Using old wooden ware

[cblewis]

Question for everyone:

I had a fellow give me some old 10 frame shallow supers and medium hive bodies. They were used by his fater for years but he passed away a few years ago. The equipment was in an old building thst fell down so i fished some of the items out. Some of it was rotten and some in pretty good shape. I threw away all the old frames (they were unuseable) but most of the boxes seemed ok. My question is, is the stuff safe/ok to use?  No known diseases or issues with any of his bees. I admit im cheap, a rogue and always looking to "recycle" every chance i get.

Thoughts?

[Kathyp]

almost everything i started with was used.  you can always bleach dip it or scorch it, but i never did.  it's up to you but i think you'll find a lot of us have scrounged used stuff.

[WPG]

How many did you get?

If you're concerned about the foulbrood spores - scorch the insides.

An easy way is to stack them up straight on some bricks on the corners.
Wad up a bunch of newspapers, toss them in, light the bottom.

Do it away from anything that might catch the sparks coming out the top.

Have a garden hose ready in case the wood starts to actually burn.
Some heavy charring won't bother the bees.
It might reduce to life of the box alittle, but they're free and they'll be sanitized.

Goodluck.

[cblewis]

Ended up with about 11 useable shallow supers, 4 medium hive bodies, 4 telescoping tops and a couple of inner covers. I was happy with them based on price!  :-D

[AllenF]

Ya, you can't beat the price.   Use them.

[John Adams]

all of my boxes i started with came out of a rairoad car that a commercial outfit used for storage. they had been shut down for maybe 10 years. i didn't burn them, wash them or anything....i just put bees in them.