Lewis and Sons tour, part 2, wax dipping and extraction setup.

We continue the tour of Lewis and Sons with their very nice wax dipping setup, and end with a quick look inside their extracting room. For more information you can visit their website: www.lewisandsons.ca

[@Dwadethespade]

Love the innovation displayed here. For an expanding beekeeper, do you mind sharing where you order the tank from and the crane assembly?

[@deanmalkewich2366]

Been buying Lewis dipped boxes for 15+years, haven’t seen the slightest sign of rot or deterioration in a single one. I’d love if they could make their handholds deeper.

[@AlexZaboroski]

man I've only been buying commercial grade but after watching this I might buy the budget boxes they looks just as good!

[@philbeeman]

Just depends how picky you are.

[@aCanadianBeekeepersBlog]

Is it better than painting …. **** yes !

[@philbeeman]

much much better.

[@TylerJSpry]

I had a dip tank made for myself... I HATE painting and it's the best thing I ever did!

[@troysimpsonhoneyridgefarm6]

Love the setup! I’m not sure if it’s practical for smaller beekeepers.

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

Seems like wonderful company to do business with

[@sidelinerbeekeeper]

Watched the video twice, not mentioned in the video was temperature of wax and how long to dip for. What's your best guess Phil? Thanks

[@philbeeman]

I think he wanted to keep that on the down low. Notice that since you are boiling the water out of the wax it must be well above 100c.

[@BeekeepingInCanada]

I felt kind of bad bringing a ton of smalls when I had my mini nucs, bottoms and lids for dipping, but not a single complaint. If nothing else dipped equipment is far better for your mental health, I hate painting nearly as much as assembling frames.

[@bradkendrick1127]

After the boxes are dipped then are they ok to paint 🎨?

[@philbeeman]

I suppose, but why bother?

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

Was going to ask you Q? If you were to make comb honey. Would you set the comb honey supper on top of the Q excluder. Say your flow starts you blow the bees down add excluder then set new foundation for comb honey right between the brood. Been making some but plan to setup 100 suppers this year for comb honey. Step it up only makes sense I can sell it wholesale quick .

[@philbeeman]

I found that comb honey directly above the excluder resulted in slight discoloured wax on the lower portion of the combs and they are also somewhat reluctant to fill that area. Obviously some queen pheromone drifts up a bit and the bees prepare those cells for brood. I recommend a single super before the honeycomb super.

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

@@philbeeman yes that makes sense thank you for your response

[@3Beehivesto300]

When he said it takes 4-5 and 5-5 of wax is that 5-5 mean 1 pound of wax?

[@philbeeman]

I took that to mean 0.45 to 0.55 of a pound. I budget for 1/2 a pound for boxes I dip.

[@CPMJunkRemoval]

How does a 20 second dip do anything

[@philbeeman]

30 years rot free boxes.

[@dennisjcrews]

Do they use glue when building boxes to dip? We are getting setup to dip and I have heard both ways. Thanks for another great video!

[@philbeeman]

My understanding is that they do it both ways to customer request. For my own boxes I will never make another one without glue.

[@kaistumer198]

@@philbeeman Don't skip the glue, it help so much

[@larrymote5817]

Does he use microchrystaline and paraffin? What % of each?

[@philbeeman]

I gather it was some sort of blend. He didn't disclose his exact recipe.

[@CPMJunkRemoval]

How long did he actually dip it?