Talk:Slumgum

Expanded Information

Added to main article on 27 and 28 December 2011 by User:Bsteve137

Slumgum: the waste material from Beeswax that has been filtered out of melted Beeswax in the refining process. Slumgum is the trash that must be removed from Beeswax before the use or sale of the Beeswax.

Young worker bees (imperfect females), 12 to 18 days of age, have active wax glands (see Worker bee (section "Wax production (Day 12-17)") located on the ventral (lower) side of their abdomens. When well fed with Pollen (the bee's Protein (nutrient) source) and Honey or sugar syrup (the bee's Carbohydrate source) these glands secrete droplets of liquid wax that harden on contact with air. This is called "wax scale" (see Beeswax). The bees chew this wax scale with their mandibles to soften and shape the wax into honey comb. This process is called "festooning".

The beekeeper collects Beeswax by collecting burr comb (see Beehive and Frame (beehive), comb made as connecting links between combs, frames, and/or hive bodies (see Langstroth hive)), old honey comb, broken pieces of foundation, and during Honey extraction, cappings. Burr comb is also called brace comb (see Western honey bee). This Beeswax is melted (at 144 to 147 °F (62 to 64 °C)) in a solar, steam, or electric melter, or in a double boiler. Beeswax is a valuable commodity, especially when purified, since it cannot be produced synthetically.

The Beeswax is purified by mechanical Filtration of the melted Beeswax. Since lighter colored Beeswax is more valuable than darker colored Beeswax, the colors should be kept separated because dark Beeswax will darken lighter Beeswax. Once melted, Filtration through a clean cloth will trap Honey, Pollen, Propolis (bee glue, plant resins collected and modified by bees; used to fill small spaces in the hive, seal cracks, prevent diseases (antibiotic and anti-fungal properties), or strengthen comb), dirt, cocoon bits, bee parts and bodies, and most other particulates. It is this residue, the solid waste products of the Filtration, that is referred to as "slumgum".

Slumgum has a number of uses. It has been used as a Bee smoker fuel where a small chunk can be put on top of the regular fuel. Slumgum still contains some Beeswax which is very flammable. Slumgum (as well as Beeswax, Honey and Propolis) has been used as a swarm (see Swarming (honey bee)) lure or bait. If used for soil improvement, it should be Composted (allowed to decompose with dirt, brown and green plant materials, and/or manure) before it is worked into the garden soil. It is especially useful where soil is too hard or too sandy.