bri_bees]

I collect Propolis from my canvas inner covers once a year by soaking them in 190 proof alcohol. I spray the tincture on my plastic foundation's instead of waxing them , the bees love it. I have a playlist on my channel if you are interested.🙂🐝

[@bryanzavada4926]

Do the wood slats ever provoke robbing in an apiary?

[@bobbinnie9872]

We didn't notice any indication of that. If there was the smell of essential oils in our syrup it could.

[@hockinghillshoneyfarm9273]

Hi Bob any update on the new mite treatment that Jenifer Berry was trying on some of your bees.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Funny you ask. I'm meeting Louis and Jennifer at the UGA bee lab tomorrow. Hope to post something soon.

[@hockinghillshoneyfarm9273]

@@bobbinnie9872 Ok Thanks Bob Hope all is well with you.

[@hikmatullahpakhtoon3694]

You should try hot water if it is soluble. And then put that solution in sun so that all water evaporates.

[@dennisbarney869]

What do they use propolis for. do you know how the break it down for commercial use. if you dont mind me asking Im a newbee lol

[@martinhowlett653]

Is your freezer going cold enough.. there's a temperature cold enough to shatter the plastic, if you could get it even colder it might help

[@bobbinnie9872]

It's at 0°f. 👍

[@dandahlberg4452]

Where do you get your hat and viel. I love it!

[@bobbinnie9872]

It's an old style Walter T. Kelly veil and hat. That particular veil is not in the catalog anymore but the hat is.

[@desertfox1976]

I use a stick and give a few strokes in the propolis trap. The propolis comes off easily.

[@ishaksoukkou4195]

Hi Bob do you reap propolis from the cells from which you made honey

[@bobbinnie9872]

The colonies we install propolis traps on have already finished producing honey for the year.

[@davidhill2701]

Have you tried a uncapping fork

[@johnowen9831]

Try useing an uncaping roller after Bending the plastic a few times its an idea ? I Enjoy your videos

[@bobbinnie9872]

Thanks. We're going to look at that next season.

[@dandahlberg4452]

DId you decide to go for propolis due to Caucasions propensity for generating it?

[@bobbinnie9872]

I think I would have tried it anyway but I think the Caucasians made it easier.

[@ishaksoukkou4195]

How many grams does a hive produce? And can I put the trap only once in the late fall or 2 times

[@bobbinnie9872]

You can have it on any time there is not chemicals in the colony. Every location makes different amounts.

[@Peter_Gunn]

Could you not use one of them tools they have to clean queen excluders. I am glad you showed how you would go about trapping propolis thou. Thanks so much. We are getting some Caucasian bees in May and this will be very helpful.

[@wesleyhoskins9974]

Hey Peter Gunn where did you order Caucasian from if you don’t care to tell

[@Peter_Gunn]

@@wesleyhoskins9974 Just a disclaimer idk how these bees will do, good or bad but from Winters Apiaries in east Tennessee. They have a website.

[@beeman1246]

@PG Yes and you have propolis with plastic. LOL

[@wesleyhoskins9974]

Ok thanks I love them I have three but where I was getting them they was very high

[@Peter_Gunn]

@@wesleyhoskins9974 they are supposedly from the Sue Colby line. I am hoping for the best. Their description of their breeding sounds good anyways.

[@badassbees3680]

I had exact same problem and I also had trouble with vodka breaking it down. Trial and error I reckon lol Tfs Bob!

[@gregr5]

Next time try grain alcohol (95% vs 40 %). Extracts work much better with a lower water volume (resins are hydrophobic).

[@badassbees3680]

@@gregr5 yeah I figured everclear may work better, but I was surprised it didn't do anything with vodka..thanks though I'll try it again someday

[@beeman1246]

@@badassbees3680 It should be no less and no more but 70%

[@badassbees3680]

@@beeman1246 80 proof didn't work is all I know ,some of my bees propolize top frames to bottom frames the whole distance in double deeps which I love but hate too lol

[@russellkoopman3004]

@@badassbees3680 Isn't 80 proof actually 40% alcohol?

[@69GeneralLee01]

Stiff bristle brush?

[@jhookfishing4978]

What do you intend to do with the propolis?

[@bobbinnie9872]

We will probably sell it in our store. We get asked about it a lot.

[@BlanchardsBees]

Had a commercial bee operation tell me they couldn't find a buyer for propulis because of all the GMO crops around here. Living in Iowa (ag country) mostly soybeans and corn. Would you happen to have any insight on the subject of contaminated propulis with GMO's? & places that may be more willing to take the propulis? Thanks Bob.👍

[@bobbinnie9872]

There was a time when propolis was easy to sell for a high price. My guess is that imports are the reason that has changed. As far as GMO's are concerned the propolis wouldn't be coming from the crops. Ours should be fairly clean in our area anyway. We're probably going to sell ours in our store.

[@russellkoopman3004]

Corn only sheds pollen for 4 days and it sheds in mid July when bees have better source of pollen. Many people don't think bees use soybeans for pollen or nectar. Soybean flower has viable pollen for 3-4 hours per flower. Besides propolis comes from trees, mostly cottonwoods and pines and they aren't GMO.

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

@@russellkoopman3004 Summed up nicely Rus. I think someone was blowing some smoke commenting on GMO propolis from crops. Honestly I'd be more concerned with crop applied chemicals resulting in trace contact contamination so who knows?

[@russellkoopman3004]

@@MinnesotaBeekeeper Mike, you are right. Spray drift and applications are going to happen. One guy said that the GMO crop residue and dust from the combines gets in the air and sticks to the tree resins which the bees then collect. Possible??

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

@@russellkoopman3004 under the right conditions, I guess but particulate drift is way out of my pay grade.

[@Warren76317]

Could be the type of plastic used to make the trap. TPO plastic is the hardest plastic to stick to o. Polypropylene which is what clear plastic bags are made of won't let somethings stick to it.

[@bobbinnie9872]

Since I bought our traps I have noticed different plastics being used by other brands. I might have to experiment some.

[@jameswatters9592]

Is it the daylight that the bees are trying to block or the gaps, what I'm thinking is maybe Perspex face down with maybe the trap on top of it.

[@bobbinnie9872]

I think daylight has the biggest affect with these traps. The more light the more propolis.

[@jameswatters9592]

@@bobbinnie9872 So do you think the bees would still lay propolis if perspex or glass were used under the cover with a gap showing light?

[@yesmhm69]

Can collecting the propolis have the potential to compromise the hive?

[@bobbinnie9872]

It doesn't seem like it.

[@beemanit9305]

Maybe try an air compressor after freezing the propolis to collect it.

[@arthuragina4360]

Watching from Kenya. Our propolis is black and sticky

[@ishaksoukkou4195]

Do you extract the propolis from the cells from which you produced honey? What is the good timing for this?

[@bobbinnie9872]

The bees collect the propolis resin in late summer and apply it throughout the hive. We only collect it from the plastic traps that we show in the video.

[@ishaksoukkou4195]

@@bobbinnie9872 Is the process of producing propolis a stressful process for bees and negatively affected it? Can I extract propolis from a cell from which I harvested honey?

[@bobbinnie9872]

@@ishaksoukkou4195 The bees don't seemed to be stressed over collecting and yes, a colony that has or is producing honey can be used.

[@ApiaryManager]

@Celine Gobin used to have a video on her KZbin channel (in French) that showed how she collected propolis. She used sheets of fine mesh which rolled quite easily when frozen so the propolis came out much easier than yours seems t have done, I suspect the problem is that those propolis traps are just too thick to roll properly.

[@bobbinnie9872]

I found her videos. I'll be looking at that, thanks.

[@ApiaryManager]

@@bobbinnie9872 A couple of years ago, she had some old (poor video quality) videos on her channel that included the mesh (I think it was quite a fine insect screen).She may have removed the older videos though. It was very flexible and her husband was able to remove the propolis very easily.

[@Bienenzentrum]

@@ApiaryManager tryed to find the videos with the mesh but could find it. But she has some interesting videos!

[@ApiaryManager]

​@@Bienenzentrum It was a few years ago I saw it. It may have even been plastic insect mesh. I'm not sure. I just remember it having very small holes and being very flexible. Her husband would roll several of them together with elastic bands around the roll. He would then put them into plastic bags before putting them in the freezer. When he removed them from the freezer, the propolis seemed to come out without too much effort.

[@3boysbees]

As always thanks for the information. I don't know what you plan to do with the propolis. A lot of people make tinctures would it be possible to put all of those traps in a little bit of alcohol or some other non-lethal distillate as you would making a tincture. Alcohol wash so to speak.

[@anibis485]

It would be worse as it will melt the propo and make it even more difficult to have it. I tried it...

[@michaelposner3994]

I agree it would be interesting to use a food safe alcohol to dissolve the propolis and then let the alcohol evaporate.

[@bigarm439]

Bob try a numatic welder's slag hammer. Should not have any metal bits. Looks like an air chisel but little round metal rods. More known as a needle scaler. Will work

[@bobbinnie9872]

I know that tool and will try it, thanks.