One reason why I don't like langstroths, as a student i had a job making then up///6 volt VW car battery not a 12volt to heat the frame wires when using non wired...wasn't i glad when we changed to SN5 wired ....but saying that, lots of commercial ops use unwired to say the 15p per sheet
LOL.....if it were only for the 15p a sheet on the foundation we wouldnt bother...............but
Firstly you can use the cheaper foundation as regards the wiring cost.
Secondly there is zero woodwork to do when rewaxing. No wedge to remove, clean, and renail for example. (Some might look puzzled at that but you do NOT nail the wedge tightto the foundation, leaving a big enough gap to slip the next wax sheet in, or never remove the wedge at all innew frames leaving it just where it is in the manufacture process.)
Then you can do what makes the flattest strongest brood combs as well, leaving the foundation a couple of cells short of the bottom bars. Sounds counterintuitive to many, but it really works. You get no sugging or bulging as often happens with full sheet wired foundation right inot the bottom bars. The bees often attach the wax to the bottom bars first and then you get a little bit of 'bellying' especially in zig zag pattern wired foundation in the gaps betweem wires. When the bees join it on themselves it is stronger and flatter.
You can remove old comb by either steaming or boiling or simply sliding a knife along the wires, then steam or boil the frames themselves, or even hand scrape ( slow).
Then the best bit. Once the frames are ready for rewaxing it takes approx 4 to 5 mins per box to do (once you get the knack). (We use battery chargers, not actual batteries) The BS deep ones with grooves etc and wired foundation take nearly 20 mins per box, although it IS 11 frames as opposed to 10. We are close to completion of the drilling eyeletting and cross wiring of ALL our BS frames as well as, although it is a serious 'up front' cost it makes the next rewaxing SO much faster and easier. Its the difference between being able to cope with large annual comb renewal programmes and not being able to.
In the end, costing everything out including the work, the saving is actually huge. It works out at about 5.50 a box per rewax. Our onging rewax programme and repalcement of damaged or defectives runs now at about 3000 boxes a year. Big saving, massive time advantage in scheduling.
We have never found simple wired foundation alone to be anywhere near strong enough in Lang deeps to withstand the rigours of anything other than tediously slow working and the avoidance of handling the combs when newly drawn and warm. Again, whilst fresh and white they were very difficult to extract without a very high damage rate, and they rarely were flat enough anyway. They are essentially designed for pre wired working. (British variants apart, which are not quite international standard and have weak lugs.)
On the other hand................the slow ways can have their advantage. They can mean you are far too busy in the bee shed when other less palatable tasks are being foisted upon you..............like its your turn to do the vaccuuming, or that trip to Ikea..............
