On a given day I don't know who is the cheapest and you should also take shipping into account, and some are better quality but the ones that I have bought from and that often are cheap and the quality is not bad are:
Brushy Mt. http://www.beeequipment.com/search.asp (search for product code 128)
(50 or more is 58 cents a piece and these are nicer than the #2 or budget grade frames)
Chris: Michael is right,make sure you check shipping cost , because it can mean alot now.I checked & mann Lake & Kelly's I think has the best price,I've used both & like them, So to me it would depend on the shipping to your area,
Just bought some frames from Humble Abodes. 0.53 per medium frame #1 in lots of 500. #2 was even cheaper.
I'm very happy with the fit and they went together with virtually no splitting. The wood seems softer and less prone to splitting than those I've purchased from mann lake and elsewhere. I think they only sell groved top bars.
I looked around for the best price and found Mann Lake, I ended up buying #1 frames, the wood is very hard, but does not split, and the frames fit tighter than one of those compact parking spaces to a 1978 Mercury Cougar. I glued and nailed them and they are about bulletproof. My small cell foundation from Dadant is kinda wavy though.
I have some old frames I picked up cheap, well, free from an old beekeeper, they have solid bottom bars and you have to cut a row of cells off the foundation. Dont get those.
Sometimes you read a post and agree so much with someone else you just want to say, "Me Too". I agree with wireforstereo about how tight and hard the wood from Mann Lake. I will usually if time permits predrill and glue. Solid as they come.
As for foundation, the best place for me has been Kelly. A little more, but I'll pay it compared to having wavy foundation sheets and struggling to install. Seems thicker and much easier to install.
I ordered 25 lbs of the small cell to install swarms this year on. Hopefully its good.
The new 25 lb. box of 8 1/2" vertical wired from Dadant that I am working off of is very wavy also. Hard to get those wires and lumps into the grooves, even with 33 years of practice.
The foundation I got looked like it had been dropped on one corner as well, every time I peeled a sheet off, the corner broke off. From now on, I will order my small cell from Brushy Mountain, they are a little cheaper as well.
Hi,
Suppose I should introduce myself...My name is Michelle, and I keep bees(going into my 3rd summer)just north of the twin cities in MN. Glad to hear someone else pre-drills the Mann Lake frames. I couldn't hammer straight enough to get them together. My husband and father-in-law built the first 100 or so for me, but then when I needed more he was out of town for two weeks.
So I pre-drilled with the smallest bit I could find in the tool box. Then Glued and used the nails I got with the frames. Was originally afraid that they wouldn't hold, but didn't have much choice, I needed them asap. They seem to be holding up better than my lousy nailing. Made life so much easier. I even got my 10 year old son to drill for me after that. No wonder they all run when mom gets a new "hobby"
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