I have frames from a hive that has cultivated lots of mold as the hive died from starvation and lots of bees are stuck in the combs with the butts sticking out. And, I have a hive that was affected with Nosema and there is bee poo on frames where the cluster was on last- at least 3 frames. How can I reuse all these frames safely without passing on the same problems to the next hive I install?
I acquired my first hive from a gentleman who let me pick through his beehive junk pile our under a tree and most of the equipment had mold and other unidentifiable stuff on it. I took what I thought to be salvageable home and cleaned it up.
I washed everything with a scrub brush in bleach water. I tried to salvage the frames also, however I decided to buy new frames. Being that the equipment was exposed to Nosema I'd be afraid to stick them in my hive. If you insist on using them and can't afford new frames the bleach should take care of anything bad.
If its out of your hive and you know what caused the Dead out. just put new bees in they will clean it out just fine. People look at mold as yuck the girls will just clean it up and and it will be ok.
Nothing disinfects as naturally as prolonged sunlight (and scrape, scrape, scrape ;).
thomas
Fire outside, boiling water, grill cleaningtool brass brush and scaper combined, insulated rubber gloves..wax prop and other material melts off instantly, wood ware dries very quick, may take some life out of the frames. This procedure probably not worth the trouble for just a few frames..One must be aware of where your pants are at all times.
The only time it is really necessary to rework the frames is when a hive has died out such as from poisoning, leaving brood in various stages. The brood can rot causing a foul odor rotting the wax. Then just cut out the foundation and either boil the frames or give them the sun treatment for a week, rewire, install foundation and reinstall in a hive.
If saving frames is the goal, as in the above senario, the only way, IMHO, is to cutout the combs and rewire.
If the combs are only a little moldy, not overly damp, or with bees stuck head first in the cells, then just let the bees clean it up for you.