Equipment Storage Question

[Ron Young]

I have read that when you buy a bulk of new woodenware, that you should assemble it as soon as you can to reduce cracking, warping, and poor fit on the joints. Is this also true with Frames? I purchased a bulk of 100 frames the other day, and this is the most I have ever had on hand. I usually just order what I need, and that failed me this year!

But anyway, I really did not want to assemble all 100 frames. I only planned on filling the five nucs that I have on had, and store the other 75 frames.

Thanks
Ron

[ski]

I have been buying frames 100 at a time for a few years now and put them together as I think I will need them and have not had any problems with fit. I purchased the last group in the fall of 2011 and just put them together this week and the pieces fit just fine. I have purchased frames from Brushy, Mann-Lake and Kelleys and have not had a problem, some sat in the barn for about a year. But there is always the first time.
Buying 100 at a time is a bit cheaper as well.

[Ron Young]

It is cheaper, and I am going to start pulling and replacing frames next year. I hope to pull a few five frame splits out next year as a means to reduce swarming. I have had a tremendous year of swarming. I know of at least 8 swarms from my four hives (only three of which I feel have swarmed). I lost another one today. They were a good 65-70 feet up, way out on a limb that I could not reach, unless I had the ladder truck!!

[ski]

I thought you could borrow the ladder truck when needed lol. It would be a great training exercise.

I pulled a bunch of frames out this year and melted the wax down in the solar wax melter and am in the process of cleaning and reloading the frames with new wax. I don't like cleaning frames, its easier to build new ones.

I had my share of swarms this year as well. I checkerboarded above the brood nest in February but didn't get back to keep the brood nest open enough. Maybe next year.

[Wally]

I would assemble enough to fill all my boxes I have on hand. Then wait to do the rest. I have bought boxes of unassembled frames 10, 20 years old and never had trouble with them not fitting.

PS. I would install only the wax I wanted to use and one box of each size to have ready for a swarm.The wax holds up much better stacked flat, rather than in frames.

[Ron Young]

Thanks Wally. I had not even thought about the wax question. I have had some wax that went bad hanging in frames. So I will put together 20 frames to fill all my nucs, and get them wired, and wax them as needed.