I have been attempting to create some hard sugar candy using Robo' s suggested methods.
http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/beekeeping/emergency-feeding/ (http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/beekeeping/emergency-feeding/)
I built some frames for my top bar hives and covered one side with 1/2 inch wire. I placed foil on one face of the frame and placed it on a flat surface. I made some sugar syrup (using Robo's recipe from the above link) and poured it in. All the hot syrup seeped out in about 2 minutes. I obviously hadn't made my foil bottom water tight. I tried again with the same results.
I decided I wasn't meant to be a candy chief and just dumped dry sugar into the frame with the foil bottom. I sprinkled the dry sugar with just enough water to dampen it and let it dry overnight. The next day, I stood the frame up and peeled off the foil. a little sticky sugar water drained off, but the mass of sugar was stiff and clumped and stuck to the 1/2 inch wire attached to the frame. Since today was likely the last 60 degree day for a while, I opened up the topbar hive and placed the frame of Damp "Dry" Sugar in the hive, closed it up, and am hoping for the best.
I'm wondering if this will work the same as sugar water turned to hard candy by heating it to 270 degrees? It sure was easier for me than my attempt at candy making.
One possible downside with the softer sugar consistency is that the bees will chew through it easier and a good portion of it will end up falling to the bottom of your hive. The same thing happens when putting dry sugar on newspaper on the top bars. Let us know how it goes. Also by not adding the vinegar and heating it, you do not have inverted sugar.