Author Topic: Cleaning queen excluders (Read 3005 times)

bernie · « **on:** August 14, 2006, 12:47:07 pm »

What is the easiest way to clean burr comb and propolis from queen excluders? As a novice (first year) beekeeper, I have split hives, combined hives, requeened, dealt with laying workers, worked with a swarm, was forced to take some surplus honey, and all the other general beekeeper things. However, cleaning these @#$%^&&**!! queen excluders has been my most daunting task. Help. Thanks.

MarkW · « **Reply #1 on:** August 14, 2006, 01:21:03 pm »

I just use my hive tool at inspection time. I use the plastic ones they donâ€™t seem to get it to bad :!:

Robo · « **Reply #2 on:** August 14, 2006, 03:26:09 pm »

Easiest way it to throw them in a solar metal. But if you don't have one, a propane torch works well after you scrap them.

Assuming your talking about metal excluders and not plastic.

qa33010 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 14, 2006, 03:41:47 pm »

How about freezing? When I froze my wood frames during a SHB bout I dropped one of the frames and a bunch of comb and propolis fell off.

David

BEE C · « **Reply #4 on:** August 15, 2006, 06:18:03 pm »

I agree, freezing propolis makes it crumble. I have some hives that are really propolizing everything and froze some inner covers to get the propolis off. seems to work great.

bernie · « **Reply #5 on:** August 19, 2006, 10:04:24 am »

Thank you all very much. The torch worked great on the metal ones and freezing worked great on the plastic ones.

Michael Bush · « **Reply #6 on:** August 19, 2006, 02:46:40 pm »

I just don't put the excluders in the hives and they stay very clean. ;)

Brian D. Bray · « **Reply #7 on:** August 19, 2006, 03:45:33 pm »

Queen excluders make very good draining platforms for holding the frames prior to extracting. That's one of about 3 things they are good for.