Electric Embedders for Frame Wiring

Electric embedders help you get through the job of setting wax onto beehive frames faster and with more accurate results. 

Perhaps you’ve never heard of embedding before; indeed, setting up and maintaining a great honeybee colony requires beekeepers to carry out a long list of activities. Among them is preparing beehive boxes and the frames that will go into them. Using foundation on beehive frames is one of the methods to help bees get about their business making honey and rearing brood faster. To set wax foundation well onto a beehive frame, you need to embed it. 

In this article we will discuss the best electric embedders for beekeeping, but first, let us talk about about the embedder itself.

What is an Electric Embedder?

An electric embedder is a device that is used to embed wire into wax foundation. It uses electric currents to heat wires looped through the frame. The hot wire sears through wax foundation easily. Other methods of embedding foundation onto frames are either slower or less accurate than electric embedders.

How to Safely UseElectric Embedders

When working with an electric embedder, you should wear light protective gloves for your hands. They should be burn resistant and protect you from heat. The process of embedding foundation using an electric embedder puts you in close proximity with a source of heat. The wires you are embedding foundation onto get hot and may burn you. The gloves you wear keep you safe from this hazard.

Tips

1. You should keep in mind not to operate the electric embedders in wet conditions or with damaged insulation. Leaving the embedders switched on and unattended can also cause damage of varying degrees.
2. Beekeepers using an electric embedder should remove flammable substances from near the working space.

In the event that your electric embedder gets faulty and stops working, do not try to fix it yourself. Contact a qualified electronics repairman for repairs or return the embedder to the seller. Most of them have warranties covering the embedder.

Overview of the Best Electric Embedders

8. LDCRE Copper Gear Wire Electric Heating Beekeeping Embedder

The LDCRE copper wire embedder is a spur embedder. It runs on AC current. The spur embedder is built in a soldering iron design. It has a black lead to deliver electricity from your power socket to the embedder. The lead is fitted with a 2-pin plug. It has a metal section set in an insulated handle that protects you from the hot metal section and electric current. The embedder is easy to grip and gives you excellent control over the embedding process. Once plugged in, give the embedder a minute or two to heat up.

This embedder works by heating the metal section using an inbuilt heating element. The heat is transferred to the spur. In use, the spur runs along the wire in your beehive frame. It heats the wire which then easily embeds itself in foundation wax. The spur of the LCDRE copper gear electric embedder conducts heat easily to give you great results.

This electric spur embedder is great for beekeepers embedding wire into foundation wax. It is durable and has a long lead to allow ease of use. One shortcoming of the embedder is the 2-pin plug used. In case the embedder needs repairing, the plug is not easily replaced. Additionally, the plug does not allow for insertion of a fuse. Being a 2-pin plug, the embedder does not have a ground lead.

The LDCRE copper wire embedder measures 220 x 30 x 30 mm. It has a brass head and the handle is made using plastic material. The embedder weighs 96 grams. It runs on 220 V AC current and is rated 30 watts.

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7. Electric Iron Spur Wire Embedder

The electric iron spur wire embedder is a converter type electric embedder. It converts AC power into DC power which is more suitable for wire embedding in wax foundation. It features a converter unit and leads for input and output of electric current. The embedder gives an output of 12 and 24 volts for embedding. When applied to wires in your frame, the current causes the wire to heat up and melt wax. This embedder features crocodile clips to deliver current to the wire in your frame. It gets AC power via a lead fitted with a 2-pin plug.

Using this electric embedder is easy. Simply plug the electric embedder into AC power and connect the crocodile clips to your frame wire. There are 3 output leads, each fitted with a small crocodile clip. The output leads are color coded. The black wire is the common ground wire. The blue wire delivers 24 volts while the white wire on this electric embedder delivers 12 volts of DC power. 24 volts give you faster heating with wire. It is great for thicker beehive frame wires. The embedder is designed for use with 0.5 mm stainless steel wire. You may use the higher 24 volts power to heat up lengths of wire up to 240 cm long. The 12 volt output is for wire up to 120 cm long.

This electric embedder is designed for use with 220 volts of AC power. It has inbuilt electronic protection that turns the embedder off if there is a short circuit or when the secondary circuit is overloaded.

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6. Electric Spur Wire Wheel Embedder

The electric spur wire wheel embedder is a spur embedder built in a soldering iron design. It features a wooden handle, a power input lead and a spur at the end of the embedder. The embedder heats up when plugged in and heats wire onto your beehive frames. This spur embedder comes with a long lead fitted with a 2-pin plug. The upper metal section of the embedder is punctured with holes to cool it. Using a wooden handle on the embedder is great to protect beekeepers from heat generated by the embedder. It is also shaped to fit into your hand and give you great control over the movement of the embedder.

This electric spur wire wheel embedder comes in an easy to grip and use size. It measures 325 mm in length. The handle on this embedder has a diameter of 25 mm and the heating element is enclosed in a 13 mm diameter casing. The toothed disc on the end of the embedder has a diameter of 20 mm. the embedder runs on 220 V AC power. It is rated 10 watts which makes it very economical for beekeepers.

This is a durable electric embedder with proper use. The embedder heats up well and stays hot as long as it is plugged in. it has enough safety measures built into the embedder. Its gear wheel turns easily in both directions in use. The embedder has a long lead so you have an easy time using the embedder. The embedder is not fused, so you should consider using an extension plug that has a fuse installed.

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5. Kowloon Tool Set Electric Spur Wire Wheel Embedder

The 220V electric soldering iron wire embedder is a wheel embedder. It features a wheel with a wire groove in the middle. This spur wire embedder is easy to use and maintain a straight line as you embed wax foundation. The groove in the middle of the spur wheel helps by holding the frame wire in the middle. It also turns easily in any direction you move the embedder in.

This spur embedder is made by Kowloon Tool Set. The company has many products for home and DIY uses. The spur wire wheel embedder is made using a plastic handle and metal shaft. Plastic used in the handle is made in an ergonomic easy to grip design that gives you great control as you embed wire using the embedder. The metal part of the embedder contains the heating element and conducts heat to the spur wheel very well. It gives consistent results that are pleasing even with repeated use.

Kowloon Tool Set has made this 220V electric soldering iron wheel embedder to a total length of 210 mm. It has an average diameter of 15 mm which makes it an easy to use tool. The embedder is rated 30W and comes with a lead cable measuring 112 cm. The spur wheel has a diameter of 19 mm which allows it to follow frame wires and transfer heat well. The embedder comes in a mix of blue color on the handle and stainless steel on the metal part. It is durable and works well for both newbie and pro beekeepers using wired frames.

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4. Lexiesxue Electric Spur Wire Wheel Embedder

This electric spur wire embedder is a good beekeeping accessory tool. It is made up of a lead cable, a plastic handle and a metal shaft containing the heating element. The embedder runs on AC electricity. It is durable yet simple in design. The embedder uses copper for the spur wheel and the bit holding the spur wheel in place. This embedder is HACCP and ISO certified. It is a quality accessory for beekeepers adding wax foundation to their beehive frames. The embedder has a spur wheel with a groove down its centre.

In the event that the 220V electric spur wire wheel embedder breaks down, the manufacturer has made it in a way that it is easy to repair. The metal shaft containing the heating element is screwed onto the handle using screws. It can be removed easily for repairs. Have a qualified electrical appliances repairman carry out all repair jobs on the embedder. The embedder is durable and widely used by beekeepers.

The handle of the 220V electric spur wire wheel embedder is made using plastic. It is easy on your hands and protects you from the heat generated in the metal shaft. The embedder comes with a long electrical lead cable to give you ease of use and free movement when using the embedder. It heats up well and transfers the heat to the wire as you run the embedder wheel along the frame wire. This electrical spur wheel embedder comes with an adapter so it can fit into many types of electrical sockets.

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3. Oz-Armour Beekeeping Electric Wire Embedder

This electric wire embedder is a durable converter type embedder. It has an AC electricity input cable and DC output leads. A transformer and other electronics do the job of converting AC power to DC output. The embedder is easy to use and very safe. It does not produce heat itself. The embedder heats the wire on your beehive frame when you touch the DC output leads on the wire. This embedder is made by Oz-Armour which has many products for beekeeping and other home uses. This gives beekeepers using the embedder assurance that they are using a quality product.

The Oz-Armour electric wire embedder has long leads. They allow you to use the embedder with ease. You can also go through many beehive frames quickly with this embedder. Output leads of this embedder are color coded black and red which is universal for DC power. It heats wire on your beehive frames quickly. The embedder lasts long and gives steady power output. The electronics used in the embedder are high quality so the embedder lasts for long. This embedder is easy to use by beginner and experienced beekeepers.

One shortcoming of this electric wire embedder is that it does not have variable output. The output leads are fitted with contacts that you touch onto the frame wire. Crocodile clips would have been easier to use on the embedder. Due to its single power rating in the output, beekeepers have to embed each line of wire in their frames at a time. You cannot embed long lengths of wire with this embedder per instance.

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2. Oz-Armour Electric Spur Wire Embedder

The Beekeeping electric spur wire embedder is made by Oz-Armour. It is a spur embedder built in the soldering iron design. It features an electric power input lead, a handle and a metal shaft. The lead on this spur embedder has a standard type I plug. This lead is long to allow you free movement when working with the embedder on your beehive frames. The handle of this spur embedder is made of plastic. It is colored blue and black. The handle is made in an ergonomic design with excellent grip and great control over the movement of the embedder along the beehive frame’s wire.

A metal shaft on this spur embedder holds the heating element and a bit on which the spur wheel is attached. The metal shaft conducts heat well to the spur wheel which then transfers the heat to your frame wire. Working with this electric spur wire embedder is easy. It gives you nice results due to a groove set in the middle of the wheels circumference. The groove allows frame wires to guide the embedder as it moves along the wire. This embedder is designed for use with 0.5 mm beehive frame wire.

The biggest weakness of the beekeeping electric wire embedder is its plug. The plug is of a model that is not common. You will require an adapter for the embedder to use it with a standard 3-pin electrical socket. Overall, this embedder is a useful beekeeping accessory tool for both beginner and experienced beekeepers embedding wire into wax foundation.

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1. Hatoly Electric Heating Beekeeping Embedder

The Hatoly E5M1 electric heating beekeeping embedder is a spur embedder. It is built in a soldering iron design featuring a heating element held within a metal shaft. The metal shaft is held in place by a plastic handle. Screws are used to attach the shaft to the handle. This makes it easy to replace any damaged parts of the embedder. On the end of the handle opposite the metal shaft is an electrical lead cable for power input. The Hatoly copper gear wire electric heating beekeeping embedder has a 2-pin plug that works with most power outlet sockets.

This embedder has a copper head holding the spur gear in place. Copper is a great conductor of heat. It transfers heat from the metal shaft of the embedder to the spur wheel seamlessly. The embedder measures 30 x 30 x 220 mm. It weighs 96 grams which makes it light in your hands. The handle of this Hatoly electric heating beekeeping embedder is easy to grip and gives you excellent control over the movement of the embedder. Power consumption of the embedder is 220V at 30W rating. This allows the embedder to heat up quickly and maintain a high temperature so you can embed wire into wax foundation quickly.

The weakness of this Hatoly copper gear wire electric heating beekeeping embedder is its short power input cable. The cable can be very restricting in movement. Beekeepers using this electric embedder have to set up their workstation close to the power socket or use an extension power outlet.

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Conclusion

Before starting embedding, collect all the materials you will need for the process. Make sure that all your frames on which you will be embedding wax foundation are wired properly. Also, make sure you have enough foundation for all the frames.

Electric embedders require you to have a source of electricity nearby. While most run on AC electricity, some embedders may run on DC electricity with varying degrees of effectiveness depending on how well the battery is charged. With any of these best electric embedders for beekeeping, you are able to embed wax foundation on many frames in a short period of time.

Have you ever used any of these electric embedders? Leave a comment below and let us know what you thought of it.