Foundation-less frame question

[akwusmc]

I'm using foundation-less frames.

Made my two-week check on my hive and I noticed the comb is straight, but not in the center of the frame. I made my own frames (using Stephen Tillman's plans) and I turned the wedge bar 90 degrees for a 'starter strip'.

Is this normal or do I need to take some kind of action?

TIA

aw

[KeyLargoBees]

so the comb is to the side of the starter strips?

[BeeMaster2]

AW,
The big question is can you safely remove the frames of inspection. If you can remove one end frame and then remove the rest, I would not worry about it.
Are these supers or are they brood frames? If brood see above. If supers, are you going to put them in an extractor? If you are just going to use for cut comb or crush and strain. I would not worry about it. matter of fact the best thing if they are supers, use them for cut comb.
Jim

[BeeMaster2]

Did you paint the edge of the wood strip with bees wax. If not try it. I have caught several swarms in 10 frame boxes and they all have made perfectly drawn comb when I had a waxed center strip. Bee sure to try to only paint the center strip. It is like a guide for them to follow. I think they think that another bee placed it there and they follow it.
Jim

[akwusmc]

KeyLargo - yes, the comb is to the side.

sawdst - no, I didn't have any trouble getting the frames out (they're brood frames) but I did remove some comb-beside-comb ... comb! And no, I didn't treat the wedges in any way.

[KeyLargoBees]

I had some of mine do this when my wooden "starter" wedge was too long for their liking....I trimmed them down and they stopped doing this...also if possible inter-space frames with foundation or already drawn out frames  with new foundationless frames...this keeps them honest with bee space and you will end up with few if any "mistakes" from the ladies.

[BeeMaster2]

Jeff,
You are right, drawn foundation works in the brood area but in the supers they wil keep drawing it into the frames next to it.
Jim

[Michael Bush]

As long as they are in the frames and not attached to two of them I would just leave things alone.

[Oblio13]

Jeff,
You are right, drawn foundation works in the brood area but in the supers they wil keep drawing it into the frames next to it.
Jim

What happens if you alternate foundationless frames with plastic foundation in a honey super?

[BeeMaster2]

If it is un drawn plasticicell, they will probably draw comb in the foundation less only. If it is drawn, un capped, they may draw it out further or they may fill n the empty frames.
If you have un drawn plasticicell, only put that in a super by its self. Do not mix it with wax foundation until they are drawn.
Jim

[KeyLargoBees]

yes Jim I have seen some super fat honey frames.....

For the record I have never heard rearranging frames in a honey super to suit your needs is bad for the hive....just moving the furniture in the brood chambers unnecessarily...so if you see something getting built out too fat you can rearrange the frames to put the fat part up against something already drawn to stop it....at least that has worked for me....now watch MB chastise me for bad practices ;-)

[OldMech]

I use plastic frames in between foundation less frames all the time, it doesnt bother the bees at all, they draw the foundation less frames out and I pull the plastic and drop in another foundation less. I check my "new" hives once a week, or the hives that are drawing comb so i can keep them from making messes.. I have a filet knife that i run along the edge of the frame and keep them honest and straight. Once drawn there is no more problems, unless I swap in a new frame, and as stated, they can often make the already drawn frame beside it FATTER rather than draw the new frame. The wax on the starter strip makes a difference. They seem to accept it and start drawing it sooner.