How far out does the pop sickle stick need to stick out for foundationless

Tigerfansga · April 21, 2011, 08:37:47 AM

I am converting some frames to foundationless. I robbed some of my wife's craft sticks. When I put them in the grooves on my frames they only came out about 1/4in - barely the width of one row of comb cells if that. Is that out wide enough? Also, I put 3 sticks per frame, and was left with about an inch on each side without a pop sickle stick. Is that ok or do I need to fill the entire width of the frame? I will be putting these next to frames with drawn comb.

Michael Bush · April 21, 2011, 09:21:23 AM

1/4" will do fine.

Tigerfansga · April 21, 2011, 08:58:24 PM

Ok,

Apparently my wife's craft sticks are prone to shrinkage. After sitting overnight, I went back and looked at them, and they looked smaller than I remembered. To prove my point, I took my handy tape measure and measured. What was once 1/4" is now 1/16". This is just my first few frames, and I plan to put them next to drawn comb. Will this be enough? If I was doing a new application with no drawn comb, how much would I want - so I can go buy some non-shrinking craft stick :-P.

Michael Bush · April 22, 2011, 01:34:55 AM

1/16" is on the small side. I'd want at least 1/8" and preferably 1/4"...

Tigerfansga · April 22, 2011, 08:02:59 AM

Ok, I only did a few frames. I will get some new craft sticks. Since I glued those small ones in, I may not have a choice but to try them. I will be sure and put them in between frames of drawn comb and see how they do.

Thanks

Michael Bush · April 22, 2011, 09:49:32 AM

Try the Jumbo craft sticks.

Sparky · April 22, 2011, 09:00:01 PM

Keep all your sticks from your Dairy Queen visits, for they are about double in width to a regular pop sickle stick and work well with the wedge top board frames to give the size that Michael suggest.

Tigerfansga · April 23, 2011, 07:57:42 PM

I think I would get awfully fat eating that many pop sickles. :-D

VolunteerK9 · April 23, 2011, 11:38:30 PM

You didnt put them in the dryer did ya? For some reason, my friggin clothes dryer keeps shrinking my jeans to where they wont fit any more.

Michael Bush · April 24, 2011, 06:28:49 AM

>Keep all your sticks from your Dairy Queen visit

Do you work at Dairy Queen? That's a lot of Dilly bars...

Tigerfansga · April 24, 2011, 09:32:57 PM

That was what I was thinking. For about the price of 2 dilly bars, my wife got a 1000 ct box of jumbo craft sticks for me. They work perfect. Not to mention the medical cost for the impending diabetes. :-D

sterling · April 25, 2011, 01:40:01 PM

Quote from: Tigerfansga on April 24, 2011, 09:32:57 PM
That was what I was thinking. For about the price of 2 dilly bars, my wife got a 1000 ct box of jumbo craft sticks for me. They work perfect. Not to mention the medical cost for the impending diabetes. :-D

Yea, but them sticks taste better with the ice cream on em. :-D

Sparky · April 25, 2011, 11:12:45 PM

Quote from: Michael Bush on April 24, 2011, 06:28:49 AM
>Keep all your sticks from your Dairy Queen visit

Do you work at Dairy Queen? That's a lot of Dilly bars...

No I do not but my daughter does so that is a help. ;)

hendro · June 06, 2011, 01:40:01 AM

I was thinking about doing some foundationless honey comb this year too. Should I dip the jumbo popscicle stickes in wax before placing them in the frame. Would that help them get started faster? Just wondering.

BrentX · June 06, 2011, 10:29:49 AM

In my limited experience I did not find that coating the guide piece (popsicle stick) with wax helped to get the frame drawn more quickly. What does work for me if to place the foundationless frames between other drawn frames, and placing odd pieces of extra burr comb in the frames using rubber bands.

Michael Bush · June 07, 2011, 01:45:38 AM

>Should I dip the jumbo popscicle stickes in wax before placing them in the frame.

No.

> Would that help them get started faster?

No. It will not stick as well as the bees will attach the comb and will make a weaker connection.

http://bushfarms.com/beesfoundationless.htm

luvin honey · July 25, 2011, 09:46:38 PM

Or use paint stir sticks cut in half lengthwise, or to size.

Foxhound · April 29, 2012, 02:33:35 PM

I used paint stir sticks from Lowe's, and didn't cut them in half lengthwise. I have only inspected the hive once since installing the bees.

On the first inspection, I noticed the bees were drawing comb from the side of the stick, rather then from bottom edge. Should I cut it out and reshape it?

First hive, so any suggestions would be great.

Michael Bush · April 30, 2012, 01:47:50 AM

How far off is it? If the comb is off the thickness of the stick, no, I would not. If the comb is off by half the width of the top bar, yes, I would cut it out and rubber band it back in the center.

Joe D · May 04, 2012, 01:32:46 AM

I use paint stirring sticks cut in half, and then pieces cut to lenght to fill groove. I put a couple of drops of hot glue in groove and then the stir stick. So far working good.

Joe