putting drawn comb into frames????

[pembroke]

want to put drawn comb into empty frames. what do you use to hold comb in frames until bees lock it in?? Thanks for all responses. pembroke

[JP]

Rubber bands and  cotton string work fine. I use rubber bands exclusively.


...JP

[hardwood]

Ditto.

Scott

[Culley]

I've only done one, used two rubber bands vertically. Worked well.

[pembroke]

thanks. Pembroke

[JP]

I meant to tell you, that rubber bands are probably your best bet as they will be easier to remove once the bees have secured the combs in place.

Heck, the bees usually chew through them anyway and deposit most of it on the bottom board.


...JP

[hardwood]

I've always imagined the bees close to the rubber band going for a ride when the band is chewed through. "Hey Sally, watch what happens to Lisa when I chew through this rubber band."

Scott

[JP]

I've always imagined the bees close to the rubber band going for a ride when the band is chewed through. "Hey Sally, watch what happens to Lisa when I chew through this rubber band."

Scott

:lau:


...JP

[deknow]

If you have prep time, we like this approach (we saw Dave Heilman use this in a James Tew video):

...a few nails on the top and bottom bar are the only frame modifications (note that they do not interfere with frame spacing or any other function of the frame).  String with a rubber band tied to each end (the string has to be the correct length) can be hooked at one end, strung across the nails as shown, and the other rubberband hooked at the other end.
Note that this also allows you to string up one side of the frame first, hold the frame horizontal, lay (and trim) the comb on the string, and then lace up the other side (the "top" while the frame is horizontal).  Once the comb is attached, the string can be easily removed, and the frame will function as normal.
If you are doing a cutout and piecing together lots of smaller pieces of comb, a "swarm ketching frame" works better (2 1/2 width frames are stapled together around the comb):

deknow (illustrations by Ramona...drafts from our book)

[Joelel]

Rubberbands