Took the plunge, ordered the Bee Vac

[Sour Kraut]

Have two cut-outs to do, so decided to spend the $$ and do it right

This may sound dumb, but.....

What size rubber bands to hold the combs in the frames ?

[mikecva]

Rubber bands work, I have used waxed dental floss with good results. When the bees repair the comb, I can cut the floss and easily slide it out.  -Mike

[BeeMaster2]

I like rubber bands that are just long enough and heavy enough to hold the comb for a day or 2. When I started, I had some real heavy ones. !/2" wide. problems is that the bees have to cut them out of the hive. Takes them a while. They also have to remove them from the hive. Kind of tough with the big ones. Now I use 1/8" thick, 2" diameter bands. They are big enough to fit on my medium and deep frames and the bees can easily handle them.
Jim

[Haddon]

okay a question just for me

my wife does a mail route and all mail people rubber band your mail before they put it in the box.

My wife uses # 19 rubber band yes they have numbers those are nice they strech really long but you have to use 2 at a time over a deep for the comb to stay in but they strech the whole 19 inchs over a frame long ways you never see anyone do that but it keeps really staight comb.

http://www.amazon.com/Alliance-Sterling-Rubber-Band-Inches/dp/B008X09SZM/ref=sr_1_10?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1373997730&sr=1-10&keywords=size+19+rubber+bands

Right now I am using # 33 rubber bands they are strong enough to use only one over the 9 inch length on a deep frame but still strech enough to use over the 19 inch full length so I am using 33 right now and if there was something between 19 and 33 I would try it but that was the options at the office depot  http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Rubber-Bands-Size-Pack/dp/B0017D7L9C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1373997682&sr=8-3&keywords=size+33+rubber+bands

using medium frames and you might find a completely different size to use