Foundationless Frames and Wax strips

tillie · March 17, 2011, 12:09:59 AM

Last year I had almost no harvest and thus almost no wax. I had a total of 4 hives last year. This year I will have almost 20 in various places. I don't have enough wax to "wax in" the starter strip of wax foundation in all the frames for these new hives.

Can I glue it in with wood glue? Is there a better solution?

Linda T in Atlanta

hardwood · March 17, 2011, 12:17:57 AM

Just glue in a pop sickle stick and call it good. If you can't eat enough pop sickles, find some (wider) tongue depressors.

I do as MB suggests, turn the wedge on edge and staple back on.

Scott

tillie · March 17, 2011, 01:35:28 AM

I haven't had the best results with popsicle sticks - if the bees can choose between a frame with a wax strip and one with a popsicle stick, they choose the wax strip every time. I guess I would be gluing the popsicle sticks, though, so I could also glue the wax if glue would hold the wax?????

Linda T in Atlanta

Kathyp · March 17, 2011, 01:46:01 AM

you could just go buy a block of Paraffin wax. seems like that would work ok.

kbenz · March 17, 2011, 09:35:34 PM

I don't use any wax. just glue in the popsicle sticks with titebond III

luvin honey · March 17, 2011, 10:55:00 PM

I use paint stir sticks, but good luck whichever way you go :)

VolunteerK9 · March 18, 2011, 09:38:50 AM

I have a couple of microwaveable macaroni cup sized chunks of wax that you are welcome to have. It was from some old foundation that had been sitting in frames for a few years that had been damaged from wax moths. It's not the cleanest in the world, but I know its disease free.

tillie · March 18, 2011, 04:28:52 PM

Thanks for the offer, how kind! I have some friends in Atlanta that I will get wax from - offers came after I expressed a need. You are so sweet to offer from Tennessee. From a learning point of view, I am very interested in what I would do if I don't have enough, though?

Linda T in ATlanta

Michael Bush · March 21, 2011, 10:26:20 AM

The "Jumbo craft sticks" would be the ones to use. They will stick out enough.

VolunteerK9 · March 21, 2011, 12:35:35 PM

Quote from: tillie on March 18, 2011, 04:28:52 PM
Thanks for the offer, how kind! I have some friends in Atlanta that I will get wax from - offers came after I expressed a need. You are so sweet to offer from Tennessee. From a learning point of view, I am very interested in what I would do if I don't have enough, though?

Linda T in ATlanta

As many times that I have referenced your blog looking for something, I figured its the least I could do.

Hear that Hardwood? I'm Sweet! Now, if someone would just convince my wife of that

hardwood · March 21, 2011, 05:05:44 PM

You're just a big softie K9 :-D

Scott

(by the way, I need a hundred bucks)

Apis_M_Rescue · March 24, 2011, 04:47:17 AM

Quote from: Michael Bush on March 21, 2011, 10:26:20 AM
The "Jumbo craft sticks" would be the ones to use. They will stick out enough.

Thats what I've been wondering. How far do the stick comb guides need to stick out inch wise. I cut my paint stirrer sticks in half but w/ them glued in the inset of groove they stick out 1/4" or 3/8". I paint melted wax & the verdit is still pending as trying this for first time.

Cheers, David

The Bix · March 24, 2011, 11:30:52 AM

So, what does one do with all of the drawn brood comb that uses the standard frames (purchased less than a year ago)? The easy answer is to replace it, but I'm cheap and I'd like to recycle them. Would I just pull the frames, scrape off the comb and pop the foundation out and replace with a starter strip?

Would it work well to take a utility knife to the frames and cut line, about an inch below but parallel to the top bar? That would leave a nice starter strip of previously drawn comb for the bees to begin redrawing. Thoughts?

VolunteerK9 · March 24, 2011, 12:46:11 PM

Quote from: The Bix on March 24, 2011, 11:30:52 AM
So, what does one do with all of the drawn brood comb that uses the standard frames (purchased less than a year ago)? The easy answer is to replace it, but I'm cheap and I'd like to recycle them. Would I just pull the frames, scrape off the comb and pop the foundation out and replace with a starter strip?

Would it work well to take a utility knife to the frames and cut line, about an inch below but parallel to the top bar? That would leave a nice starter strip of previously drawn comb for the bees to begin redrawing. Thoughts?

Yup, it works. I did it on some old brood comb.

VolunteerK9 · March 24, 2011, 12:56:55 PM

Quote from: hardwood on March 21, 2011, 05:05:44 PM
You're just a big softie K9 :-D

Scott

(by the way, I need a hundred bucks)

Hey, Im in Tampa right now visiting the wifes grandparents

Michael Bush · March 24, 2011, 05:05:56 PM

I would leave one row of cells all the way around when you cut the old comb out.

The Bix · March 24, 2011, 05:17:54 PM

Quote from: Michael Bush on March 24, 2011, 05:05:56 PM
I would leave one row of cells all the way around when you cut the old comb out.

I was hoping you'd respond Michael. Would you mind explaining why you would do it that way?

Also, would you consider slicing up what's left of the foundation/brood comb as starter strips for new frames?

Michael Bush · March 25, 2011, 12:26:45 PM

>Would you mind explaining why you would do it that way?

Because it's maximum insurance that they will draw it in the frame and that they will attach the sides and bottom when they get there.

tillie · March 25, 2011, 09:29:39 PM

I would either save the cut out comb as swarm lure to put in a hive for luring a swarm to move in or I would melt it down for the wax. It's not thin enough to wax into a groove in the top of a frame.

Linda T in Atlanta

David McLeod · April 19, 2011, 08:57:20 AM

Glad I found this thread because I have a question. I hived a swarm a week ago tomorrow into a five frame nuc, it was a large swarm and almost to big but it was all I had to hand at the time. Brought it back to the house and fed them a 1:1 syrup and let them be until yesterday when I popped the top and checked for wax. No drawn comb on my foundationless frames. The frames have a wood starter strip top and bottom (3/4 stock poplar ripped down to fit the groove and glued in) and two crimped wires in the middle two holes, no wax as I don't have any. I think I should have at least rubbed a block of wax across the top strip now but hindsght is 20/20.
The ladies were on the limb awhile before I got there (lots of white wax). I'm pretty confident I got the queen and they are as calm as they come but am baffled as to why they are being lazy. I also did a cut out and vacuumed another into a deep and two shallows (strip top and bottom no wire) Sunday and don't know what to expect there either, I did save half a shallow of brood comb so they do have their own comb there. Not sure on the queen on that one but they do have eggs and brood.
Opinions?