- Joined
- Jan 19, 2007
- Messages
- 123
This is basically a thread to explain what happened to me today. Sometimes, the things we do and go thru teach us more than just relaxing at home. I was off today and really did not have much to do. I did not feel like working on any blades today. I saw the wife off to work around 3:00 pm. Well, then I started getting bored. I did have a sheath to finish for my friend. I started thinking about the treatment that I would put it thru. I need some beeswax. I called around to some local beekeepers today looking for some. Phone rings and bam... Mike picks up. Sure, I got some wax. Knifemaker? You dont happen to live on such and such street. I replied Yes, I do. Come to find out, he happens to be very good friends with a gentleman on my street and saw a knife I made a little kid (no edge). He even mentioned that he asked the kid to introduce him to me.
Well, the short of the story is, I went over and got about 3 lbs of wax that had been melted down. He also removed a hive today in Baton Rouge, LA. I took that home with me also. It was pretty heavy. So, I figured I could wash it out, melt it down and have a bunch of wax to mix with Mink oil to dip my sheaths in. I figured it cant be too hard. Nope, didnt need to read up on it or look online for directions. I got this figured out. Put it on the boiler, put the wax in, melt it, and pour it in some plastic containers. Let it sit up and presto, beeswax.
Well, this is where everything starts to go wrong. I put it in the container, bring it to a boil, and it starts smelling like I am cooking gumbo. I didnt think about removing all the larvae that was in the wax.
Well, I then figure out that if I use my wife's flour shifter to pour the wax thru, it will help remove some of the junk that has been in the wax. Oh, did I mention that I used one of her pots to put all this stuff in? Dang, it is too heavy to pick up, so I run and go get a ladle off the stove to scoop the wax out to make it easier to pour into the flour shifter. I am pouring the concoction into a heavy plastic mug. Everything is fine, then I go to pour that into some coke bottles. Wrong answer, it must have been too hot, it was like I was pouring it straight onto the table. Spilt wax all over both of my granite blocks and all down the table onto the floor. Could have been worse, but I am pretty quick. Just not mentally sometimes. Like when I am bored. 
I am able to get some red dixie cups and pour the wax into four of them. THe last batch of wax I just leave right in the heavy cup.
I start cleaning everything up. I bring in the ladle, pot, and shifter and put them in the sink. I figure hot water will melt the wax and cleanup will be a breeze. Wife will never know that I cooked bee gumbo in her pot. Hot water will not touch this stuff. What do I do? I was frantic. I am able to get the ladle pretty clean. I cant touch the pot or the shifter. So, being the redneck I am, I go and get five gallons of gas and pour a little on both pieces and scrub them both. It took the wax off really quickly. But I was doing this on the back patio and kicked the bucket over. Please understand that I was wearing gloves, eye protection and a leather apron while doing all the above. Gas goes everywhere. It stinks also. I figured that I could wash the gas off the pot and shifter. Nope, it is on there. My hands got some on them too. So, needless to say, the gas that was spilt outside, the gas smell on the pot and shifter, and the gas that got on my hands (gloves sucked) all contribute to my house smelling slightly like gas. No fire hazard, just stinks a little bit. I took a shower and know from experience that the smell will be gone tomorrow. But the wife is going to come home and start asking questions. I wont lie to her, but dangit, I am going to get it.
Back to the wax. It did dry and it left quite a bit of liquid in the cups with it. I threw that out. The wax actually came out very nice. Have any of you guys on the forum ever messed with bee wax before? After talking to Mike, he assures me that he will be glad to get me as much of this stuff as I would want. I am just not sure if it is worth what I had to go thru to get it into a usable form. It wasnt too hard, I guess I needed a little better planning than I had.
I learned some valuable lessons today:
1. Do the best you can on your knife, you never know who will see it. Could lead to sales or no sales and a loss of rep.
2. If your not sure how to do something, do a little research and have it planned out how your going to do it before you try it.
3. Make sure you have the equipment to properly do the job, if not, dont borrow it from your wife.
4. Do not use gas to clean cooking equipment. The wife just came in while I was typing this and I have to go shopping tomorrow. But I did find a nice pot with a lid and a strainer made especially for bees wax today.
I hope all you guys get a laugh today out of this. It was just one of those days where the brain was not working.
Thanks to all on these forums who contribute.
Bryan
Well, the short of the story is, I went over and got about 3 lbs of wax that had been melted down. He also removed a hive today in Baton Rouge, LA. I took that home with me also. It was pretty heavy. So, I figured I could wash it out, melt it down and have a bunch of wax to mix with Mink oil to dip my sheaths in. I figured it cant be too hard. Nope, didnt need to read up on it or look online for directions. I got this figured out. Put it on the boiler, put the wax in, melt it, and pour it in some plastic containers. Let it sit up and presto, beeswax.
Well, this is where everything starts to go wrong. I put it in the container, bring it to a boil, and it starts smelling like I am cooking gumbo. I didnt think about removing all the larvae that was in the wax.
Well, I then figure out that if I use my wife's flour shifter to pour the wax thru, it will help remove some of the junk that has been in the wax. Oh, did I mention that I used one of her pots to put all this stuff in? Dang, it is too heavy to pick up, so I run and go get a ladle off the stove to scoop the wax out to make it easier to pour into the flour shifter. I am pouring the concoction into a heavy plastic mug. Everything is fine, then I go to pour that into some coke bottles. Wrong answer, it must have been too hot, it was like I was pouring it straight onto the table. Spilt wax all over both of my granite blocks and all down the table onto the floor. Could have been worse, but I am pretty quick. Just not mentally sometimes. Like when I am bored. I am able to get some red dixie cups and pour the wax into four of them. THe last batch of wax I just leave right in the heavy cup.
I start cleaning everything up. I bring in the ladle, pot, and shifter and put them in the sink. I figure hot water will melt the wax and cleanup will be a breeze. Wife will never know that I cooked bee gumbo in her pot. Hot water will not touch this stuff. What do I do? I was frantic. I am able to get the ladle pretty clean. I cant touch the pot or the shifter. So, being the redneck I am, I go and get five gallons of gas and pour a little on both pieces and scrub them both. It took the wax off really quickly. But I was doing this on the back patio and kicked the bucket over. Please understand that I was wearing gloves, eye protection and a leather apron while doing all the above. Gas goes everywhere. It stinks also. I figured that I could wash the gas off the pot and shifter. Nope, it is on there. My hands got some on them too. So, needless to say, the gas that was spilt outside, the gas smell on the pot and shifter, and the gas that got on my hands (gloves sucked) all contribute to my house smelling slightly like gas. No fire hazard, just stinks a little bit. I took a shower and know from experience that the smell will be gone tomorrow. But the wife is going to come home and start asking questions. I wont lie to her, but dangit, I am going to get it.
Back to the wax. It did dry and it left quite a bit of liquid in the cups with it. I threw that out. The wax actually came out very nice. Have any of you guys on the forum ever messed with bee wax before? After talking to Mike, he assures me that he will be glad to get me as much of this stuff as I would want. I am just not sure if it is worth what I had to go thru to get it into a usable form. It wasnt too hard, I guess I needed a little better planning than I had.
I learned some valuable lessons today:
1. Do the best you can on your knife, you never know who will see it. Could lead to sales or no sales and a loss of rep.
2. If your not sure how to do something, do a little research and have it planned out how your going to do it before you try it.
3. Make sure you have the equipment to properly do the job, if not, dont borrow it from your wife.
4. Do not use gas to clean cooking equipment. The wife just came in while I was typing this and I have to go shopping tomorrow. But I did find a nice pot with a lid and a strainer made especially for bees wax today.
I hope all you guys get a laugh today out of this. It was just one of those days where the brain was not working.
Thanks to all on these forums who contribute.
Bryan
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