New Foundation ( Deep Supers )

[leechmann]

I am lookinng at buying some new frames for my deep hive boxes. My bee expert friend recommended that I use the ritecell foundation in the medium supers. So I thought I may as well get the same foundation for the deeps too. While I was looking at the diifferent varieties, I see some foundation that is listed as brood foundation. Do this mean that if it's not labled as brood foundation, it won't or should be used for that? The reason I ask, is that Ritecell didn't have a specific listing for brood foundation. Hope you can follow me. Thanks for you replies.

Leechmann

[jdpro5010]

Plastic foundation will work anywhere.  Just pay attention to the sizes and order accordingly.

[Michael Bush]

If you care about cell size and you want plastic, or even if you don't, you can't beat the price nor the acceptance of Mann Lake's PF100s.  The cell size is 4.95mm and the bees accept them readily AND they are cheap.  They are one piece frame and foundation.

[challenger]

There has been a large push toward replacing the brood comb on a 2-3 year rotation due to the belief that the brood comb holds contaminants which leads to the acceleration of deseases. Does this apply to plastic foundation?
Howard
Hampstead, NC

[Michael Bush]

If you don't use chemicals and you use small cell, you eliminate a lot of those reasons as you don't get contaminated comb and the bees chew them out before they get so many layers of cocoons in them.

But you can also power wash them if you want to start over.

[doak]

Use a pressure washer to clean it off.
Regular water pressure does such a slow job. Plus if you can get a pressure washer with a heating element this will do the job much better.
my in put.
doak

[leechmann]

If you don't use chemicals and you use small cell, you eliminate a lot of those reasons as you don't get contaminated comb and the bees chew them out before they get so many layers of cocoons in them.

But you can also power wash them if you want to start over.

Ok, the new guy thing is showing up again. What is small cell?

[Bobb]

If you care about cell size and you want plastic, or even if you don't, you can't beat the price nor the acceptance of Mann Lake's PF100s.  The cell size is 4.95mm and the bees accept them readily AND they are cheap.  They are one piece frame and foundation.

Can you mix the pf120's with the Dadant plasticell foundation in the same hive?
These frames are priced pretty good if you buy 200 or so. But I already have 200 frames with the plasticell.

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesnaturalcell.htm

[Pond Creek Farm]

I use PF100 and have had no issues with acceptance.  The price is right, and it is quite durable. I am starting a few hives this year with drawn pf-100 and will add a second deep with starter strips when the bees are ready. 

[Bee-Bop]

I use only PF-120 [ mediuns ] frames for brood & honey no problems at all.

Bee-Bop

[Michael Bush]

>But I already have 200 frames with the plasticell.

I have about that many or more Ritecell, but I won't ever use them... I suppose you can mix them but then the point of small cell is to eliminate the large cell where the Varroa are reproducing to such an advantage...