>I think the plastic might work in certain operations but personally I do
not
know of a single commercial beekeeper in my area which uses all plastic.
It is not an easy task for a commercial operation to fully change all of
their frames, nor is it quick, it has taken us 14 years to do so. And as we
all realize there is always something that needs to be replaced or repaired
in beekeeping, so things get delayed.
>The first is breakage. Ends still at times break off then you have a junk
fully drawn frame. Maybe you have a solution for broken end frames? I can
repair a wooden broken end right in the bee yard in a few minutes. Properly
prepared ( good fit , nailed & glued) and *not old* wooden frame ends are
pretty tough but we do break a few being honest.
We also have some plastic frame lugs break, but it is far less then what we
had with wood, when we have a frame lug break, we just scrape the wax off,
and dispose of the frame. When we ran only wood, there would be 8-12 4'x
4'pallets full at the end of year of broken frames. Now we don't even have
one.
>Slide 10 plastic together in a brood box and then slide ten wooden frames
together and note the difference.
We only run 9's, and no spacers, spacing only takes seconds, we don't find
it a problem.
>Next although there are methods to mark black plastic frames I easily put
the *year* a frame is placed in service and rubber stamp each frame with my
bee farm name. I can tell at a glance the history of a frame. Theft of
frames in almonds is common.( personal experience)
Pierco has offered a branding service on their frames for many years, cost
is relative to the order size. But almost anything can be put on the frame,
company logo, year, etc.
>Next if I see a comb I want to change to foundation in the bee yard I can
hit the frame with my fist and replace with a new sheet of foundation. I
carry the new foundation in my side box and keep a box for the old
foundation in the same side box. One pull through the groove with my grove
tool is usually enough to insert a new foundation.
The way we deal with one piecers is even simpler, we simply scrape the wax
off the frame ( drone comb, brace comb, etc) and replace in the hive.
>How many one piece plastic frames are in your waiting to be repaired pile
Tim?
Zero, and we go through every super and every frame in the warehouse every
year, it is a carryover from the days of running wood, as we had to do this
then, now we only do it to insert new foundation, and sort out comb for
brood nests. We also used to do it to scrape wax and propolis off the frames
and boxes, which now with the plastics frames is also greatly reduced, as
there is no wax or propolis on the sides of the top and bottom bar. No place
for the bees to build.
>Also plastic one piece in new made up singles shift when moved to the yards
and lids need removed and the frames aligned.
That happens with all frames in a new hive, or split, with the super having
been scraped. For those that have a problem with it, they had used frame
spacers, I don't like them, as we lose lateral movement.
>Ok Tim try and convince me why I would be better off with all one piece
plastic frames in your opinion. Allen might help. I try to keep an open mind
on these things.
Bob, far be it for me to convince you, as your mind, I think is made up, but
for those people that have not yet got an opinion, I feel it is important
for them to hear both sides of the story. As we all know 8 beekeepers will
have 9 different ways of doing the same thing. I just like there to be
balance.
Tim
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