I'd like to start by making some definations clear. RiteCell and DuraGilt
are both trademark names. The first by Mann Lake and the second by Dadant.
Further, someone referenced DuraGilt as having a smooth plastic surface.
Dadant formerly made such foundation, but has not for at least five years,
and I suspect longer than that. It was an inferior product and was
withdrawn from the market. I don't know if it was called DuraGilt. Today's
DuraGilt does not have a smooth plastic surface. Their advertising states
"deep worker-sized cell imprints".
Dadant also has Plasticell. To me, this is the direct competitor to
RiteCell. I have used Plasticell extensively and it is a fine product...but
it is also plastic-based. I have not used RiteCell, but have every reason
to believe it is also a fine product and it is also plastic-based. There is
another similar product out there that no one has mentioned. It is
Perma-Dent, Made by a couple of commercial beekeepers in South Dakota and
widely used by other commercial beekeepers. It can be hard to find in
quantities suitable for hobbyists, but smaller dealers offer it. I have
used thousands of sheets and consider it comparable to Plasticell. It can
be much less expensive than either Plasticell or Rite Cell. Look around, or
call Permadent for a dealer near you. 605-345-3211.
The advantage of the plastic based foundations is that it can be inserted
into a frame in seconds. Surely, less than 5 seconds. There are two
disadvantages: (1) the bees don't like it and (2) it is hard to (legally)
dispose of it.
Numerous studies have shown that the bees draw it out much slower than they
do plain wax foundation. Dunno why, but it is a fact. Because I sell nucs
I need to draw about 500 frames a year so to me this is a big deal. When I
used Plasticell and/or Permadent I had to feed to get good frames drawn
out. I don't have to feed when using plain foundation.
Around here (New York State) it is illegal to burn plastic and the black
smoke is a big giveaway that you are doing just that. Moreover, to some
extent it is dangerous and I am always somewhere nearby when I am burning.
I am just not into burying, but that is an alternative that is both legal
and safe.
So I have gone back to plain wired beeswax foundation.
I buy my wired beeswax foundation from Dadant. Moreover, and this is big
so PAY ATTENTION, I always buy it on a wax exchange basis, which
substantially reduces the cost. Right now, at Dadant's branch in Waverley,
they will give you $2.30 a pound credit for beeswax delivered to them. So,
if you buy beeswax at $1.80-$2.10 a pound, prices readily available based on
color, and deliver it to Dadant, they will give you $2.30 a pound in
purchase credit. For those of you near a Dadant branch, this is a really
good deal. Dadant's 2010 price for 50 sheets of deep wired foundation is
$6.75 a pound and for 175 sheets (25 lbs.) is $3.00 a pound. As I buy in
25 lb. increments it costs me (net) just $.70 a pound! If I pay $2.00 a
pound for wax, that is still only $2.70 for 7 sheets or $.39 a sheet.
The final consideration is frames. For the plastic-based foundation you
want frames with a grooved bottom and top bar. For beeswax foundation you
want either a grooved or split bottom bar and a wedge top bar. I prefer the
split bottom bar.
As for the time to insert beeswax foundation, it is going to be a lot longer
than the plastic based. However, with the jig shown on page 35 of the 2010
Kelley catalog ($12) and a little practice you can easily do one a minute.
We do 3-4 a minute.
Hope this helps,
Lloyd
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