BEEKEEPING - RECYCLING Old Plastic FRAMES - Cleaning and Re-waxing
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- I had some Pierco frames that needed to be cleaned up and re-waxed. This is how I did it. I think it will work. What do you think?
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I have some of the pastic frames but mostly wooden frames with plastic foundation, I use a foam brush for the edges and a 4" lambs wool roller for the majority, I get a good coating on there but try to avoid getting it in the holes.
I use an electric cooking pot to melt my wax and so it isn't deep enough to dip them, if ever I get to the point where I have so many frames to do that it becomes too much to brush and roller them then I would switch to dipping them and buy something like what you have.
It seems a good method to me!
I hope that works for you. I use the plastic foundations with wooden frames sometimes I take them out of the frames to clean them and I use stiff brush and some bleach water, rinse them well and give them time to air out then I use the small paint roller 4 or 5 inch and I roll them with clean wax that I melt in a crock pot that I use only for that. I’ve never had any issues with the bees not drawing them out I’ve put them beside wax foundations to see which the bees preferred and they chose the plastic first.
Yes I really like plastic foundation. I ordered some triple wax plastic frames last year and the bees drew then right out.
This is an expensive project. As a new beekeeper, I don't have that quantity of wax. $10/lb get me a stick. I'm in awe seeing Bruce putting cakes worth of wax into the boiler. That's like a $1000 project
Nah it wasn’t really that much. Haha. But yeah wax is a valuable commodity. Thanks for watching!
Hi Bruce,
I'm in my 5th year of beekeeping and this is the first year I've waxed my foundation. One year I thought I'd clean my foundation in boiling water to clean it. Big mistake. The foundation warped. I noticed that you dip the frame quickly so warping shouldn't be an issue. Last month I bought 10 double waxed deep frames from HillCo. I was impressed by the speed the bees drew out comb on them. While waxing frames I noticed that the plastic frames versus wood frames have a larger comb surface area. When using medium frames that difference is likely in the 5-10% increase in surface area for honey production.
Just charged 5 fresh waxed deep frames for hauling Amish neighbor and his trainer full of frames and boxes.
I have a Lowe's pressure washer story too. Worked fine the first time then wouldn't start the next time I went to use it. Short story there was water in the carb bowl.
Hey good stuff. Yes it is important to dip quickly.
I would recommend if you do this again get a turbo tip for your pressure washer so can be pricey but it is very efficient. I have pressure washed a few thousand this year.
Next time you try to do that use a air Chuck on a air compressor it'll blow to wax right off
I would still roll the 1 piece frames. I think the wax coating on top bars and bottom of bottom bars encourages the bees to draw comb inbetween the boxes. Its a real pain getting the boxes apart when they do that.
Thanks for the input.
Hello. Thanks or sharing the video. Have you had a chance to see if the bees accepted these frames?
Yes. They did.
Looks good Bruce...let us know how that works for you!
Will try to do that. Thanks!
And keep a tote with water you can dip the frame in water and cool the wax after dipping
Podia utilizar um pincel, para não perder cera para as laterais e espaços ocos.
Never boil bees wax, it flashes way faster than you're expecting it too.
Never had an issue.
Do you notice any warping in these frames?
No. It worked out well.
This is the process I use for my traps, and had wondered if it would work for frames. This is proof of concept. Thank you.
CD towers work well for plastic foundation, with plastic frames, probably build something like a CD tower for the size of the plastic frames to have the frames dry and cool off prior boxing them.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Maybe if you used a 55 gallon drum & fill it half way. Bang the freshly waxed frames on the inside of the drum. You get zero wax loss. Also, use a MUCH thinner wax level. Finally, keep the frames nice and toasty. You need the minimum thickness of wax on the foundation.
Great ideas. Thanks!
@@brucesbees It's not my idea, I saw someone do it on youtube. I use all foundationless frames, but before I started I looked at all the ways to coat frames and this seemed like the best, quickest and most efficient way to do LOTS of frames.
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This'll work just fine.If you ever Roll em again ,be sure you use a foam roller,they go through very little wax and don't fill the cells in like a heavy nap roller will, Good Job though!
Cool. Thanks for the input.
bruce how did this work out for you?
It worked well but I actually pretty much just replace old frames now with new ones. It’s just not worth taking the time to reprocess. But the bees accepted the frames well so the setup was a success.
Water gets trapped under the wax and the frames will start to mold. Ask me how I know. lol
How do you know?lol
We will see. I shook them pretty good and they seemed dry.
Pierco or acorn?? Have a preference?
I really like Pierco triple waxed. But have never tried Acorn. I reality I think they are about the same.
Interesting video thanks for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it
Looks great! Thanks for info!
Thanks for checking in!
Such a great idea. I love it
Thanks for watching!!!
Let us know if the bees draw them out!
Will try to do that. Thanks!
Is power water hot water or cold?
If you mean pressure washer it was cold.
Yea thank you
Hey Bruce. Have you ever tried cleaning up a hive with bees in it? My hive has gotten really dirty on two sides and was wondering what was safe. I was thinking just water and dish soap, keeping the towel pretty dry. Any ideas?
I think it would be ok but do not use dish soap. It is deadly to bees. I would probably just use water if I was going to try that.