What is the easiest way to clean burr comb and propolis from queen excluders? As a novice (first year) beekeeper, I have split hives, combined hives, requeened, dealt with laying workers, worked with a swarm, was forced to take some surplus honey, and all the other general beekeeper things. However, cleaning these @#$%^&&**!! queen excluders has been my most daunting task. Help. Thanks.
I just use my hive tool at inspection time. I use the plastic ones they don’t seem to get it to bad :!:
Easiest way it to throw them in a solar metal. But if you don't have one, a propane torch works well after you scrap them.
Assuming your talking about metal excluders and not plastic. :wink:
How about freezing? When I froze my wood frames during a SHB bout I dropped one of the frames and a bunch of comb and propolis fell off.
David
I agree, freezing propolis makes it crumble. I have some hives that are really propolizing everything and froze some inner covers to get the propolis off. seems to work great.
Thank you all very much. The torch worked great on the metal ones and freezing worked great on the plastic ones.
I just don't put the excluders in the hives and they stay very clean. ;)
Queen excluders make very good draining platforms for holding the frames prior to extracting. That's one of about 3 things they are good for.