Frames without foundation

[pargyle]

Yeah. It is 90 kg.

Wasting wax depends on your style to harvest your honey combs, like crushing the combs or make cut combs, or selling honey in combs, bees must draw foundations and cell wals.

And you may make candles and burn valuable wax.

And if I sell my wax to foumdation maker, pressing foundationd costs to me 3.5 €/kg.

Many does not have extractor, and they start every year combs from zero.

Another beekeeping myth I fear ....

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Another beekeeping myth I fear

What? Finnie?

 

[pargyle]

What? Finnie?

No ... he's real enough ... he'll still be haunting the forums in another 50 years time !

 

[Boston Bees]

 

[Finman]

Another beekeeping myth I fear ....

Don't be afraid. It is only basic beekeeping knowledge.

 

[Finman]

No ... he's real enough ...

Jenkins has doubted 20 years that I do not exist. Don't spoil Jenkin's belief.

 

[Finman]

Boston queen bee

 

[JamezF]

Wasting wax depends on your style to harvest your honey combs

Well yes, obviously. But then we're not necessarily comparing the "cost" of drawing out foundationless combs with drawing out foundation. I agree that if you're regularly (each harvest, say) destroying large amounts of comb as a result of your hive management process that the bees then have to rebuild that it may become quite costly in terms of the "lost" honey (as in fact, drawing out foundation would also be), but surely that's not comparable with, say, providing starter strips for bees in a colony that is having to draw comb for the first time rather than providing full frames of foundation, for the reasons I've already given?

James

 

[Finman]

Well yes, obviously. But then we're not necessarily comparing the "cost" of drawing out foundationless combs with drawing out foundation. I agree that if you're regularly (each harvest, say) destroying large amounts of comb as a result of your hive management process that the bees then have to rebuild that it may become quite costly in terms of the "lost" honey (as in fact, drawing out foundation would also be), but surely that's not comparable with, say, providing starter strips for bees in a colony that is having to draw comb for the first time rather than providing full frames of foundation, for the reasons I've already given?

James

Starter strips are same wasting as with no foundations. Natural beehive draw about 25% drone celld out of brood combs, and that drops hive yield about to half.

You may calculate to your self proper amount of wax or honey, what you want to waste with natural combs. You know the basic facts to calculations.

 

[pargyle]

Boston queen bee
View attachment 30177

Not the Village dogs Finnie ... not seen them for a year or two ...

 

[Finman]

Not the Village dogs Finnie ... not seen them for a year or two ...

Splended

 

[Finman]

I found when alternating foundationless and drawn frames in a super they can tend to make the drawn frame thicker. I guess it's easier. Not a problem you just uncap the frame flat. They start the foundationless frame, they can complete it next year. You end up with this.
View attachment 30148

View attachment 30149

You should streighten this kind of combs with electrict knife. Those are mere nuisance.

Do not alternate combs and foundations/empty space. Bees draw too thick the ready combs and cells will be crushed im ectracting.

 

[JamezF]

Starter strips are same wasting as with no foundations. Natural beehive draw about 25% drone celld out of brood combs, and that drops hive yield about to half.

You may calculate to your self proper amount of wax or honey, what you want to waste with natural combs. You know the basic facts to calculations.

Ah, well, I'm struggling to find coherence in your postings about this, but perhaps that's just because I'm too tired. I'll re-read when I have time tomorrow.

James

 

[Erichalfbee]

Not the Village dogs Finnie ... not seen them for a year or two ...

They haunt the other place

 

[elainemary]

I had gorgeous comb drawn last year using frames that had the old comb cut out, I cleaned them up but didn't remove the wedge and the bees used the residue line of wax. They drew perfect, straight comb on every frame.

I’m doing that with supers this year that I cut heather comb out of, assumed it should work well & now reinforced by your post, thanks

 

[Finman]

Ah, well, I'm struggling to find coherence in your postings about this, but perhaps that's just because I'm too tired. I'll re-read when I have time tomorrow.

James

Let it be. Too many alternatives to play with natural combs.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I'm struggling to find coherence in your postings

get used to it

 

[Boston Bees]

Yes two holes drilled in each side bar. Thick nylon tied at one end, fed through to the other side from the inside, round the side bar and back through the same hole to emerge on the inside again then on to the side you started, repeat and tie off

Thanks, very useful, going to try it

Don't suppose you know what thickness it is?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thanks, very useful, going to try it

Don't suppose you know what thickness it is?

Sorry. No. Just thick. I don’t suppose it matters much. How much weight is going to be on one line?

 

[Murox]

Well .... Scotland .... lots of strange chewy things are eaten up there

You're right, most it and the the strange drinky things get exported -