small cell longevity?

[MichaelW]

Does anyone know about how long you can use comb drawn with small cell foundation. Since the cells continually decrease in size with time due to residue in used cells, wont the small cell foundation get too small quicker than regular foundation. Also wouldn't the idea of benifit due to small cells mean that you should use those old drawn combs for even longer periods since the smaller size is benificial. I heard you should replace drawn comb after its been used about 5 years.(not considering the benifit in small cell)

[Michael Bush]

The bees chew out cells when they get too small. They always have until we made the cells so large that they never get too small. smile.gif Maybe that has created a whole other hygenic problem in our hives?

Use small cell comb as long as you like, it won't get too small. If you feel there is a hygenic problem, then swap it out. If you're not using chemicals you won't have so much to worry about as far as residue building up in the comb.

[Robert Brenchley]

Swopping comb out every few years is probably s good idea on general principles; it would limit buildup of pathogens etc, not just toxins.