I need to add a second deep onto my 2 new hives. I'm not using foundations and the lower deep is getting pretty full, but had some difficulty with getting the bees to draw straight comb. Eventually after some comb removal and realignment things look OK. I want to use some wire as a guide on the second deep. Hopefully the bees will align and imbed the line into their comb. I don't have any tinned wire just galvanized wire and don't want to use it because of the coating. I was wondering if a strong monofilament fishing line would work just as well? or will the bees eat throught the line?
Thanks,
Greg Watkevich
easier to pull a couple of frames from your drawn box and put it in the new. not only will this help them move into the new box, but will give them a couple of straight frames as a guide.
don't know about the fishing line.
Are you using starter strips?
Yes, using starter strips, beveled top bars. Thought the wire or fishing line strung across would help to reinforce the brood comb.
Greg Watkevich
Yes, I was planning on moving a frame or two into the upper box.
if your using starter strips there is no need for wire just push the frames tight together and pull up a frame of brood to help guide them. The wire is there for 2 reasons one to hold the foundation to keep it from warping and sagging which you are not using and for added support when extracting.
Unless you are planning to extract honey from the brood box, maybe you don't need to have any kind of wire in those frames.
They get pretty thick and strong once they get to have a few brood cycle.
Wire in no way acts as a guide. The bees will not care two hoots where the wire is and will simply build it through the wire the same way they would have built it without the wire.
I've tried fishing line and was not pleased with the results. However, I have not used wire. I use plastic foundation unless I am making comb honey. At that point I simple "hang" the sheet of surplus wax and let them do the rest.
I'll move up 2 frames of brood to the middle of the second box and fill the rest with beveled top bar frames, no wires.
Thanks
Greg Watkevich
For frames with foundation, FatBeeman uses fishing line to support the foundation. Once it's secured in the frame, the bees just build over it. I don't know if he has any luck with catching fish!
Greg, just be careful and check it often. I tried that and they really made a mess of the foundationless frames within about a week. I have only had luck sandwiching them in between drawn frames or foundation...but I must be the exception.