Bob wrote: >>How often do you pull & clean your frames? I'm a hobby beekeeper and inspect my hives once a week. Once every 2 weeks or less often if the hives are heavily supered. I use plastic frames only. They touch each other very tightly (there is more natural variation with wood frames). Whatever little propolis is between the frame surfaces that touch - but there always is some - I work with my fingers into the hollows of the plastic frames. I hate when bees get entombed and die in those hollows. The hollows in the plastic frames is about the only thing I don't like about plastic frames. Over time I fill these up completely with propolis. >>Bees stick together frames tough when they touch! Not when a gap exists. Propolis is excellent glue but not to bridge a gap. This is very true. However, the larger the gap, the more propolis gets worked into it. Invariably there are times when a frame is not pushed against the other ones and the bees quickly fill this gap with propolis. When this happens I have to slice through this 'joint' with a hive tool. Not a big problem if the weather is warm. It's another story in the late fall. >>Even with the two end nails top bars will pull away when locked down in a 10 frame situation (sometimes in a 9 frame) I can see where the non-destruction is a factor with wood frames. I don't see plastic frames coming apart. >>The second (many will shudder at the practice) is so we can pull a frame right out of the center of the cluster... I do this sometimes as well (although try to avoid this practice for the fear of rolling a queen to death). When 10 plastic frames in a Langstroth hive are pushed to one side, the space remaing is about 1/2". Perhaps 5/8". I split this space between the two sides by centering the gang of frames in the box. For me, this is sufficient. Before taking a frame out, with my hive tool, I push all the frames to one side to create a little room at the other side. Then, I can take a frame out without any problem. Takes seconds. The first frame I pull is usually the 2nd or 3rd from the end. That's usually where where the nest boundary is. Of course, I take care to remove the first frame gently just in case the queen is on it. >>The truth is many commercial beekeepers (including myself ) run most hives with 8 frames and a division feeder. Commercial beekeepers probably need to shave every second off of their process time. In my hobby/side line operation, time is less pressing. Regards, Waldemar -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l for rules, FAQ and other info ---