Do I need to change the foundation sheet for such frames

Beekeeping - Basics
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change-CF-sheet
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Hi,
Pls suggest if I need a CF sheet replacement for this kind of frame.

Thanks,

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I don’t know what a “CF sheet” is, but that frame is probably quite old and should be cycled out. The very dark coloring suggests that it has been used to raise multiple rounds of brood. The colour is from shellac in old cocoons and some propolis. You can either remove and render the wax, then scorch the frame and put new foundation in it, or just build a new frame (that is what I do) to give them a nice fresh start.

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Hi Usha, I probably wouldn’t change that comb, on account that it is mostly worker comb. I imagine that if you held it up to light, you’d still see light through it. My early mentor told me that he changes foundation once you can’t see light through it. I followed that rule myself for many years. Now my main criteria for changing foundation is when the worker comb has been compromised for too much drone comb.

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Good morning to you all,

“CF” is “comb foundation” sheet, which the frames are initially lined up with and thereafter, the bees build the comb. It is a thin bees wax sheet.

@Jeff,
Thank you. I will check if the light is still passing thru. However, these were those frames that bees were not using them “much” even when there were good number of them earlier. I think these are pretty old, and I have them for the past 6 months with me.
One of them which looked similar, I removed most of the wax , but a left a portion on the top and put it back into the hive, to check if bees buid over it.

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I went out to check the comb whether the light passes thru.
Only on the lighter shade of the wax, the light passes thru and not on the darker part.
So, should I completely recycle it or remove only the dark part?

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Hi Usha, if you must replace it with fresh wax foundation, replace the whole sheet.

A frame like that wont deter bees from using it. With a decent population, coupled with a honey/pollen flow, the bees would relish that frame, they’d be all over it.

I would stick with those frames during a dearth, because by giving a reduced population fresh foundation to build on, they wont have resources to be able to produce fresh wax with. Then you’ll see further slow progress.

If you can find someone to sell you some frames full of worker brood, one for each hive, that will be a big help.

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Thank you Jeff.
I can get fresh foundation sheet, though not a brood frame. Highly unlikely that someone around would sell me a frame with brood. Since the population is anyway low, I rather remove this frame from the hive and re-insert with fresh foundation once I notice that there is a need for another frame.
BTW, last week, I removed wax partially from one such frames (leaving some wax on the top) and put it back in the hive to check if the population is working on rebuilding the comb. There was no significant development on that frame as of now.