Greetings
If you know the history of beekeeping, you will know that comb
foundation was developed in the 1800s. Pretty soon beekeepers noted
its tendency to sag, producing a big row of drone cells along the top
bar. Also, combs tended to blow out in the extractor. So, many methods
were tried to reinforce the comb, including wires, paper, wood,
aluminum, plastic, etc. Surely the most successful of these has been
plastic. A comb based on hard plastic is very tough, won't sag, and
won't blow out.

Very old combs are pretty tough regardless of the reinforcement method
and old time beekeepers always thought their store of combs was one of
their greatest assets. Nothing quite equals a ready supply of supers
with drawn combs as a management tool. Drawn combs reduce swarming and
increase honey production. Bees enter and occupy drawn combs much more
quickly than new boxes filled with foundation of any sort, but they
seem especially un-attracted to plastic.

Modern beekeepers have learned that the comb is a reservoir for toxins
of all sorts. Many beekeepers are trying to eliminate older combs
altogether. In fact, in a recent MAAREC publication they mention 6
Steps that can be taken to help minimize stress on honey bee colonies
and to improve their chances for survival. Number 2 two: "Reduce
pathogen and pesticide build-up in combs by regularly culling old
comb, recycling comb and/or irradiation of old comb. This is
particularly recommended for dead-out colonies."

So, if one is going to embark on a plan of frequently replacing combs,
then durability is less of a factor, and what is wanted is a cheap and
easy replacement. Naturally, this would be plain old fashioned hand
wired foundation made from uncontaminated capping wax. Where will you
get this? I wager if there is a demand for it, bee supply companies
will produce it. They acquire large quantities of capping wax and
still make plain foundation. It is an easy product to use, and is very
easy to remove from the wooden frames and replace.

If one has shelled out a bunch of money on plastic, one is going to be
very reluctant to replace it every couple of years. I am quite certain
that combs built upon plastic foundations absorb just as much toxins
as all natural ones. Further, there are many forms of plastic and
while some of them are considered "inert" or even "food grade", it is
widely known that many give off toxic vapors and also, absorb them. I
wonder how many people, given a choice would rather live in an all
wood house versus and all plastic one?

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