[plapczynski]

I have used wooden frames with wax foundation for the past year. I am leaning to the plastic frames and foundation for at least the honey supers.

1. Will using plastic in the supers and wood/wax in the deeps work OK? I heard you should not mix.

2. With the wax foundation the bees "eat" holes in the foundation for pathways. Can a bee do that with plastic foundation? Anyone ever pre-drill holes to do something like this?

Paul

 

[Beeslave]

1-Just don't mix the foundation in the same box. Once it is drawn they can be mixed. I have mixed plastic and wax drawn in my deeps with no problem.
2-The bees will not chew through the plastic. Unless you have the chupacubra stock out of texas Some plastic foundations have perferations on the corners so you can snap them off for that reason.

 

[Countryboy]

Anyone ever pre-drill holes to do something like this?

I drilled a couple 3/4 inch holes in some plastic frames last year. I didn't count for certain, but I'd say a rough guess is the bees drew comb and plugged half the holes. The other half they drew comb around the hole but left the hole open. If I drill any more frames it will just be one hole per frame, instead of two. (Why drill two holes if the bees are going to close one up?)

 

[Chick]

The plastic frames have a lot of void areas that the small hive beatles can hide, in.

 

[Michael Bush]

The plastic foundation usually comes with scored corners so you can break them out. You could drill holes in the frame/foundation ones for the same purpose in the same areas...

 

[Ravenseye]

I tend not to mix plastic and wood frames. When I used to use plastic, the bees pretty much filled up any pathway with comb, often with drone comb. Then again, I have plenty of wood /wax frames that have voids where the bees chewed the wax out and never filled it back in. Go figure! Bees will be bees I guess.