Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => NATURAL & ORGANIC BEEKEEPING METHODS => Topic started by: flatford39 on August 21, 2008, 09:03:42 pm

Title: Cleaning used hives
Post by: flatford39 on August 21, 2008, 09:03:42 pm

I have acquired some used hives & frames and want to know how to clean them organiccaly. I have no history on this equipment so I want to sterilze in case there was disease. The all show signs of wax & some had very old comb.

Thanks,

Tom

Title: Re: Cleaning used hives
Post by: Bill W. on August 22, 2008, 01:06:01 am

The most common practice seems to be scrape and scorch.  I would probably just discard the old comb and call it good.

Some states have facilities for irradiating used equipment, so you might check into that if you are very concerned.

Title: Re: Cleaning used hives
Post by: bmacior on August 24, 2008, 04:06:31 pm

Whereas most hives are not painted on the inside, would boiling them in wax and rosin kill any spores?  (MB recommends 250 dgrees for 6-8 minutes for sealing new boxes).  Would the boiling cause the paint to peel?

Barb

Title: Re: Cleaning used hives
Post by: Michael Bush on August 24, 2008, 07:50:30 pm

>Whereas most hives are not painted on the inside, would boiling them in wax and rosin kill any spores?

Yes.  It is the recommended treatment in Australia and New Zealand.

>Would the boiling cause the paint to peel?

Not usually, unless it's already coming loose.  I boiled many old painted boxes with no noticeable peeling other than what was already taking place.