Joel Govostes wrote:
>
> I have ended up with a number of the plastic frame/foundation units, and
> find them time to time while going through the hives..  The nice thing
> about them is there is more comb area compared to wooden frames, since the
> plastic forming the top, bottom and side bars is very thin.
>
> A problem I encounter is that these "frames" are somewhat flexible.  When
> one tries to pry ("prise" for you British folks) the frames apart the
> plastic bends and the comb has a tendency to twist.  This is not a major
> problem, however.  Perhaps newer ones have been reinforced. (?)Yes, if the ones you have are from the '70's , they have been modified a
couple of times, they will still flex, but they return to there original
shape after beiing flexed.
  The ones I
> have were purchased by another beekeeper back in the early 70's.  I'm not
> sure if Pierco (or whoever made them) originally coated the plastic
> "foundation" with beeswax, Yes they where coated with bees wax then as now, and it's a matter of
opinion wheather they need wax coating or not to be drawn.
or if that is even necessary to get the bees
> working it.  One thing is certain, one of these deep plastic frames (or
> medium for that matter) holds a lot of honey!   -- Just because of the
> larger comb area available. Plus the combs are extremely even and absent of
> dronce cells.  The bees are also more reluctant to goo-up the plastic
> frames with propolis.
>
> Acceptance of the plastic foundation, when new, is something about which I
> hear very mixed stories.  Some people say that the bees ignore it if there
> is wax foundation in the hive.  Others have had the bees take right to
> them.  I was fortunate as the plastic ones I have were already drawn when I
> got them!  SO, what is the general concensus on acceptance and comb
> construction with these frames?         Tnx,     JWGIf you have strong colonies on a good flow, the plastic will be drawn the
same as wax foundation,introduced in the same way as wax. It's as simple
as that.