Blank foundation

[madasafish]

Wow! I wonder how long has it taken to move from Herring formers to Foundation rolling machine? Some beeks in my association state they invest in beekeeping more money than they get from it… It`s definitely not yours scenario, my friend… And won’t be mine, I hope

I run beekeeping on a strict budget..

Only way to do it.

When you are as old , senile and impoverished as I, it's the only way to prevent me spending £000s.

I expect my swarm catching activities in May to pay for my spending so my FY budget is nil..

(hobbyist only).

 

[Arfermo]

I'm under no illusion as to requiring significant pressure.
I've had a 'followed' search on eBay for months for a mangle - but they seem to be fashionable garden ornaments these days (either that or they have some illegal use that I haven't twigged.) Anyway, people seem to expect loadsamoney for them.

Hence, I'll be happy to start with thin (more easily rolled) foundation and already have a heavy duty rolling pin of this general type http://www.lakeland.co.uk/15821/Lak..._id=SstKiEo-KSYAAHu5Mg4AAAAA:20141128235520:s which can apply much more pressure than a simple wooden 'pin'.

Tried your local Freecycle site? Found some nice stuff there and got rid of my own rubbish.

 

[alldigging]

..... Foundation rolling machine working well and first batch of foundation made for 2015 Season, 3,300 sheets, a combination of National deep and shallow, need to make a lot more in the next couple of weeks, including some thin stuff for the heather in August.

I bet that all smells lovely!

 

[Hivemaker.]

I bet that all smells lovely!

It does, quite over powering, but now all bagged and boxed... started on making the next batch today.

 

[REDWOOD]

There was a few mangles on gumtree last week one was £40

 

[mbc]

There was a few mangles on gumtree last week one was £40

About what I payed for mine, get a good heavy duty one,mines made by the West of Scotland wringer Co. ,I believe acme also made solid mangles. The pressure needed is beyond what can be achieved with a rolling pin IMHO.

 

[BeeBeeKa]

Unprinted foundation. Any sources?

“I`ll give you a rod instead of a fish “
This video from Ireland, with a bit of lovely Irish humor, provides a great Idea of “know how”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7VxZVSLm4E

Just an important ” aftermovie” quotation :
“we won't be making any more foundation now till the bees need it next year. I would rather leave the wax in big blocks till then or it will degrade and dry out over winter. But, yes, I will make another video about using these sheets in hives. I have a press - but it doesn't work very well for forming imprints. I think the only way is with rollers. But, you don't need imprinted sheets - they'll work them as they are. Bees are so cool!”

 

[itma]

“I`ll give you a rod instead of a fish “
This video from Ireland, with a bit of lovely Irish humor, provides a great Idea of “know how”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7VxZVSLm4E

....

Yep, that's pretty much what I'm planning ...

... I believe acme also made solid mangles. The pressure needed is beyond what can be achieved with a rolling pin IMHO.

I'm hoping that rolling wax when warm can reduce the pressure required to manageability.
And a thermostatic water (+washing up liquid) bath looks like the way to precisely warm the sheets without them melting, sticking together or whatever.

Anytime I've spotted a cheap mangle, it has always turned out to be hundreds of miles away! (And they don't post cheaply either ...) So, I'm still looking, but hoping I can 'design' round the kit I have (and haven't) ...

 

[bingevader]

Yet another idea for starter strips ...

I came across a site where a guy had been using strips cut from drinks cartons - and very successfully too. This is an example showing how well his bees took to this method. (in most of the photographs on his site, the carton strip is completely covered in comb):

But when I tried it - this is typical of what resulted. My girl hated this idea, and refused to draw comb over the strip:

So - it's back to using wax again ...

LJ

We trialled a couple of foundation-less wired frames (as in the pics) with Lolly pop sticks as starter strips and just dribbled a bit of wax over them, worked a treat.

 

[Hivemaker.]

I believe acme also made solid mangles. The pressure needed is beyond what can be achieved with a rolling pin IMHO.

I have one of the old Acme mangles, and it is a well made sturdy thing.
Agree, a lot of pressure needed to do nice deep embossing.

And a thermostatic water (+washing up liquid) bath looks like the way to precisely warm the sheets without them melting, sticking together or whatever.

I find that a water temperature of 45c works well, i used to use lux soap flakes etc, but find a substance i imported from Germany especially made for embossing rollers is a much better release agent.

 

[pargyle]

Yet another idea for starter strips ...

I came across a site where a guy had been using strips cut from drinks cartons - and very successfully too. This is an example showing how well his bees took to this method. (in most of the photographs on his site, the carton strip is completely covered in comb):

But when I tried it - this is typical of what resulted. My girl hated this idea, and refused to draw comb over the strip

So - it's back to using wax again ...

LJ

I've seen the video of the 'cut up milk carton strips' but, in the USA their milk cartons are generally cardboard that has been waxed both sides. The cartons that we see here in the UK tend not to be the same construction - some of them have a metal foil layer or plastic sandwiched in the card and looking at your photos I suspect that it is something in the card that is putting the bees off using it. Or it may be that the card is not waxed but some other treatment.

I haven't used these strips .. I just cut a triangular piece of timber and paint it with beeswax once it is in the frame. Never failed yet and it's a really strong attachment point for the comb.