How to replace old frames?

[crowhammer]

     I have a deep hive body with a few old, dark looking frames at the center. I bought it that way, so I'm just speculating, but, it looks like they threw in some old frames (w/ brood?) and some newer ones together to get me started. The question I have is a two parter:

1. How do you know it's time to replace an old frame?

2. How precisely do you go about it? Especially since the ones in question are in the middle of the box. Also, the new frames I'll be using as replacements have wax coated plastic foundation, but the comb hasn't been drawn out yet. How will this effect the replacement plan?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[BenC]

Frames could be replaced if they are falling apart and can't be made servicable any longer, or if you obtained them from a beek who uses chems and you're concerned about residual pesticides in them.  Don't take them out if they have brood in them, rather rotate them out to the edges of the broodnest and upward until the brood is all emerged.  let the bees rob it out if you wish.

  If your talking comb...  just cut it out of the frame if the frame is still good- again, this is after rotating it out of the brood area.  Chem residues or disease problems, or old &soiled are various reasons one might use to justify getting rid of comb.  you can cut it clean and scrape the frame and grooves/ pull the wedge and put new foundation in, or just cut all but the top inch of comb out and the bees will use that as a guide and build new comb in the frame.

  If the brood comb has a known and acceptable history then just retire it (cut it out) after it has turned black.  For me that seems to work out to anywhere between 3-5 years.  Don't do it all at once, just one or 2 frames per box per year is a good way to do it.

[Kathyp]

my thing on frames is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".  you can cut out the foundation if it's old, but no reason to ditch the frames unless they are  broken, or so yucky you can't stand to use them.  most of the yuk can be burned or melted off with a well place flame from the blow torch.

[crowhammer]

I should have been a little more specific. It's the comb that I believe is time to replace, not the frames themselves. Sorry. Thank you guys for the advice. Now;
How long do I wait between moves as I rotate my frames to the outside?

[randydrivesabus]

since the history of your acquired comb is unknown i would start immediately to go through the steps as others have outlined. those combs could be ancient and loaded with chems.

[jimmyo]

I try to move the dark comb to the sides where they are more likely to fill them with honey. In the spring they might be empty then they are easy to replace. if not then we either extract them or put them out in the shed (away from the apiary)  where the bees can rob them out.
then I cut or melt the old comb out and reload with new foundation.
Jim