Which Frames Should I Use in My Apimaye Hive?

Every Apimaye Ergo hive set and super can be ordered with one of four frame options. Our boxes have the same internal dimensions as standard Langstroth wooden boxes, so all of these frames, and your own standard frames, fit our hives.

• No frames
• Premier Pura wood frames with Premier double wax foundation
• Core Frames (plastic) with Premier double wax foundation
• Apimaye PRO Frames (plastic) with Premier double wax foundation

Here's how they compare, so you can pick the best one for you.

Quick comparison

Prices are what each option adds to a hive set or super. Buying frames with your hive or super saves on shipping, since they ship in the same box.

About the foundation: Premier double wax

All three framed options come with Premier double wax foundation:

• Two heavy coats of pure beeswax (A.H. Meyer & Sons), so bees accept it and draw comb quickly
• Virgin, food-grade, BPA-free plastic core with 5.3 mm cells
• Black in deep frames, which makes eggs and young larvae much easier to spot during brood inspections
• White in medium frames, for your honey supers

No frames

This option is ideal if you're upgrading from wooden hives. Since our hives have the same internal dimensions as wooden Langstroth boxes, you can move your existing frames straight into your Apimaye hive and save money. It's also a good fit if a beekeeping friend has extra frames, or you'd rather build your own.

Premier Pura wood frames with double wax foundation

If you like the feel of traditional wood frames, this is the most affordable way to get a hive that's ready for bees.

• Select-grade eastern white pine
• Fully assembled with the foundation already installed, so they go straight into the hive
• Available in deep (9-1/8") and medium (6-1/4")

Keep in mind that wood can be chewed by wax moth larvae and wears over time, so plastic frames usually last longer.

Core Frames with double wax foundation

Core Frames are plastic frames made in Phoenix, Arizona, designed to fix the common problems of both wood and plastic frames.

• No hive beetle hideouts: no gaps around the edges where small hive beetles can hide, so your colony can chase them out
• Wax moth safe: larvae can't bore into plastic the way they do into wood
• High-speed extraction: the foundation stays locked in, even at higher extractor speeds
• Easy handling: smooth sides with minimal contact between frames make them easy to separate with a hive tool, with less jarring for the bees
• Tough and recyclable: made from food-grade virgin ABS, built to survive drops and hive tools, and recyclable if one ever breaks
• The foundation pops in like it does in a wood frame, so you can also use your favorite foundation later
• Available in deep and medium

Apimaye PRO Frames with double wax foundation

Our plastic PRO Frames are made from durable food-grade plastic. Bees don't propolize them as heavily as wood frames, so they're easier to lift out during inspections.

PRO Frames split open from the center. You place the foundation between the two halves and snap them back together, which takes less than a minute per frame. They work with both plastic and pure wax foundation, but not with fully drawn plastic combs like BetterComb. Two support columns inside the frame reduce stress on the foundation and comb in the extractor.

The split design also makes PRO Frames great for special jobs:

• Swarm and cut-out relocation: place cut comb with brood and honey between the support columns and snap the frame shut. No rubber bands needed.
• Comb honey: use a thin starter strip of wax foundation instead of a full sheet, and the bees will draw comb that's entirely from your apiary.
• Drone comb trapping for Varroa: with a starter strip, bees tend to build drone comb, which Varroa mites prefer. Cutting out the capped drone comb regularly can significantly reduce mite levels without chemicals.

PRO Frames are available in deep size. For medium supers, choose Core Frames or wood frames.

Which one should you choose?

• Already have frames? Choose No frames.
• Want the lowest-cost ready-to-go option, or prefer wood? Choose Premier Pura wood frames.
• Dealing with small hive beetles or wax moths, or want frames that last for years? Choose Core Frames.
• Want to do cut-outs, comb honey or drone trapping? Choose PRO Frames.

Caring for plastic frames

To get the longest life from Core and PRO Frames:

• Don't store them in direct sunlight
• Don't use them in solar wax melters
• Don't clean them with boiling water or in a dishwasher. Water at 140–160°F (60–70°C) works well.

Shop frames on their own:

• Deep wood frames
• Medium wood frames
• Deep Core Frames
• Medium Core Frames
• Deep PRO Frames

Questions about which frames are right for your hives? Contact us and we'll help you choose.