Up until now I have been buying frames, wired and with foundation embedded. I figure the few bob they charge to do it was worth it. So now I have enough frames, and some spares.
So have to start embedding myself. I got a 9v car racing transformer, and cut the wire and presto! two ends pumping juice. I eventually found an aligator clip and attached it to one end. The other was just the bare wire.
I had to clean up the frames, not much of a job, but now I have wax all over the backyard as well as the house. Im not very tidy :). I left a bit of the wax where I could, to give em a hand.
I did not have a very good connection, but wasnt helped by the slightly larger sheets of wax I bought. I should have trimmed them a bit to make the job easier. I also put the sheets in the fridge to harden them up, which was helpful. I also notice these wax sheets appear to be from "used" wax due to the darker colour than what I have got in the past.
I only did four as that is all I need for tomorrow. It went pretty well, although I can see how a board at the back would give me equal pressure over the sheet. I just pressed down with my finger. Only takes a few seconds when things go well. By the fourth one, I was almost perfect.
I know this is the method (transformer etc) that most people use, but I thought I would post my tale to show other newcommers that it is pretty easy. The only skill you need is a bit of patience.
I have three sheds in the backyard, I can see its time to turn one of them into a honey house to relieve the pressure on my little kitchen.
(http://i17.tinypic.com/3ywy8t2.jpg)
Hey mate,
Yeah I think I'll need to do quite a few myself quite soon. In Healesville the honey flow is starting. my bee are a little grumpy as present :shock:.
James.
Mick, good for you. I don't think that I would ever have the time or the patience to attempt making my own foundation. My hat off to you. Great day. CIndi
Welcome back bleep.
Youre not wrong about the honey flow, the eucys and Meleleucas are going off.
Mine have drawn the four frames I put in a week ago and filled them 80% already, amazing!
edit: Hmm somehow the forum has called you bleep. I guess its an american spellchecker or something. Some how "me old bleep" doesnt have the same ring to it.
i buy bulk foundation that is wired. the thin stuff i bought last year for comb honey will have to have the wires pulled out before i can cut the comb. your idea should work as well for removing wire!! thanks....i was wondering how to do it easily.
Hmm my frames have 4 wires running vertically, one an inch down, then 4 inches, 4 inches then one inch. I have noticed that its easy to cut out the 4 inch slabs with a sharp knife using the wire as a guide. Comes out in a perfect slab and when cut in half, maks a nice block of comb.
mick
that would work. mine are the same. i was just looking for a way to not have sticky, drippy, wires all over the place. i think if i can get them out cleanly, it will make the process easier....at least the cleanup part. besides, i cut my tongue licking wires :-(
just a reminder, if you EVER decide to take your bees to some pasture, make sure you've wired the frames in W or M shape, or like \/\/, otherwise, when it's hot and there's a lot of weight on the comb, the wax gets soft and can slide down. but like i said, if you have stationary hives, this shouldn't be a problem.
Here in the US almost no one does a W or M. I have bought some European foundation with that and have wired some that way, but they seem to get by fine with just horizontals or just verticals.