Plastic vs wood frames

[Wknz]

Hi all.

I've tried plastic frames for the first time in a hive. I'm finding the bees glue them to the top cover and between boxes more than they seem to with wood frames.

The out come is taking the cover off or moving a box is much harder. I crack the edges but lifting or twisting the box / cover pulls up a frame or two ... really annoying the bees.

Have I got a special needs hive or is this normal with plastic frames?

I've also noted my hive doctor bases seem to have more bottom edge comb too.

 

[yesbut]

The odd plastic frames I have annoy me too.

 

[tristan]

yes they do glue them in a bit more, but that also happens with wood frames as well. a lot of it really depends on how long the boxes have been on the hive.
you simply need to get your hive opening technique a bit better. crack the lid/box a bit, smoke the gap, then prise the frames down.

 

[southbee]

If the flow is good and the hive is strong, they'll glue anything down, no matter if plastic or wooden.

 

[frazzledfozzle]

I think the plastic frames are ever so slightly smaller than the wooden ones and it’s that millimetre or two between the top of the frames and the hive mat that gives slightly to much bee space so the bees like to fill with wax.

 

[tristan]

I think the plastic frames are ever so slightly smaller than the wooden ones and it’s that millimetre or two between the top of the frames and the hive mat that gives slightly to much bee space so the bees like to fill with wax.

if i remember right, the story is, at the correct spacing its even worse.

 

[Ikwezinz]

Agree with @yesbut , my plastic frames seem to get glued up much more than the wooden frames

 

[Wknz]

Thanks for the replies. I remember reading about people using wedges on their box cracking. I might give them a try as holding the boxes apart while levering frames is a bit of a fiddle.

Who knew there were so many subtleties and things to learn keeping bees ;D

 

[yesbut]

I suggest these wedges would be a convenient shape.....dip the knob in red paint so you can find it in the grass... I'm not related to the vendor....

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[Sailabee]

One of the old stalwarts at the ABC used to slightly round off the top diagonal corners of his boxes - just on the outside so that his hive tool fitted in without damaging the surface. Choose left or right according to your dominant hand.

 

[tristan]

if i remember right, the story is, at the correct spacing its even worse.

on a side note, had one of the early white plastic frames going through extraction today. i had to pull it out as they are a bit bigger than the standard plastic frames used today.

 

[Wknz]

I suggest these wedges would be a convenient shape.....dip the knob in red paint so you can find it in the grass... I'm not related to the vendor....

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At The Warehouse you can find all your favorite stores, brands and products in one place, with savings at the click of a button. Shop now!

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They look good ... however I run a community workshop and if was found out buying wood products .....
I think I might have a crack making them on a lathe. I'll see how they go.

 

[Josh]

I remember my parents having those when I was a kid. Great ramps for Matchbox cars

 

[yesbut]

They look good ... however I run a community workshop and if was found out buying wood products .....
I think I might have a crack making them on a lathe. I'll see how they go.

I thought about buying a lathe & making them. Until I found that listing.

 

[Trevor Gillbanks]

I thought about buying a lathe & making them. Until I found that listing.

I have a wood lathe and have made 100's of them as door stops. I cannot be bothered with making them now as they are now made on automatic machines and imported from overseas and the price made in unviable to make them.

 

[Wknz]

I have a wood lathe and have made 100's of them as door stops. I cannot be bothered with making them now as they are now made on automatic machines and imported from overseas and the price made in unviable to make them.

I hear you. It's like wooden bowls. Try selling a rimu or other native timber bowl on trademe and you get a few dollars. Overseas rubbish and auto lathes competitors.

However as a project to teach skills the wedges will work well. Did you used to make two at a time, then cut diagonal? Also the knobs .. I assume waste wood outside then then sand off.

 

[Josh]

I have a wood lathe and have made 100's of them as door stops. I cannot be bothered with making them now as they are now made on automatic machines and imported from overseas and the price made in unviable to make them.

if I can make it I will. The best it being tool justification.

If I can buy it local, that’s step two. If I can’t my next question is “do I need it?”

but it’s crazy, a new sail for my old Opti was going to cost $800 but is only $200 from China. Very hard to take the moral high ground.

 

[Trevor Gillbanks]

Did you used to make two at a time, then cut diagonal? Also the knobs .. I assume waste wood outside then then sand off.

Yes. I made them in pairs. Good skew chisel training. Then cut diagonally on a sledge on saw bench.
I also used to inlay a 5cent coin into them. Yes also trim and sand the ends.

 

[Josh]

I have to ask... why a 5c coin? Protect the edge or just ‘cos it looked cool

 

[Trevor Gillbanks]

I have to ask... why a 5c coin? Protect the edge or just ‘cos it looked cool

Because 5 cent coins went out of circulation ( bought a whole heap from the bank) and it gives the wedges (and other stuff) my unique thumbprint. And because I can.