View Full Version : Dadant economy grade
magnet-man
06-11-2005, 08:35 PM
Who has first hand experience with DadantÂ’s economy hive bodies and supers. I am getting ready to expand and currently it is breakeven for me to purchase the commercial grade with shipping than it is to make. I can really save a bundle if I go with the economy line if in stock. Has anyone purchased the economy grade and been happy with it? Would you purchase again if it werenÂ’t for the minimum order of 50 units. If the commercial grade rated as a ten what would you rate the economy grade?
Lew Best
06-11-2005, 09:41 PM
I bought 40 mediums from them a few months ago; no problem IMHO. Shipping is high; if you're near a branch (don't know if there's a branch nearer to Tulsa than Paris, TX?) probably worth the drive to pick them up. I picked mine up in Paris.
Lew
clintonbemrose
06-11-2005, 10:38 PM
I got some economy grade suppers 5 years ago and the fit was poor when I put them together and never could keep them from warping
Clint
Lew Best
06-12-2005, 07:20 AM
Hey Clint
Maybe they've improved on quality of cutting; only difference according to the catalog is wood quality? Of course I've only had mine a few months & assembled a few (assemble them as needed) but no problems so far; fit together nicely. BTW the minimum (looking at the online catalog) shows to be 50 in one place & 20 in another; they will sell 20 (at least at the Paris branch).
Lew
clintonbemrose
06-12-2005, 08:57 AM
The wood that I got was a poor grade and was green when I got it. I still use them but the finger joints were loose until the bees fixed them. But even now most of the suppers bow in and you can't get 10 frames in them with a hammer. Has to be the worst 50 suppers I have used. I now only use the better grades of suppers.
LESSON LEARNED. Quality is good.
Clint
I'm pretty sure everything they sell now is kiln dried. I buy the commercial grade (I can pickup in Paris) and assemble as needed. I haven't had a warped side after letting the sit for a year.
rainesridgefarm
06-12-2005, 10:31 AM
I was down at hamilton IL and asked about the economy. They said if I want to go back there and try to peice toghther parts that fit to have at it. The next question was how much time did I have. I went back there for about two hours and came up with 15 decent supers. I will never do that again. I buy enough to get a good price break so I just buy commercial now.
magnet-man
06-12-2005, 05:54 PM
Well commercial it is!
Yep, 50 price break on commercial.
mark williams
06-13-2005, 05:08 AM
Just a thought,You my want to check with Walter T.Kelley Co.Although they don't advertise them in the catalog,They sell commercial boxes.
I got some afew years back & was well pleased with them.
Regardless of where you get them from CHECK the shipping price first.
Kelley's # is 1-800-233-2899,hope this helps.>>>>Mark
nursebee
06-13-2005, 06:46 AM
I am putting my 50 boxes (from the lowest grade Dadant stuff) out in the fields soon. It went together well. Maybe 10% of the pieces had poor locations of predrilled nail holes. I am a repeat customer of this product and would buy this again (if my primary source is not available).
magnet-man
06-18-2005, 10:44 PM
Well I changed my mind and purchased the budget grade. I put 20 of the hive bodies together today with no problems with fit. The knots are more numerous and are larger but are completely sound. My supers including shipping worked out to be $6.87 each and the hive bodies $9.52 each.
In short the wood quality and cost is the same as what I can get at Home Depot in Tulsa. The big difference though is I only have to nail them. Big big time and hassle savings!