Foundation

[deemann1]

I have recieved my foundation today
the colour looks a bit odd it's light brown in colour
Is this normal?

 

[Swarm]

Is it premium from thornes? They were the only stand that had BS deep drone foundation at the recent Welsh Convention. I wanted some but didn't bother because of the colour.

 

[deemann1]

I bought it here in Ireland but yes it had a blue thornes sticker on it premium

 

[Beefriendly]

I've had foundation arrive in all sorts of colours...bees have drawn all of them.
Bit like wax reclamation, it comes in all sorts of colours.

 

[Eyeman]

Here's an ebay company offering 2 'grades' of foundation

1. National-Beehive-Brood-Box-Wired-Wax-Foundation-Sheets-Hive

2. National-Bee-Hive-Brood-Wired-Natural-Beeswax-Wax-Foundation-Sheets
The natural beeswax states: made from 100% Natural Beeswax.

The basic type (1) doesn't mention 100% beeswax. I know foundation quality can vary by is foundation frequently adulterated with other waxes/substances?

 

[pargyle]

Well ... all I can say is that the 'foundation' drawn by my bees in their foundationless frames is a lovely light cream colour and it smells exactly like - beeswax.

I've never seen bees draw out dark brown wax ?

On the occasions when I render down old dark combs I find that a good few filterings through old flannel sheets leaves the wax a lovely light cream colour not dissimilar to the colour of new wax produced by the bees.

I've heard the old chestnut about how much 'honey' it takes for the bees to make their own wax but who would really, out of choice, put foundation in their hives when it's the colour of **** ?

Even if the bees do draw it out ... one wonders what residues are left in it from it's previous incarnations.

Foundationless ... my way and my bees like it.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Thorne's premium wax is mostly British wax (although I believe they also use Imported African stuff - better quality than ours, mostly organic, but a bit discoloured) basically all the stuff they get in at the wax exchanges throughout the year - a lot of people don't make a real effort rendering it as they're just chucking it in for exchange so you can imagine all kinds of stuff gets chucked in - hence the colour.

 

[mbc]

Well ... all I can say is that the 'foundation' drawn by my bees in their foundationless frames is a lovely light cream colour and it smells exactly like - beeswax.

I've never seen bees draw out dark brown wax ?

On the occasions when I render down old dark combs I find that a good few filterings through old flannel sheets leaves the wax a lovely light cream colour not dissimilar to the colour of new wax produced by the bees.

I've heard the old chestnut about how much 'honey' it takes for the bees to make their own wax but who would really, out of choice, put foundation in their hives when it's the colour of **** ?

Even if the bees do draw it out ... one wonders what residues are left in it from it's previous incarnations.

Foundationless ... my way and my bees like it.

Not draw out maybe but bees happily cap over stores with old dark wax they've recycled themselves from nearby in the hive.

 

[pargyle]

Not draw out maybe but bees happily cap over stores with old dark wax they've recycled themselves from nearby in the hive.

Yes.. completely agree, I see my bees remodelling and re-using wax from combs that are already drawn all the tjime and I am certain that all bees do that ... but at least they have the choice about what they use and I just wonder whether they would choose to recycle some of the revolting looking and smelling foundation that is being sold. I've also seen some of the blocks of wax being traded in for new foundation - doesn't look like it's had any sort of filter !

 

[Eyeman]

Yes.. completely agree, I see my bees remodelling and re-using wax from combs that are already drawn all the tjime and I am certain that all bees do that ... but at least they have the choice about what they use and I just wonder whether they would choose to recycle some of the revolting looking and smelling foundation that is being sold. I've also seen some of the blocks of wax being traded in for new foundation - doesn't look like it's had any sort of filter !

Why filter it if the companies accept it as it is- less time involved for the beek and it weighs more with all the crud still in!