Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: bhfury on March 16, 2009, 12:35:40 am

Title: Plasticell and sugar water
Post by: bhfury on March 16, 2009, 12:35:40 am

I've just completed some new hive bodies with plasticell foundation.  I know they are beewax coated, but I think I read somewhere that I'm suppose to spray them with suger/water for better acceptance.  Is that right?   :?

Thanks,
Greg
Farmington NM

Title: Re: Plasticell and sugar water
Post by: dpence on March 16, 2009, 01:01:04 am

Whenever I install a new package on wax coated plastic foundation, I spray the foundation with sugar water.  It seems to help in my experience. 

David

Title: Re: Plasticell and sugar water
Post by: RayMarler on March 16, 2009, 01:18:21 am

I use plastic foundation in all hives myself for the last several years. I've never sprayed them with sugar water but that certainly would not hurt at all. I would, however, put a feeder on them and check once a week to make sure they are drawing wax out correctly on the plasticell. Sometimes they start the drawing at the top ok but will slant the comb out away from the plastic as they draw. Whenever they do this, just scrape it off and they will go back to work and get it the way we like them to do it. Do not mix wax foundation or no foundation frames in the same box as the plasticell, as they will then ignore the plasticell as long as they possibly can.

Title: Re: Plasticell and sugar water
Post by: Michael Bush on March 16, 2009, 07:08:34 am

You can if you like.

Title: Re: Plasticell and sugar water
Post by: HAB on March 16, 2009, 05:10:56 pm

This one was pre-waxed but we sprayed it with sugar water, let it dry, sprayed again.  I think it worked out all right.
(http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/8918/brood5mar09.th.jpg) (http://img98.imageshack.us/my.php?image=brood5mar09.jpg)

Title: Re: Plasticell and sugar water
Post by: bhfury on March 16, 2009, 08:29:57 pm

Nice job!!!

Title: Re: Plasticell and sugar water
Post by: mherndon on March 17, 2009, 09:50:43 pm

Good looking frame of brood HAB!   :)

Mark