shallow supers

[newbee 101]

Im going to buy new frames for a second shallow super,(i have high hopes to fill 2 this year) should I buy wax coated plastic or do they have solid wax foundation. If so, what do I ask for? Im not sure of the names of the diff. types

[Michael Bush]

What do you want to do with it? Cut comb? Crushed and strained honey? Extracted honey?

Personally I use all mediums for everything including cut comb, extracted, brood etc.

But shallows are ok for extracting or cut comb.

If you want cut comb, I buy the 7/11 surplus from Walter T. Kelly because I don't use an excluder and the queen usually doesn't like to lay in it. But any surplus will work.

If you want extracted, any of the plastic will work as will any of the wax. I've extracted the surplus with no wires in shallow and mediums.

If you want to cut the comb off and crush it, I'd use starter strips or surplus. Either will work well.

[newbee 101]

I plan on extracting, I already have 2 shallow supers, only one with frames (coated plastic). Do they sell solid wax foundation. Whats it called?

[Michael Bush]

They sell many different kinds of wax foundation and many different kinds of plastic foundation.

The wax comes in thin surplus, wired brood, 7/11 surplus and many more. I have extracted it wired, unwired, surplus etc. The advantage to the 7/11 is the queen doesn't like to lay in it so you can help keep her out of the supers if you don't use an excluder, which I usually don't.

The plastic works fine too. I've used most, but not all of them. Ritecell is from Mann lake. Plasticell, I blieve is from Dadant. You can get Pierco from Brushy Mt. and probably others as well.

They all extract just fine. The easiest way to install plastic is in frames with grooved top and bottom bars so it just pops in.