Where did you get your poly from and where can you get plastic frames from, Paleo?
As Admin says.
I got my Langstroth stuff from Modern Beekeeping aka Rooftops on forum. The National came indirectly from Highland Bees Supplies
The National has had a bit more use for swarm collecting than the Langstroths but now houses a colony. I am overwintering two colonies this winter and hope both are OK to do a full year next year. So by this time next year I will have my mind made up based on
MY experience with
MY bees.
I (we) had planned to have four colonies by this time of the year, and yes, it went a bit wrong as we are going into the winter with twelve. Financially, the seconds route is the only option for us. I would dearly love to have all my hives made by Tom Bick, we have some of his stuff, including a custom national and they are excellent, but again finances dictate.
However, when you start comparing the prices of Poly vs Seconds or to put it another way, First Quality Poly (there are no seconds) vs Second Quality Cedar, Poly wins out.
I.E. Maisemore Sale National = £84.00 excl QE.
Poly Lang (4012) = £84.00 c/w QE
The poly hives are available 365 days of the year. You have to wait until the sales to get anywhere near the price with Thornes or Maisemores where some of the equipment will be firewood. No good mid summer when you open the hives in an out apiary and go "Oh crap, I need to spend money NOW!"
This all said, I have bought some equipment last week and I will buy more before the end of the year. Then, Hopefully, I will cease buying seconds from then on (That is the dream, but it may be
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).
Sorry for the long post, but I have just been signed off work for a few weeks, so expect long rants whilst I have the time on my hands
![Cuss :cuss: :cuss:](https://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/images/smilies/cuss.gif)
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