Hello, I'm cleaning up some old hives and found a collection of wooden hive components I cant quite figure out. My guess is they're for honeycomb but I'm not sure and I dont know how they work, any information would be great. Pictures of these things assembled would also be great, then I can see if I have all the pieces. thanks
Jay
(http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/5417/dsc04127oo8.th.jpg) (http://img6.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc04127oo8.jpg)
Jay, welcome to beemaster! You will need to contact one of the moderators by pming them with your pics so they may post them. After you have several posts under your belt you will be allowed to post pics. Its a security thing.
...JP
Lacking your photos, I can only guess what you are looking at.
Perhaps it is comb honey section boxes? They are made of basswood, like a model airplane kit.
Here's a link to a photo (scroll down to "The traditional comb honey super")
I hope this helps,
-Erin
Erin, You will need to contact one of the moderators by pming them with your pics so they may post them. After you have several posts under your belt you will be allowed to post pics. Its a security thing.
...JP
Jay,
I have now added the picture to your post.
They are comb honey section boxes like a ross round. I just burned a bunch. If you plan to use them you will really have to croud your bees to get them to build them out.
they make great kinlen for the fireplace. I just gave an entire new box of them to my friend. He wants to play aorund with them, but I burn the older ones. I dont see the advantage of making comb honey that way. Just more work for the beekeeper all the way around.
Definitely old basswood sections for comb honey production. You have 3/4 of the row that would hold 4 square basswood boxes with thin foundation in them. They make good smoker starters when splintered as you don't have enough to begin doing comb honey.
So I guess you guys arent fans of these old guys ;) I guess I wont bother with them, thanks for the input.
Jay
Burn them? They sell like gold on ebay.... :-D
I've even seen old frames sell for more than new... ;)
People are still buying them from Walter T. Kelley. I'd put them up for sale.
Heres a sample of how it's done:
http://www.draperbee.com/beesupplies/SectionComb.pdf
http://www.draperbee.com/beesupplies/supply%20images/scs01.jpg
thanks for the pictures, exactly what I need if I decide to try them in our new hives. I appreciate all the help.
Jay
Word of caution on the thin pieces that fold to make the boxes - you need to wet the joints before you bend them to make the boxes, otherwise they break apart rather than bending at the joints.