Mklangelo
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Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin - USA (42° 57' N 87° 54' W)
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« on: March 13, 2008, 11:40:44 PM » |
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Has anyone made this recipe?
25 Pounds Sugar
2 Quarts Water
6 TBL Vinegar
I halved the recipe. Exactly.
Boil the Vinegar and water. Add Sugar slowly, one third at a time. Stir constantly until the thickness of oatmeal and/or 260F.
Remove from heat and pour into molds. Let cool over night. Pop it out and feed etc...
If anyone has made this recipe, what hardness should the finished product be in the morning? Mine turned out like Rock Candy the first time and into the garbage it went. I tried it again tonight and it looks like it's going to be the same. Although the stuff in the cooling pans is still soft, the stuff stuck to the sides of the pot I cooked it in it already hard as a rock.
Thanks, MK
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pdmattox
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« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2008, 12:04:06 AM » |
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I believe that hard as a rock is the nature of the candy board.
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bassman1977
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« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2008, 12:32:37 AM » |
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I believe that hard as a rock is the nature of the candy board. Yep. I cut it down to use a 10 lbs bag of sugar and I got bricks too. The bees used it. |
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Mklangelo
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Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin - USA (42° 57' N 87° 54' W)
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« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2008, 01:14:15 AM » |
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I believe that hard as a rock is the nature of the candy board. Yep. I cut it down to use a 10 lbs bag of sugar and I got bricks too. The bees used it. cool. |
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reinbeau
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« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2008, 08:14:43 AM » |
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If you want it softer than only bring it to 240° (I think this is the fudge stage).
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 - Ann, A Gardening Beek - ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ  |
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Robo
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« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2008, 08:46:46 AM » |
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Yes, it is suppose to be rock hard. If you make it softer and your hive has a lot of condensation, the softer sugar will become too thin and start dripping on the bees and usually kills them (sort of like a leaky top feeder).
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Frantz
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« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2008, 09:38:12 AM » |
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Bummer you threw away the first batch. I have made three this year and they are working like a charm. The sugar boards when they are that hard help absorb some of moisture from the hive as well. Good luck..
Frantz
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KONASDAD
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« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2008, 10:21:39 AM » |
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I use Robos version too. I heat to 255F and stop as temp continues to rise for a moment. This results in a solid block thats a little "chaulkier" than if you heat to 260F. It softens up w/ moisture w/o becoming drippy. I also use Honey run apiaries vented tops which has a round hole. Therefore I have been using disposable chicken pot pie pans for molds. For me, this size really works very well.
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"The more complex the Mind, the Greater the need for the simplicity of Play".
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Ross
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« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2008, 10:26:43 AM » |
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It's much easier to place some newspaper on the top bars, pour some sugar on it, and spray with a little water to set it. Place an empty box over it and walk away. The moisture in the hive is absorbed by the sugar and the bees feed on it.
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wtiger
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« Reply #9 on: March 14, 2008, 05:12:41 PM » |
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usually. niether of my hives seemed too inclined to feed on the damp sugar and both hives ended up starving to death the last part of this winter.
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KONASDAD
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« Reply #10 on: March 15, 2008, 06:32:06 PM » |
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In very cold weather bees wont travel to get sugar on a piece of paper, or go around paper to get to sugar. Thats why where i love this sugar board has been very helpful. Its sits directly over winter cluster and bees never hav to travel far to get it during prolonged cold or when we get yo-yo weather.
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"The more complex the Mind, the Greater the need for the simplicity of Play".
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