expiration date for foundation sheets

[citrus]

do foundation sheets actually go off or have an expiry date ?

i read about a bloom or so ... but is this a problem ?

can you use left over new sheets year after year ?

 

[Anduril]

I've made foundation sheets and strips from 30 year old wax. Some on here advocate using a hairdryer to freshen the sheets up and others will say there is no need, the bees will draw it out whatever method you use.

 

[B+.]

I've made foundation sheets and strips from 30 year old wax. Some on here advocate using a hairdryer to freshen the sheets up and others will say there is no need, the bees will draw it out whatever method you use.

They do go dry, but, I once bought a box of square section foundation (God knows how old it was but it was still in its cardboard box). I used it as starter strips in Apidea. It was the perfect size although a bit thin

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

it doesn't go off and it doesn't need 'refreshing' with a hairdrier

 

[Poly Hive]

If it's not refreshed by warming it there is a risk that the bees may ignore it or just mess about with it.

If it's warmed over prior to giving to a stock there is less risk of this.

Making foundation from old wax is kind of not much to do with this as the block pretty much keeps its properties on the inside. I made polish yesterday from wax which is a good 25 years old and after breaking it open and despite the cold atmosphere, the aroma was still there.

I have given foundation successfully which is at least 20 years old if not more but I did, and will again this season warm it over first.

PH

 

[Anduril]

Making foundation from old wax is kind of not much to do with this as the block pretty much keeps its properties on the inside.
PH

Foundation sheets are made of beeswax, my comment was to reinforce the point that there is no expiration date. I may add that I have done the same as B+ with square section foundation acquired from a Devon beekeeper now deceased which was around 5 years old.

 

[For want of a better word]

Foundation sheets are made of beeswax, my comment was to reinforce the point that there is no expiration date. I may add that I have done the same as B+ with square section foundation acquired from a Devon beekeeper now deceased which was around 5 years old.

Same here....[ lost the section boxes somewhere].... bees chewed it up and started afresh from the wax used to glue the sections onto the top bars!!!

 

[citrus]

thanks all

 

[Beefriendly]

I find it depends a bit on the time of year and if there is a good flow on.
I find I get the worst "drawing" in my garden apiary late summer.. when there is not much forage about. Yet the bees on the heather draw any old comb for fun.
I did try using a hairdryer on some old sheets but it seemed to make no difference.

 

[jeff33]

Please don't give suppliers any idea to slap on an expiry date on beeswax and foundation...there are already too many useless expiry dates on products of all types...

 

[Ian123]

Pretty much agree with bf, depends on size of colony and conditions. I pulled some out the garage last year thats 10yrs old and used it, some used it just fine others chewed it or played silly buggers. I do on the other hand find its worth going over with a hair dryer or heat gun. I think the oils on the surface dry, and you pass the heat source over the sheet to get that wet look drawing out fresh oils. Pay attention to the corners

 

[Poly Hive]

Just so Ian123.

The oint I made about the block is that on melting down a block of whatever age really it is refreshed by that process thus foundation made from it is "new".

Hence comparing elderly foundation with the same. Obviously, if it's put in a strong colony on a bonny warm day with a flow you could virtually give them newspaper and they would draw it out.

A cool Scottish day with an intermittent flow is a very different matter, and so I will continue to waft it with the hair dryer first.

I have been going through my supers repainting and found some frames with foundation left over from last year and they will need a touch of warmth before being given.

PH

 

[MartinL]

We live in a throw away society/ "elf & safety" culture. Where everything has to have a sell by, use by, best before date.
Mostly complete 80llock5!

Whatever it is;
if it looks good,
isn't infested/covered in mould,
doesn't have an unusual smell,

then it's probably good to use.



Of course some things do deteriorate with age, (don't dare to mention SHMBO) but if wine was invented today then most of the best ones would get poured away years before their best!

 

[Poly Hive]

I agree to this point, there are some who need to be protected by dates. For instance, a friend of ours has no sense of smell at all. Most of it is nonsense yes but there are those who do depend on it.

PH

 

[Beefriendly]

You also need it for honey sales to protect you from customers not putting the lid back on properly.

 

[Anduril]

Whatever it is;
if it looks good,
isn't infested/covered in mould,
doesn't have an unusual smell,

then it's probably good to use.

Then do this LOL.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.da...years-looks-exactly-the-day-flipped-Utah.html

 

[Funny honey]

When I first met my girlfriend she wouldn’t touch anything close to best before date! So I would rip them off to make her use her eyes and nose thankfully she is now cured.