Storing brood combs of stores

[JamezF]

I know some people keep their brood combs of stores in sealed plastic bags in the bee shed, but I'd really like to avoid using more plastic than is strictly necessary. I have an old metal four-drawer filing cabinet that I've been thinking could be repurposed for comb storage, hanging the frames from the runners just like the hanging files used to be. Then I can seal the gaps around the drawers with masking tape or something similar, or even fix some more permanent seals in place. I've now measured the cabinet up and it looks like the frames will fit ok, and there's room for the cabinet in the shed.

Is this a dumb idea, or is there anything obvious that I've not thought of that might mean it won't work?

James

 

[enrico]

You may get a strong smell if they start to ferment!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I just store mine in empty poly nucs stacked outside

 

[JamezF]

I just store mine in empty poly nucs stacked outside

Empty poly nucs I have. Do yours have a mesh floor? And if so do bees and wasps lose interest once they find they can't get in?

James

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

All mine have mesh floors - they soon lose interest in them though

 

[Amari]

I know some people keep their brood combs of stores in sealed plastic bags in the bee shed, but I'd really like to avoid using more plastic than is strictly necessary. I have an old metal four-drawer filing cabinet that I've been thinking could be repurposed for comb storage, hanging the frames from the runners just like the hanging files used to be. Then I can seal the gaps around the drawers with masking tape or something similar, or even fix some more permanent seals in place. I've now measured the cabinet up and it looks like the frames will fit ok, and there's room for the cabinet in the shed.

Is this a dumb idea, or is there anything obvious that I've not thought of that might mean it won't work?

James

Maybe no need to seal the gaps - just put in a few spiders every so often to see off any wax moths.....?

 

[blackcloud]

Is it a langstroth,1412 or standard filing cabinet?

 

[JamezF]

Is it a langstroth,1412 or standard filing cabinet?

It won't do 14x12, but I believe most other common frame sizes can be accommodated depending on whether you insert them warm way or cold way

James

 

[blackcloud]

Do Staples know about all this?

Im actually interested if it works as I have redundant cabinets ,freezer full of frames and a lot of waxmoths waiting in the wings

 

[JamezF]

Do Staples know about all this?

Hopefully not, otherwise we'll end up paying beekeeping prices for filing cabinets

Im actually interested if it works as I have redundant cabinets ,freezer full of frames and a lot of waxmoths waiting in the wings

I reckon it would, but if storing the combs outdoors in poly nucs works then I'm tempted to see if I can do it all that way first. I have far too many other things going on at the moment so the "least effort" option is definitely the favoured one.

James