Bees in Mast

[familycruisers]

Originally Posted by bluetriguy

You didn't give your location - but since you aren't reporting massive sting episodes guess that they aren't Africanized - we had some of them in Arizona and they will kill.

If it's aluminum you really need to be careful applying any heat as you can very easily create a hot spot and weaken the extrusion, the aluminum if heated by torch or even a really hot 'air gun' can be damaged, it spreads the heat out so quickly that you can't really 'warm' a large area effectively from the outside.

On a sunny day try wrapping the mast with a black trash bag from below the hive to about 2 feet above it. The sun will heat the black plastic, which in turn heats the mast (think about being in a car in the sun) to over 200F and should melt the wax holding the mass to the aluminum. Remember that aluminum is really good at transfering heat so this may take a while, in addition if your mast is stepped on the deck you could augment the heat by using medium heat on an air gun and blow it UP the mast (mines got an open bottom, yours may not). Bees wax melts very slowly so be patient. Also remember you loaded the mast already with pesticides - you don't want to let the wax/honey/pesticide mix into the water.. you should also mask off the deck around the mast as the melted wax will usually penetrate what ever wax is on the fiberglass (not so bad if it's wood) deck and stain it.

Oh- you don't want to eat it either...

Good idea me thinks!
Bar that, heated pressure washer?

[Skip20]

Spraying soy sauce in and about the entrance/exit will keep bees and wasps away, removing the wax, aside from recirculating hot water is an engineering nightmare!

[Geoduck]

Maybe your polyestermites will eat the wax??

[saylor240]

Originally Posted by Skip20

Spraying soy sauce in and about the entrance/exit will keep bees and wasps away, removing the wax, aside from recirculating hot water is an engineering nightmare!

Now were talkin!!!
HONEY SOY CHICKEN WINGS
Printed from COOKS.COM


1 kg (about 2¼ lbs.) chicken wings
2 tablespoons sesame oil
3 cloves garlic
2 cm (about 1 inch) new ginger
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup honey

[bobconnie]

Of all the Ideas Ive seen above, aside from the good one about heating the mast ! the best and of course the easyest is putting it on the ground and let the ants eat it !! Ive seen places down here where the ants would clean it out in a week !! you just need to be sure the big openings are shut down enough to keep mice out ! the ants will find a way !! I really think it might work ! no kidding

[hummingway]

Just so you don't feel alone, it has been discussed here before:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ast-42287.html
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ast-16116.html

[rnjpinz]

Sara,
You are right. Most, if not all bee keepers would probably laugh at this job. It's not about the honey, the comb or saving the bees, its about letting you know what you have to do to solve the problem. Many times people make it worse not better. I can pretty much assure you that with all the chemicals already used I wouldn't be eating it. Also, soapy water will kill honey bees. You really don't need pesticides.

[Rhapsody-NS27]

Here's a similar situation.
Bees, but not in mast but down below, wax on the varnished teak, how would you remove the wax without messing up the finish on the wood?

[hummingway]

Originally Posted by Dan_78

Here's a similar situation.
Bees, but not in mast but down below, wax on the varnished teak, how would you remove the wax without messing up the finish on the wood?

Beeswax is one of my favorite wood finishes! Once you've removed the bulk of it you should be able to heat it up and wipe it off. If you have electricity available to you a hairdryer will do. What type of finish is on the wood?

[sarafina]

We were discussing this at dinner recently and I wanted to drop in to mention my dad thinks it's unlikely the ants will clean out the wax. He thinks they will only take the honey.

You would still have to melt the wax out.

He confirmed my opinion that no bee keeper in his right mind would take this on, but who knows, there are a lot of nutty beekeepers out there ; -)

[Cheechako]

Good point! Although they might cart it off for some reason. Dont ants take stuff back to the nest before eating it?

[hummingway]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

Good point! Although they might cart it off for some reason. Dont ants take stuff back to the nest before eating it?

It's an interesting question. I can't imagine them carrying honey anywhere though. Anytime I've seen ants and honey together the ants have been firmly entrenched in it, although possibly quite happy to be there.

[Rhapsody-NS27]

to follow up on my last post...

I recently got a boat that had bees infested down below and some areas that was sticky from wax and possibly a little bit of honey where the honeycomb was at. I read heat to melt or cold to peel the wax away.

I used hot soapy water. I hauled it out to the boat in 5 gal buckets and cleaned it up with a sponge. Only where the honeycomb was attached did any real hard scrubbing was needed. The hot water loosened it up enough to wipe away.

I posted pictures on my blog as well on these posts.
Bees!
Beeswax

[zeta]

Just put one of these in the mast and enjoy.

[Pelagic]

Fascinating challenge!

My thoughts would be to get a strong portable steam system.

Steam Hose is plumbed to the top of the mast, with a messenger that allows you to pull it down towards the base.

Depending on how your mast is installed, if practical try and loosen stays and jack up base of mast so that you have clearance to allow and witness the melted honeycomb wash out.

Steam away to superheat internal mast full length, moving steam hose till you are totally satisfied there are no more remnants left inside. (Allow a couple of days for treatment, cleaning and 2nd steam treatment)

Research if you can then spray some type of chemical inhibitor inside in case there is any small bits left

Good Luck!