Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: twb on February 26, 2008, 05:20:36 PM

Title: popsicle stick starter strips
Post by: twb on February 26, 2008, 05:20:36 PM
I have made some medium frame popsicle stick starter strips(3+ sticks per frame so they go all the way across) for crush and strain honey production.  A few of the sticks "flopped" a smidge in the top bar groove.  Will the slight tilt of the sticks make the bees  draw out the comb whacky or won't it matter at all?

If the bees do start drawing comb in the wrong direction how do you encourage them to fix it without adding a frame with foundation next to that frame?
Title: Re: popsicle stick starter strips
Post by: Ross on February 26, 2008, 05:52:58 PM
If the hive is level, you shouldn't have a problem.  If they start crooked, I just bend it back where it needs to be.  If it crosses over to another bar, cut it loose and bend it back.  If it won't stay, wrap a rubber band around the frame to hold it.
Title: Re: popsicle stick starter strips
Post by: Michael Bush on February 26, 2008, 07:47:44 PM
>Will the slight tilt of the sticks make the bees  draw out the comb whacky or won't it matter at all?

No reason to expect anything crooked.  The sticks are just there to get the comb in line with the frames.
Title: Re: popsicle stick starter strips
Post by: twb on February 27, 2008, 05:24:45 PM
Thanks for your responses.  That gives me much more confidence.  I have committed 12 honey supers(and will make more) to the crush and strain idea and I am a bit uneasy about how things will go.  Thanks again.