Hi Bill: A mild Clorox solution works wonders with some stains and mildews. Clean them first. (scrape all loose wax etc. off) Then dip and soak them for a few minutes. Let them dry in the sun, it will bleach the wood somewhat and evaporate the chlorine in the wood. Wait a few days before using them. Bob Neely Goose Creek, SC USA [log in to unmask] On Sat, 17 May 1997 15:25:30 -0700 Bill Truesdell <[log in to unmask]> writes: >Well, not maybe rotten, but covered with mildew and other black stuff. >My dumb question is how bad is bad enough to get rid of a brood frame >and start with new wood? Some frames are mildewed pretty bad on one >end >because of water damage this past winter where they were stored in a >barn. I cannot get rid of the black in the wood without sanding them >down >I noticed in commercial hives most of the wood did not have the dark >stain associated with mildew, dysentary or nosema. Do they bother to >clean old frames that show dark stain? >I replaced the "dirty" brood frames (seven years old) in one brood box >in each hive with new wood last year and did not lose a hive. Plus had >no dysentary or other problems this winter. The bees were tested and >no >tracheal mites were found. I feel like the best route is to get rid of >the frames that do not come clean, but that seems a bit wasteful. I >would appreciate your insight. >Bill Truesdell >Bath, ME >