Popcicle Sticks as starter strips

CapeCod · February 28, 2008, 07:13:35 PM

Now I have read several threads about going foundationless and use Popcile Sticks as starter srtips.
Brood is 9 plus inches deep and a stick is say about 4-5 inches?
Do you leave the rest of the space open?
or do you add another stick so you have wood from the top of the frame to the bottom.
Also where do you palce the strip,,end of frame,,,middle ect....
1 strip per frame or more spaced on the frame.
Any pictures of this out there.
Will in your exsperience the girls take to wax foundation mixed with starter strips of this type?.
Would you wax the strips or spray sugar water?

Jerrymac · February 28, 2008, 07:28:28 PM

You really misunderstand.

The top bar runs horizontally. The Popsicle stick runs horizontally. You place it in the grove and glue/nail/secure it in there. This will only be about a quarter inch or so below the top bar. The bees will use that as a guide to keep the comb from going all over the place, and build straight down from there. Should only take three sticks to go across the top bar.

If I'm not real clear there are others that will come along that will explain it better.

CBEE · February 28, 2008, 07:31:31 PM

You lay the sticks parallel with the top bar down in the groove or wedge them in from end bar to end bar not top to bottom. All you need is about 3/8's of an inch protruding from the center of the bottom of the top bar.

the kid · February 28, 2008, 08:27:39 PM

when doing this ,, is it wise to put some beewax on it ??? I tryed this last year and those silly girls went an built from back right corner to the frount left corner ,,,, but that didnt make the honey taste funny ,,, like you would think :shock: :roll:
the kid

Jerrymac · February 28, 2008, 08:42:56 PM

Last year I started taking the wedge of the top bar, melting was on it, and using it for the starter strip. In the hive I was messing with today they have started some very nice comb on it. It might help to put wax on it, but I think Brian said he just tacks the wedge on as a starter strip with no wax.

CapeCod · February 28, 2008, 09:02:31 PM

At least now I know the direction to lay out the strips,,,thanks guys

watercarving · February 28, 2008, 09:30:37 PM

When you cut your groove into the top bar to take the stick do you do that on a table saw? Isn't the cut too wide for a pop. stick?

If you cut from end to end doesn't that leave some little openings into the hive on each end of the top bar?

I'm about 2 weeks out from building my two TTBHs!

thanks,

John

the kid · February 28, 2008, 10:27:45 PM

ooops sorry I tryed doing this in a Langsworth not a tbh .
soory I mist the tbh some place
the kid

Jerrymac · February 28, 2008, 11:19:14 PM

Quote from: the kid on February 28, 2008, 10:27:45 PM
ooops sorry I tryed doing this in a Langsworth not a tbh .
soory I mist the tbh some place
the kid

Should work in either hive. Don't know why they did that to you.

Michael Bush · February 29, 2008, 08:20:53 AM

>I tryed this last year and those silly girls went an built from back right corner to the frount left corner

That's why one drawn comb is a nice start for a box of foundationless. It gets them in the right direction for sure. If you don't have that one frame of foundation is helpful.

CBEE · February 29, 2008, 10:05:01 AM

Watercarving,
Most people are buying the frames or parts pre made. In that case they come with the groove already cut or as a wedge type. If you are making your own top bar then the groove can be cut with a table saw. If you are worried about the groove being to wide try using a thin plywood blade. You are only cutting about a 1/4 inch deep so it should work fine even though its not a good ripping blade. I'll have to grab a frame and look at it but I believe the end bars should cover up the groove end on the top bar.

watercarving · February 29, 2008, 10:56:40 AM

Cool. I am building my TBH to take medium frames and will be starting 3-frame nucs. I will be able to put my bars inbetween some frames to get them started.

Getting the nucs from fatbeeman so they will already be small cell as well.

Brian D. Bray · February 29, 2008, 04:13:19 PM

Quote from: Jerrymac on February 28, 2008, 08:42:56 PM
Last year I started taking the wedge of the top bar, melting was on it, and using it for the starter strip. In the hive I was messing with today they have started some very nice comb on it. It might help to put wax on it, but I think Brian said he just tacks the wedge on as a starter strip with no wax.

That is correct. If using wedge type top bars just remove the wedge, trim the rough, lay it sideways and reattach to the top bar. You'll get a small ridge as a starter guide that will have 1 cell row more on 1 side that the other. Wax can be applied but isn't necessary.

Popcycle sticks, wood tape, cyroplast are all of a width that will let them slip into the grove in most top bars. Be sure to glue or tack the strips into the top bar as they can slip out if not secured in some fashion. With wax starter strips it is best to seat tehm with a little melted wax dirbbled into the grove on each side of the wax strip.