Author Topic: Used Frames (Read 7634 times)

Curtchann · « **on:** July 07, 2015, 07:18:56 pm »

What would you look for when looking over used frames that have drawn comb? I ran across an add for some reasonably priced drawn comb frames (medium super and 10 frames). Frames are described as clean and chemical free. Frames are clean, dry and stored from moths, mice etc.

apisbees · « **Reply #1 on:** July 07, 2015, 07:41:57 pm »

Ones that have not had brood and were only used for honey will be good. Frames that have had brood look for any signs of disease and scale. Some areas require used bee equiptment need to ble inspected befor being sold so maybe you can get an inspector to look them over for you. Are they wood frame and plastic foundation? One piece plastic frame? Wood and wax foundation? There are options to clean some of these frames depending what they are, if some look questionable.

Perry · « **Reply #2 on:** July 07, 2015, 07:46:34 pm »

Drawn frames of comb without brood having been raised in it is safe enough. The rest I would probably pass on unless I knew more about the source.

Curtchann · « **Reply #3 on:** July 07, 2015, 07:54:52 pm »

They are wood frames by the picture. Awaiting a reply back on details if they are plastic foundation or wax. Can't really see too much in the picture.

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/grd/5081614807.html

Riverrat · « **Reply #4 on:** July 07, 2015, 08:19:51 pm »

I will probably get shot down on this one but I think $45.00 for a medium with drawn comb is a little steep.

Ray · « **Reply #5 on:** July 07, 2015, 08:40:28 pm »

I'm with Riverrat, I think the price is on the high side. I'd see if he'd come down.

Curtchann · « **Reply #6 on:** July 07, 2015, 10:28:38 pm »

I will try and negotiate a better price when I hear something from them. I put on the last of my supers and frames yesterday. The bees will have to draw comb on them so that should buy me sometime until I can put together some.

I wouldn't mind having those drawn out frames for next spring whenn installing packages or making splits.

Thanks all for the advise.

riverbee · « **Reply #7 on:** July 07, 2015, 10:40:30 pm »

apis and perry, right on! i looked at this adfor medium honey supers/frames curt.....the one pulled out looks good, the box, not in good shape, but not in really bad shape........
drawn frames for honey supers, like apis and perry said, if the queen didn't lay up in them they ought to be okay. honey supers should be free of any chemical treatment, but then there are those who treat their bees with chemicals not knowing. 45 bucks? i might pay that for GOOD drawn comb, skip the boxes, it's the comb i am after. maybe see if the seller will take a little less. good luck, let us know how it turns out!

efmesch · « **Reply #8 on:** July 08, 2015, 05:05:40 am »

Apis, Perry and River are absolutely right and what I'm adding was probably skipped by them because it is so obvious: When you buy a built frame it is not only the comb that interests you---make sure to look carefully at the frame itself. Are the wood joints tight? Are the nails strong or rusting away? What kind of reinforcements do the combs have? Is the wood solid? Have the frames been seriously damaged by the burrowing of wax moths? When the time comes to replace the comb, will you be able to use the frames with new foundation for further rounds of use?
All of these considerations should be brought to the fore when bargaining for the final price.

kingd · « **Reply #9 on:** July 08, 2015, 06:14:56 am »

Quote from: Curtchann on July 07, 2015, 07:18:56 pm

What would you look for when looking over used frames that have drawn comb? I ran across an add for some reasonably priced drawn comb frames (medium super and 10 frames). Frames are described as clean and chemical free. Frames are clean, dry and stored from moths, mice etc.

There is the annual picnic this coming weekend for a local club,Last year I picked up some pulled boxes at a great price.
I can look for you if you want or maybe you want to go,It is in Adrian and it is free(they would like you to bring a dish to pass).

Info is at the Holland Bee club site.

Curtchann · « **Reply #10 on:** July 08, 2015, 04:51:39 pm »

There is the annual picnic this coming weekend for a local club,Last year I picked up some pulled boxes at a great price.
I can look for you if you want or maybe you want to go,It is in Adrian and it is free(they would like you to bring a dish to pass).

Info is at the Holland Bee club site.
[/quote]

kingd, I see there is a picnic in Albion for the Michigan Beekeepers Association this weekend. I unfortunately have to work this weekend so I won't be able to attend. I will PM you with what I'm looking for.

The frames on CL are wax and plasticell foundation (they think). They are a 3 hour ride from me, I think I will see what else is out there unless they want to make me a really good deal.

Thanks to all that have replied.

G3farms · « **Reply #11 on:** July 08, 2015, 10:05:03 pm »

$45 per box of mediums is very steep.

I gave $20 per medium box with nine frames and frame spacers back in the winter for 29 mediums. They had only been used one time and the boxes were painted very well, looks like 2 or 3 coats of paint. These were wood frames with wired wax. I was tickled to get them. Then the good wife sprayed them with BT and we stacked them in the garage.

riverbee · « **Reply #12 on:** July 09, 2015, 09:15:07 pm »

curtchann, i don't think $45 is too steep for 10 frames of medium drawn frames of comb...........i think sometimes it's location and those selling used equipment. in my area there is not much, and i have seen supers of drawn comb go for $65.

what i am saying is it's all relative, we spend a great deal on bees and equipment and $45 is nothing really, it's all relative in the big picture. you get drawn comb ready to go and maybe a honey crop instead of having to wait for the bees to draw the comb and possibly spend dollars to feed them to get them to do so. personally, i would probably spend the 45 bucks, but i would offer 40 to see if the seller would take it, or maybe start at 35. the boxes aren't really what we are after, its the comb, and there is nothing more priceless than good drawn comb.........
hope this works out for you, or you find a better deal! keep us posted!

Curtchann · « **Reply #13 on:** July 26, 2015, 04:39:50 pm »

Well I made an offer on the frames from CL, the person selling didn't seem to want to haggle. I have seen that they have raised the price to $65 now. To my knowledge they haven't sold any.

I hope to look at some frames this week from someone that kingd knows. Will let you know how things come out. Going to have to add some frames and boxes this week as they seem to be packing it in.

Curtchann · « **Reply #14 on:** July 28, 2015, 08:59:01 pm »

Bought 20 medium supers today with 9 frames each of drawn comb. Boxes need a little work, but should last a few more years. They were a bargain for 20 each. The gentleman that I bought them from came recommended by several people.

As a bonus his cranky bees gave my a few going away presents, one between the eyes and on the left eyebrow.

efmesch · « **Reply #15 on:** July 29, 2015, 01:36:46 am »

Quote from: Curtchann on July 28, 2015, 08:59:01 pm

.......As a bonus his cranky bees gave my a few going away presents, one between the eyes and on the left eyebrow.

Doesn't that entitle you to an additional discount?

But really. it sounds like you got a nice bargain. I hope your bees fill every cell of every frame to brimming.

G3farms · « **Reply #16 on:** July 29, 2015, 05:44:17 pm »

http://lacrosse.craigslist.org/grd/5145807755.html

Here is some in MN that is being sold, price sounds a little more reasonable to me.

G3farms · « **Reply #17 on:** August 02, 2015, 07:45:51 pm »

http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/grd/5084554182.html

Perry · « **Reply #18 on:** August 02, 2015, 07:49:36 pm »

Must be a Dakota Gunness uncapper? Fast and easy but hard on the comb.

apisbees · « **Reply #19 on:** August 03, 2015, 01:14:04 am »

the Dakota are no ware near as hard on the comb as the Maxant flail uncapper is the Maxent you drop the frame down and then have to bring the frame back up through. On the Dakota they travel through the one way. As with any automatic uncapper consistency in the frames makes a big different in uncapping results. All these uncappers can be adjusted to work with your frame width but consistency in width is crucial for good results. The same number of frames need to be used in all the honey supers whether 8,8,or 10, and the frames need to be evenly spaced so the combs are all drawn evenly and the same.
2-60 frame extractors that would let you extract about 39 supers an hr. Over 300 supers in a 8 hr day with 2 guys a setup like this would be more than what is needed for a 500 hive operation and could handle up to 2500 colonies.My friend that I set the bee equipment manufacturing business for had 2-60 frame and the Cowen automatic uncapper. I could extract my hole crop in a few hrs. I miss those days.