[soarwitheagles]

Hi everyone!

I forgot to spray a couple of hundred frames with plastic foundation. The bees had drawn out comb on most of them. Wax moths got the best of them and made quite the mess.

What is the best way to clean plastic waxed foundation?

I was thinking of using a soft bristle brush that mounts on a drill motor. I presently use that mounted bristle brush on a drill motor to clean our 1/2 gallon jars that got the black algae.

Any other good ideas to do it fast and clean?

:s

 

[JWPalmer]

Soar, I have used a hand powered scrub brush and it is a pain. I think most people that bother to clean them use a pressure washer. You should be able to blast the cocoons off the frames that way too.

 

[ericweller]

Pressure washer is the easiest way to clean foundation. I built a rack that will hold 5 deep or 6 medium foundations. I have found that it is easier and less messy if you have the foundation laying flat and pressure wash from above. Make sure you wear some waterproof clothing because you will get wet and covered with cocoons.

 

[grozzie2]

I've done plastic frames by simply scraping with a putty knife, then stick into a colony on a flow. couple weeks later, frame full of brood.

 

[soarwitheagles]

Thanks guys!

We have a really nice professional pressure washer...will put it to good use...again!

Flow is nearly over here for now, so scraping and installing in colonies probably not a good idea for this time of the year.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

 

[odfrank]

Consider re-waxing them after cleaning.

 

[soarwitheagles]

Consider re-waxing them after cleaning.

Thank you Frank!

Could you please share some ideas how to re-wax?

Is it similar to re-waxing a surf board?

 

[westtnbeekeeper]

I have been melting my processed beeswax in an old crock pot and rolling it onto the frames with a small foam trim roller. It works pretty well and I get a pretty heavy coating of wax like that. The roller hardens between uses but softens when heated back up. I have been using the same roller for a couple of seasons now.

I have read here somewhere that wax can be applied by rubbing it on the frames like a crayon but I usually just roll it on since I have my stuff set up

 

[odfrank]

We have been using a 4" wide disposable paint brush. Tried the roller and went back to the brush. I think Michael Palmer dips.

 

[Hawkins]

Hi everyone!

I forgot to spray a couple of hundred frames with plastic foundation. The bees had drawn out comb on most of them. Wax moths got the best of them and made quite the mess.

What is the best way to clean plastic waxed foundation?

I was thinking of using a soft bristle brush that mounts on a drill motor. I presently use that mounted bristle brush on a drill motor to clean our 1/2 gallon jars that got the black algae.

Any other good ideas to do it fast and clean?

:s

View attachment 51433 View attachment 51435

Best way to clean plastic foundation is get a plastic tote at least 50 quart fill it with water add 3 cups bleach and one cup blue dawn dish soap. Scrape the wax off the foundation put them in the water and let them soak for at least two weeks, three if they are really bad. Then using at least a 2,000 psi pressure washer clean them and they are like new. You then need to melt some bees wax and treat them with wax. I just had to do that for 60 frames and they are like brand new.

 

[odfrank]

Best way to clean plastic foundation is get a plastic tote at least 50 quart fill it with water add 3 cups bleach and one cup blue dawn dish soap. Scrape the wax off the foundation put them in the water and let them soak for at least two weeks, three if they are really bad. Then using at least a 2,000 psi pressure washer clean them and they are like new. You then need to melt some bees wax and treat them with wax. I just had to do that for 60 frames and they are like brand new.

How many hours and what costs did you have cleaning those 60 frames?
Tote $15? reuseable, bleach $2.00, 2000 lb. pressure washer $500? reuseable
Scrape wax 3? hours, bleach 3 hours? pressure wash 4 hours? Total time 10 hours, times the value of your time. $250 - $500?
Damage to nails and glue on frames sitting in bleach for three weeks? priceless?

Cost of 60 new Ritecell foundations = $80

 

[Hawkins]

How many hours and what costs did you have cleaning those 60 frames?
Tote $15? reuseable, bleach $2.00, 2000 lb. pressure washer $500? reuseable
Scrape wax 3? hours, bleach 3 hours? pressure wash 4 hours? Total time 10 hours, times the value of your time. $250 - $500?
Damage to nails and glue on frames sitting in bleach for three weeks? priceless?

Cost of 60 new Ritecell foundations = $80

Had the tote, cost zero, had the bleach, cost zero, had the Dawn, cost zero, had the pressure washer doesn't everyone have one cost zero? My time cost zero so it cost me nothing to do this. Zero damage to foundation and I now have 60 frames with like new foundation. Just trying help, what if he had hundreds of foundation?

 

[jimbo3]

Thanks guys!

We have a really nice professional pressure washer...will put it to good use...again!

Flow is nearly over here for now, so scraping and installing in colonies probably not a good idea for this time of the year.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Why scrape when you have the pressure washer? I was given a bunch of old frames and the pressure washer just blew through the old wax.

 

[odfrank]

What does your day job pay? One hour at work might have bought you a box of foundation. I can send out my employees for $75 - $95 an hour. If I paid them for one hour to clean old foundations I would be losing money.
But like a fool I sometimes do.

QUOTE=Hawkins;1757169]

How many hours and what costs did you have cleaning those 60 frames?
Tote $15? reuseable, bleach $2.00, 2000 lb. pressure washer $500? reuseable
Scrape wax 3? hours, bleach 3 hours? pressure wash 4 hours? Total time 10 hours, times the value of your time. $250 - $500?
Damage to nails and glue on frames sitting in bleach for three weeks? priceless?

Cost of 60 new Ritecell foundations = $80

Had the tote, cost zero, had the bleach, cost zero, had the Dawn, cost zero, had the pressure washer doesn't everyone have one cost zero? My time cost zero so it cost me nothing to do this. Zero damage to foundation and I now have 60 frames with like new foundation. Just trying help, what if he had hundreds of foundation?[/QUOTE]

 

[Hawkins]

Day job, ha been retired since 2003 and love it so my time is free. Oh and your comment of frames sitting in bleach, NOT just the plastic foundation goes into the tote. Anyhow maybe somebody can use the method if you wish to save foundation.

 

[JConnolly]

You don't need a pressure washer, just a stack of quarters and a car wash.

 

[psm1212]

Reviving an old thread . . .

I have well over 100 wax foundation frames that I need to “recycle” due to old, nasty or moth-infested comb. I have done the pressure washer thing before and thought it was a lot of work for little reward. If I am being truthful, I would prefer to simply pop out all of the plastic foundations and toss them away. I can buy they for $1.50 each, I work full time and it just isn’t worth it to me. However, I have some guilt about discarding so much plastic.

Has anyone come up with an easier, less labor-intensive, method for cleaning these things?

And if not, should I feel irresponsible for throwing what has to be at least 20 pounds of hard plastic in the garbage?

 

[soarwitheagles]

We still use the pressure washer method when we have large numbers of wax foundation frames to clean up. I hire a kid or two and pay them each $15 an hour to get the job done. Each highschool student/worker did quite well but most of them never come back! It is a very wet and a very dirty job.

Another method that has worked well for us is a simple scrape method. You can experiment with various scraping devices until you find one that you like. One of the best for us has been Kelly Moore paint scrapers. They are razor sharp and you gotta be careful. Also, you need to scrape with light pressure or you begin to scrape the plastic off too.

Finally, leaving the freshly scraped frames and foundation out in the sun for a full day or two is super important too. This way you avoid the mold and mildew scene.

Wanna know the VERY, VERY, VERY best way of all to clean honeybee waxed plastic foundation and frames? Super easy solution: PREVENTION!!! Spray any and every frame that does not have bees on it with Xentari BT!

Best practice for prevention of wax moths are:

1. Maintain healthy, strong colonies
2. Watch your bee to comb ratio
3. Spray with Xentari BT if you are gonna store frames with drawn comb for any amount of time [unless it is in freezing temps]=.

Hope this helps!

Soar

 

[JConnolly]

You need something to hold the frames, or you can step on them and have a wet boot like I do. I saw Mr Ed uploaded something to hold frames a few days ago.

 

[soarwitheagles]

I thought Mr. Ed was a horse on TV back in the 1960's!

Neigh, whinny, nicker, squeal, blow, snort, grunt and groan!

Anyway, a good pair of rubber boots and step on the corner of the frame and you are good to go!

And don't forget the safety googles too!