Upcoming cutouts questions

[gardeningfireman]

I am supposed to do a double cutout this coming Saturday from the soffets of a house. Later on, I have another one behind the T-111 siding of an exterior wall. Should I expose the entire hive before removing? Should I begin at the bottom with the brood comb and work my way up? My first cutout was a disaster; I started at the top and worked down, making everything a sticky mess. Then the bees absconded! Thanks for the advice! :)

[iddee]

Definitely expose all comb before cutting. Start at bottom, cut to brood. Cut up both sides, in until you reach brood. Cut across top down to top of brood.
Last, cut out all brood other than two combs a foot long, side by side.
Wait 1/2 to 1 hour to determine if they are traveling toward the box. If not, the queen will return to the two combs.

If you find the queen and capture her, the two brood combs don't need to be left.