Here we go again.

[Mklangelo]

Excluders or not?   I have two hives without and one with.  I don't want eggs in my honey but why then do some call an Queen excluder a Honey excluder?

[doak]

Plain and simple. For some reason unknown to us, the bees are reluctant to go through the excluder.
If your bees are of the small type you should have better luck than with larger bees.
If you have the plastic excluder  just cut it down some. Leave the space between frames 1&2 and 9&10 and about 2 inches on each end. If you have a queen that will go back down then go with out one.
I use excluder where I need to and don't where I don't need to
You have to learn how to show the queen up.
Top openings also help with the excluder.

I do believe this is one hobby there is no "exact"  set standard for every thing involved.

My heat index today was 103.
doak

[Moonshae]

Betterbee recommends turning them sideways until the bees get used to it, then switching back to proper position. Since the queen generally sticks to the middle of frames, she's unlikely to get around the edge. I don't know how well it works, but it's an option.

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#excluders