I also tried Pierco frames this year, both in the brood nest (deeps) and
in honey supers (medium depth).  I was amazed at the good acceptance of
these frames (I only used the waxed version) in both cases.  Normally I
use eight frames per honey super and nine in the brood nest, but as
these were new frames, I used ten in both cases.  Except in a couple
weak hives, all frames were well drawn out and filled with either brood
or honey.  I did notice that some drone brood was constructed in places,
but since drones are necessary for good hive balance, I have no problem
with this.  It is interesting that the bees will build normal drone comb
on a hard plastic foundation of worker size.
 
I use a Gunness uncapping machine, with chain flails.  I wondered if the
plastic frames would stand up to the battering, since the chains tend to
chew up the bottom bars of wooden frames to some extent.  I was
pleasantly surprised to find that the plastic frames, although lighter,
are not damaged in the least by this uncapper.  The frames are very easy
to clean up during extracting, since beeswax and propolis easily scrapes
away, and even though I used ten frames per super, they were much easier
than wood frames to pry apart.  Next year I will try a few supers with
only eight frames, but I think that using ten Pierco's will be best.
 
One problem I did have in extracting was that patches of the drawn comb
would easily peel away from the plastic foundation while spinning in the
extractor.  However, since the original comb was accepted so well, I
don't anticipate that these areas of denuded plastic will be any problem
next year for the bees to fix up.
 
Ted Fischer
Dexter, Michigan USA