[TucsonBeek]

Would a strong hive fill this frame out if I place it in the middle and feed them? I have about 10 of these sitting around and dont know if they are worth keeping. Thanks for any advice.

 

[cyber]

Yes they will draw it out. Especially if you put a coat of wax on them.

 

[AstroZomBEE]

I'll second the yes, i would scrape it all the way down and then add a coating of wax, the bees won't care what it actually looks like if it's usable.

 

[enjambres]

I'd scrape it clean of loose and foul debris. If it still wasn't looking good, a quick scrub-down with water and a brush will tidy things up nicely. You have less than a dozen of them so that won't take more than fifteen minutes. (Bucket of warm water, outside, and a sturdy scrub brush is all you'll need.) Then recoat them with melted wax.

Why allow the bees to invest the time and effort involved in drawing fresh wax over a less than great substrate, when a minor amount of your effort will fix it? High quality drawn comb is the most valuable resource in a hive, both to the bees and the beekeeper.

Nancy

 

[JWPalmer]

Last year I was given around thirty plastic foundation frames that the wax moths had gotten into. They looked real bad. After scraping and a soak in some hot water with bleach, they cleaned up pretty nice and most of them got drawn out last summer. Still have a few the bees did not take to, so they will get rewaxed this spring. I use an Igloo cooler to soak the frames in. It will hold 10 deep frames at a time.

 

[ShrekVa]

One of the best things that plastic foundation has going for it is that you can re-wax it and be good to go. That and the amount of support it offers when extracting, in comparison to the time involved in wiring wax foundation.

 

[odfrank]

Like they all said... clean it and rewax it.

 

[Murdock]

Scrape/brush it clean & rewax. Bees don't care what it looks like... it's dark in a hive.

 

[Charlie B]

Last year I was given around thirty plastic foundation frames that the wax moths had gotten into. They looked real bad. After scraping and a soak in some hot water with bleach, they cleaned up pretty nice and most of them got drawn out last summer. Still have a few the bees did not take to, so they will get rewaxed this spring. I use an Igloo cooler to soak the frames in. It will hold 10 deep frames at a time.

I GAVE Odfrank a whole case of new plastic foundation PRE-WAXED and all he did was complain about them! :scratch:

 

[odfrank]

No.....you gave me plastic frames that you knew are a brace comb nitemare. I have marked and followed old rewaxed Ritecell and I will gladly accept that. And there is already a thread on that frame subject. You are boring the BS members by repeating subjects due to your senility.

QUOTE=Charlie B;1693247]

Last year I was given around thirty plastic foundation frames that the wax moths had gotten into. They looked real bad. After scraping and a soak in some hot water with bleach, they cleaned up pretty nice and most of them got drawn out last summer. Still have a few the bees did not take to, so they will get rewaxed this spring. I use an Igloo cooler to soak the frames in. It will hold 10 deep frames at a time.

I GAVE Odfrank a whole case of new plastic foundation PRE-WAXED and all he did was complain about them!

[/QUOTE]

 

[TucsonBeek]

Thank you for all of the responses! I will be scrubbing the foundation down and coating it with wax in time for the bees to start their spring!

 

[Charlie B]

A pressure washer is easier.