Groove top vs wedge top ?

[malabarchillin]

This is a similar question to one I asked before.
Those that use wedge top frames. When you reuse your wedge top frames
do you remove the wedge, clean the old wax out and refasten the wedge in place or
do you just treat it like a groove top frame and scrape the groove out with the wedge still
nailed in place ?
I am thinking about slitting my new (100) groove top frames and making them wedge top frames.
I am also thinking that because of the saw kerf that I may rip some new wedges that are thicker.
Is this a waste of time and I should just use the groove top and plan on scraping out the groove regularly ? I usually glue (wax) the foundation or starter strip in.
Thanks
Mike

[randydrivesabus]

if you wax in then why would you need a wedge?

[malabarchillin]

I am a new guy.
I thought the wedge might be easier to remove and clean out the 'groove' easily
to remove the old wax remnants.
Mike

[beeginner]

I am a new guy.
I thought the wedge might be easier to remove and clean out the 'groove' easily
to remove the old wax remnants.
Mike

One of my friends I was helping had me clean out 10,000 + frames.  YOUR RIGHT wedge is a lot easier to clean.  I woud take out the wedge  ever time!  Some was grooved tops and my god you might as well give up on them. There is no way to get them all the way clean. Some times I had to get a torch and heat up the old hive tool I was useing to clean them.

[TwT]

I always use wedged frames for wax foundation, groved is mainly for plastic foundation IMHO!!!! you cant install wired wax foundation in groved frames...

[rdy-b]

I am a new guy.
I thought the wedge might be easier to remove and clean out the 'groove' easily
to remove the old wax remnants.
Mike

One of my friends I was helping had me clean out 10,000 + frames.  YOUR RIGHT wedge is a lot easier to clean.  I woud take out the wedge  ever time!  Some was grooved tops and my god you might as well give up on them. There is no way to get them all the way clean. Some times I had to get a torch and heat up the old hive tool I was using to clean them.

To clean frames i use for my cut comb- I take a metal five gallon bucket fill 2/3 full with water and heat over propane burner that came as a turkey deep fryer - dip frames 1/2 at a time and they clean easely - I can clean hundreds in no time- some people leave a row of cells and let the bees build comb without foundation but i find the thickness of the comb to great for the plastic box container i use for sale. and they are wedge frames -and i reuse the wedge - works for me hope it works for you -RDY-B

[Michael Bush]

>Those that use wedge top frames. When you reuse your wedge top frames
do you remove the wedge, clean the old wax out and refasten the wedge in place or
do you just treat it like a groove top frame and scrape the groove out with the wedge still
nailed in place ?

Remove all the wedges and throw them in a pile.  Scrape anything clean that makes you feel good.  Make sure the wedge goes on a different frame so the nails will make a new hole and hold instead of popping back out as they will in the old holes.

>I am thinking about slitting my new (100) groove top frames and making them wedge top frames.

Why?

>I am also thinking that because of the saw kerf that I may rip some new wedges that are thicker.

Why?

>Is this a waste of time and I should just use the groove top and plan on scraping out the groove regularly ?

They make a tool for this and with practice it goes much more quickly than removing wedges, scraping them clean and renailing.

> I usually glue (wax) the foundation or starter strip in.

If you're using starter strips, you don't ever need to use them again.  Just cut the comb off one cell down from the top bar and they bees will build on that.  No need to remove anything or scrape anything.  Even if the wax moths have chewed up the comb, just cut it one cell down and let them fix it.

[Zoot]

MB,

I concur with the above. Quite honestly, I don't understand what the attraction is to wedge top frames. Maybe for deeps but since I only use mediums I can't justify the trouble. Same goes for wiring. I use a scaping tool of my own manufacture (based on one Brushy Mt used to sell) and the process of cleaning out a grooved frame takes almost no time at all. In fact it's almost never necessary when using starter strips as you posts attests. I've yet to find any down side to starter strip frames whether used for brood or stores.