So, do you use them or not? We have never used one before this year. Early this spring I put a queen excluder below my shallow supers to see how it works out for me, and I think I'm hampering my production. They have drawn out comb in the upper shallow supers but there's no honey, when I feel like there should be.

I've read elsewhere that the use of these excluders isn't good and some people call them "honey excluders!"

I'm thinking of removing mine from the hive.

Anyone have any thoughts?

We use them here and if the hive is strong and active they don't hamper the bees. Of course we install them on the second super on the hive.
The main benefits we've seen from using them is the honey is cleaner as in fewer bee parts are present, the flavor of the honey is better due to the combs not being used to raise brood.
Our bees tend to fill the bottom supers first then work on the upper ones.

Well, my hive is pretty strong. Maybe I'll leave it on for the season and see how it goes. The idea of cleaner honey does sound nice!

I harvested an "above the excluder" super yesterday and it was beautiful honey, and very clean. Worked great so the excluder will stay.

Congratulations on the beautiful honey Dave. It should taste better as well.