Swapped a hive from the original to a new box...whew...

[qa33010]

    the chemical smell from the original frames was overwhelming.   They smelled of chemicals only, no foul smell just a nasty chemical smell.  I remember this type of smell from farm days and when chemicals were used with little control on how they were used  (granted todays enforcement system is handicapped but it's better than it was).  But it was powerful enough for me to imagine an open container right next to me.

    Any way I'm going to save the frames and see if the smell reduces.  Since I can't melt it down and use it and would not feel right about tossing them in the trash I'll see what happens and maybe find someplace to dispose of it safely.   

     Since I don't use chemicals does anyone have any experience with how long it takes to saturate comb?  Will it off gas or deteriorate with age? 

     They are doing great in the new hive.  The brood was left in the old hive and all the bees were brushed or shaken into the new box of 'clean' drawn comb, except the queen of course.   The old box was sealed immediately to prevent bees returning.  The comb they are on now is natural cell.  Brood like crazy open/newly capped and the bees seem more mellow now, of course then was not a perfect day for what I did.  Still have another hive to do this with.  Do I need to worry about what (chemical residue) they are taking into the new hive with them or will it just be miniscule?

[metzelplex]

   why don't you just cut the old wax out and put in new foundation on the old frames sometimes I boil water in an old metal 5 gallon bucket then I dip the frames in the boiling water and the last little bit of wax melts off then tighten up the wires and add some new nails if need be then put on new foundation . hope this helps   metzelplex

[Michael Bush]

>Since I don't use chemicals does anyone have any experience with how long it takes to saturate comb?  Will it off gas or deteriorate with age?

Do you think they were sprayed with insecticide?  Or do you think it's miticide that was put in the hive on purpose?  The miticides are all lipophilic and will never come out of the comb unless it's exposed to enough UV for long enough.  If it's insecticide, most of them are fairly short lived and if you leave it out in the sun it should deteriorate in a year or two to the point that it's negligible, but the idea of insecticide in my hive is probably more than I can take.  If I can smell it, it's pretty bad.  I might just leave them out in the rain and sun indefinitely. :)

[qa33010]

   Just an experiment I was toying with on lifetime of chemicals in comb.  Of course I don't have any equipment to measure the chemical other than my nose and I sure ain't tasting it! 

     The previous owner used chemicals and I'm going to see if they can survive without it, that's why I have put them in natural comb.  I know this is personal preferance and some may scoff, but I agree with you Michael, I cringe at the thought of any insecticide in my hives. 

    metzelplex thanks for the idea of cleaning the frames.  That will definitely help make it easier to install the starter strips.