Check the size. I could be wrong but I think the frames are Langstroth, and your profile says you use nationals.
They are manufacturing a national size Flow frame now as well as the original Langstroth size. They are also making the super in pine with all the cut outs ready made too.
I was surprised about the taste of the Flow frame honey too as I thought that bit was just some hype...but it is truly a different taste...and we did taste it along with other honeys...although not at a show...and you could pick it out easily.
I was thinking about the comment about Spring honey, summer honey, crystallised honey and creamed honey....with creamed being the most tasteless....so perhaps the amount of 'disturbance' to the honey whilst harvesting does have a much bigger effect than previously realised.
I bought my Flow frames because I was curious about such an amazing harvesting tool...and I had a small windfall to spend. Although I have answered many questions and explained how my first harvest experience was like.....unless you try it yourself....it would be impossible to to realise the advantages. Many people thought it was a new type of hive...not so....the hive is the same as any hive along with the same beekeeping responsibilities...which are slightly different depending whereabouts you are in the world.
Set up correctly...according to instructions....the Flow frames do exactly what they claim to do. If the beekeeper is lax and the bees harvest rape or Heather...then there could be some extracting problems. I am going to use my frames this spring....and I am fairly sure that this year we will have some rape nearby...so the frames will be tested. I think that with timely extraction and hydrometer testing...it will be possible to harvest the honey. I don't have a plan for Heather as we don't get any around here.
Despite the dire warnings that the frames will contain baby killing germs...nothing so far. The channel is really easy to clean....well the parts the bees can't reach....and a few hours on the Aga top and they were dry again. All the rest of the frame was cleaned by the bees prior to taking them off.
I have tried to be an impartial tester of the frames and to bear witness without bias. I have often been put in the position of defending the frames...although that was not my intent.
Above all.....it has been enormous fun.....even though the summer was poor we did get a small harvest. The bees used the frames just the same as any other frames to store the honey. There was very little disturbance when we harvested...the bees carried on as usual.....on the frames and flying. We didn't see any bees at the back of the hive whilst we harvested...only a couple of wasps. We sat in a Bee Yard with 7 busy hives in the middle of a very sunny day. Although we suited up....we didn't need to...the bees flew up and away on their missions....as the honey flowed into the jars.
Personally....I think the Flow frames are worth every penny...fascinating and practical and fun. Probably beyond the pocket and economics of the commercial beekeeper but for the hobbyist who balance their books rather differently.....a wonderful addition to their experience of keeping bees.
