How many pounds of wax do I need?

[watercarving]

For my top bars I think I am going to do my guides by dipping string in wax and then melting that wax to the center of the top bar. For two 4' long tbh would 1 lb. of wax be enough? Never used it and not sure how far it goes.

thanks.

[pdmattox]

Why not use starter strips? Not sure but I think that it would be better.

[watercarving]

I want them to go natural cell and didn't want any foundation to influence them. Didn't know if it would.

[Michael Bush]

I prefer a wood strip or a wood bevel.  The wax can get hot and fall out.  It can get bent when you bump the strip etc.  Wood is permanent.

If you making strips you'll need enough wax to dip a board to make the sheets to cut the strips.  Filling the container to dip the board will take more wax than the actual strips.

[watercarving]

I don't know what volume 1lb of wax will melt to. Will 1lb. be enough?

Can I just paint on the wax with a brush? Then I don't need a volume I can dip in.

[Michael Bush]

I think you'll be happier with a wooden guide.  but if you intend to do string, it won't take much.

[watercarving]

I think I'll try both. I was thinking about painting wax on the wooden guide so I didn't have to dip.

[Michael Bush]

If you use wooden guides you will need no beeswax.  I have never waxed any of mine.

[watercarving]

I see. Sounds good. I'll give it a go.

[Beesilly]

MB, i just have a question about the wooden guides... how do you keep them on? I already cut kerfs in my TBs, so do you staple them on? I was going to do the wax too, but am now considering the wooden guides.
Thank you!

[Michael Bush]

>MB, i just have a question about the wooden guides... how do you keep them on? I already cut kerfs in my TBs, so do you staple them on? I was going to do the wax too, but am now considering the wooden guides.

Many things would work fine.  If you cut some strips to fit the kerfs (probably 1/8") and glue them in with exterior carpenters glue, that will work.  You could even wax them in, but I'd use the glue myself as a hot day won't make them fall out.    You can also just fill the grooves with wax, as you had planned, it's just that the wood seems to be more reliable as far as getting the bees to follow it.  But they usually will follow the wax as well.

I'd plan on feeding empty bars into the brood nest from time to time between your straightest comb to get more nice comb as you go.

[Brian D. Bray]

If you have the top bars with removal wedges just remove the wedge, turn it on its side, and reattach it to the top bar.  You get a nice little rib that will have one more row of comb on one side verses the other.