The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Bees & Beekeeping => Topic started by: AndyMorton on January 28, 2012, 10:21:28 am

Title: Metal Spacers Vs Cleaning
Post by: AndyMorton on January 28, 2012, 10:21:28 am

Hi all!!

Just a quick question, how do you all go about removing the propolis from the metal spacers / what is best to get it off? :S

Cheers
Andy

Title: Re: Metal Spacers Vs Cleaning
Post by: Beeducked on January 28, 2012, 12:01:37 pm

I pour boiling water over mine which seems to work.

Title: Re: Metal Spacers Vs Cleaning
Post by: Plantoid on February 01, 2012, 12:02:13 am

Leave it unless you are collecting propolis or cleaning a dead hive .. the bees will move it around the hive as they require and will not make more once they have enough.

 If you are collecting propolis  change over to the plastic sheet excluders and freeze them to crack off the propolis , simply gently twist / roll up the  sheet over a white sheet and the majority of propolis will flake off

Title: Re: Metal Spacers Vs Cleaning
Post by: Beeducked on February 05, 2012, 09:48:58 pm

That sounds like a good idea. Will have to try that on mine next time.

Title: Re: Metal Spacers Vs Cleaning
Post by: OhLaLa on February 29, 2012, 09:24:28 am

On any frames with spacers, I just keep them free of propolis in order that I can easily put the frames back in when inspecting the hives. Just scrape it off using the hive tool. I also gently scrape the topbar of the frames. It's just a tidy up which I was taught by my mentor.