Cleaning plastic excluders

[Sutty]

Anyone got any clever ways of cleaning wax off plastic excluders, I have several that got welded down with brace comb. I've scraped the majority off but there's lots of semi-blocked holes to clean out. Obviously a blowlamp to melt the wax off like I would do with metal ones isn't an option!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Freeze and tap off but to tell you the truth it’s still a pain. My Thorne plastic ones with a bee space rim are now just spares.

 

[Hedgerow Honey]

Anyone got any clever ways of cleaning wax off plastic excluders, I have several that got welded down with brace comb. I've scraped the majority off but there's lots of semi-blocked holes to clean out. Obviously a blowlamp to melt the wax off like I would do with metal ones isn't an option!

I have a Huge plastic farm sink that I put around fifty in at a time with two bags of soda Crystals and hot water, put a brick on top then leave for two days and hose off with the pressure washer. It's a simple way thats not as nasty as trying to scrub them. To be totally honest, I only payed 45p each for a couple of thousand and if a few have to go into the recycling it doesn't matter.
I then put in another batch & leave for about a week, takes longer second time because the water is cold, but still works.
One of my winter jobs this years is making a trough for cleaning frames that will have two propane burners underneath for water heating.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Pressure washer. …. Of course. Good idea. Even for just a few.

 

[Newbeeneil]

I have a Huge plastic farm sink that I put around fifty in at a time with two bags of soda Crystals and hot water, put a brick on top then leave for two days and hose off with the pressure washer. It's a simple way thats not as nasty as trying to scrub them. To be totally honest, I only payed 45p each for a couple of thousand and if a few have to go into the recycling it doesn't matter.
I then put in another batch & leave for about a week, takes longer second time because the water is cold, but still works.
One of my winter jobs this years is making a trough for cleaning frames that will have two propane burners underneath for water heating.

I agree, I put half a dozen in a gravel tray with strong soda solution with a brick on them to keep them immersed. Leave them for a week and then give them a good brush off with a scrubbing brush. Power washer would work a treat if I had power at the apiary!

 

[Sutty]

Thanks, I'll try a soda solution in a tray & power wash.

 

[blackcloud]

Gravel tray if you have patience.
I've given up on plastic and only use them if I am forced to seive out a shy queen.
You can safely use brillo pads and boiling water on metal ones
I'm phasing out the galvanised ones slowly and replacing them with thrones stainless steel.