Renovating old equipment

[SteveJ]

I'm just trying to renovate a couple of old supers. The problem being mainly the top rails which are rottern with a bit of woodworm. I'm going to replace the rails with a couple of spares I have but the woodworm has spread to the sides. Is there anything I can treat with?

I've also got one with a lump out of the corner. Is it ok to use plastic padding to fill the hole?

SteveJ

 

[victor meldrew]

Personally I'm all for restoration but faced will the probs you describe I'd be inclined to bin the super and start again , after all ,they aren't that expensive especially in deal ?

VM

 

[thedeaddiplomat]

Or use the old super as fuel for you smoker?

 

[plumberman]

1) A fully laden super is surprisingly heavy: would you be happy to lift it up with your repair? I wouldn't like to imagine the mess!

2) Anything that kills woodworm virtually certain to kill bees as well...........

In otherwords: bin em!

 

[fredbloggs]

I suppose it all depends if you have the time to spend on the repair, balancing the satisfaction of reusing a piece of decrepit kit with the choice of cutting your losses and investing in new?

Assuming it is the former and that the supers are deal? Is the woodworm active? Do you have ww treatment? You could put the cost of that toward the cost of new parts? Google the name of the treatment/chemical . I would not think it was harmful to bees once fully dried and aired but you need to check! The same with fillers but I would attempt to repair holes with wood rather than filler all depends where the hole is. I have some supers visited by woodies with fist sized holes. I just cut a piece of ply and screwed it on the outside- not pretty but still functional.

As a last resort ( and as long as clean and wormfree) i would use them for storage. Better to store/transport frames in them than chuck/burn.

Regards

FB

 

[oliver90owner]

they aren't that expensive especially in deal ?

Especially if you can find 'a good deal'!!

RAB

 

[Alabamaeee]

Or in Poly about £18 and lighter to carry

 

[victor meldrew]

they aren't that expensive especially in deal ?Especially if you can find 'a good deal'!!
RAB

VM

 

[SteveJ]

The sides aren't that bad just half a dozen holed and are still sound. Its the rails that are the problem. The supers are made of cedar. Already scarffed the chipped one. It's just the wood worm to deal with.

 

[Insy]

like your situation i was passed down about 5-7 brood chambers (national and commercial) and about 7+ supers about 5+ lids and so forth

Ive restored 3 brood chambers, 4 supers, 3 lids the rest im not going to other with as they need a side removing and replacing and so forth.

I worked out this week that i can get the wood for 7 14x12 Plywood 18m Brood chambers for aroudn £70 if i pick it up thats £10-£15 a brood chambers with screws and glue and stuff. Ive seen these sell alot more on sites.

Its fairly cheap to build them so no point wasting to much time and money trying to restore something if u can spending a tiny amount more and get a brand new one that will last for manyyears to come.