Old frames

[Ammerbee]

I was wondering when and how I need to replace frames.
I have a few that are coming up to two years old and have gone black.
I have been told they can be recycled but other folk have told me to simply burn them and buy/make new ones.
I'm more comfortably with recycling them, but how do I do this and when (how do I know when a frame has passed it's best)?

thanks a lot

 

[maddydog]

2yo seems a little premature for replacement. A certain Finnish gentleman on this forum suggests replacing frames when you can't see through the comb, which seems reasonable to me.
I melt the frames down for wax in a steamer and use the frames for kindling. 2nds bought in the sales don't cost alot

 

[Jambo]

I started beekeeping this year and have also been wondering how best to replace combs without wasting brood and stores? Is it a case of moving the frames you want to replace towards the outside of the nest and then hopefully they're empty-ish come autumn?

 

[drex]

Bought as seconds they are cheap, but I still recycle. I cut the wax out of the old frame and that goes in my solar wax melter. You do not get a lot of wax from old brood frames, but I still saved over £100 when I did a trade in at Thornes last year ( probably three years worth of old wax) .
I scrape the wood as clean as I can, then boiled them up in an old burco tea urn, containing washing powder and washing soda. I do about ten at a time, tied with string, pull them out, rinse with hose and dry. Come out lovely and clean. Do them all in one go at end of Autumn. Remove wedge and bottom bar and all ready for fresh foundation. Any doubtful bits are replaced with new.
To make sure the frames are empty move them to side of box and scrape any cap pings over any honey

 

[Millet]

2yo seems a little premature for replacement. A certain Finnish gentleman on this forum suggests replacing frames when you can't see through the comb, which seems reasonable to me.
I melt the frames down for wax in a steamer and use the frames for kindling. 2nds bought in the sales don't cost alot

I'm unable to see through a brand new frame of foundation, does this Finnish Gentleman use clear perspex for foundation.

 

[maddydog]

I'm unable to see through a brand new frame of foundation, does this Finnish Gentleman use clear perspex for foundation.

Haha I believe Finski suggests holding the frame to the sun and seeing how much light comes through. He's not expecting to be able to read the vodka bottle label through the wax!!

The idea is to rotate the frames so the older/blacker frames do migrate to the outer sides of the boxes but without splitting the brood nest. I would look to exchange old for new in spring though not autumn as I would want the frames full of stores for winter and they can then draw out foundation in the spring flows.

 

[Millet]

Haha I believe Finski suggests holding the frame to the sun and seeing how much light comes through. He's not expecting to be able to read the vodka bottle label through the wax!!

The idea is to rotate the frames so the older/blacker frames do migrate to the outer sides of the boxes but without splitting the brood nest. I would look to exchange old for new in spring though not autumn as I would want the frames full of stores for winter and they can then draw out foundation in the spring flows.

I know what you mean i was just being an idiot.