Leaf Foundation press purchased

[wightbees]

I have just got a foundation press off e bay for £36. No idea what the finished result will be like from using it but looking forward to my winter project of foundation making It's a deep press for British standard, Bargain I hoping? Will make a change from wood work lol

 

[Olivia9801]

Any chance of some pics?

I would love to work on making my own foundation so would like to see your mechanism for this process, and their results of course!

Regards

 

[wightbees]

Sure, once it arrives I will

 

[Wingy]

Looked at this but I want a langstroth size press. I'm going to have a go at making one I think.

 

[madasafish]

Looked at this but I want a langstroth size press. I'm going to have a go at making one I think.

Please report when successful...

I love copying other people's bright ideas...

 

[wightbees]

Although I have not received it yet, I have noticed one thing about it and that's it's weight! It weights 16 kg apparently?

 

[freddie]

leaf press

I got one of these cheap also,£30 on gumtreee. fair old weight on it though,tried it once sat in shed since.he he

 

[justsmith]

Yep make sure you post images of how it works even if it does not work the way you hope, looked at buying them a few times but not sure how much of a mess i would make trying to use it

 

[Poly Hive]

Some years ago (ok a lot of years ago) there was a demo at the National Honey Show of using the lost wax process to make a mould.

He used a sheet of foundation and coated it in *something* then it was to be cooked to allow the wax to drain out then the *something* and I think this was pre silicone, was carefully cut then mounted on ply for stiffness, then hinged with a piano hinge, and voila a wax mould.

If this helps anyone ge3t going then great. Cheaper for sure than the sold ones.

FWIW I had made a fair few sheets in the past and you cannot have too much soap in the release liquid. Keep the wax warm or else the sheets get progressively thicker....

PH

 

[wightbees]

Here it is, not the prettiest but in working order.
It looks like the metal plates are set in a wooden frame and then a concrete type infill on top. It's very heavy 16kg
Which I believe must be beneficial to making thinner sheets maybe?
The thickness is about 1.5 inches on each side and also I can run wire into the metal lower sheet to make wired foundation, it looks like. I have tried to catch this in one of the photos..
Here's some photos, just ask away..

 

[enrico]

Looks like fun, would love seeing you trying to pour wax in. I presume you just pour it over the top and wack the lid closed. Do you have to warm the whole thing first?

 

[wightbees]

I have no idea lol I will have to do some research. The person I got it from has also offered some advice by phone, will have to get my partner to phone for advise.

 

[Millet]

I have no idea lol I will have to do some research. The person I got it from has also offered some advice by phone, will have to get my partner to phone for advise.

As far as i am aware you do not need to heat it just wet it first and pour the hot wax on to it and wait so many seconds till it sets, i have looked into them for a while and there is loads of youtube videos out there.

 

[maddydog]

Pour molten wax in, press, wait for foundation to cool, then repeat? Sounds like you'll have a bit of time to make up some frames in between

 

[Beefriendly]

The person I got it from has also offered some advice by phone, will have to get my partner to phone for advise.

That advise may well run along the lines of... get it out for sale on ebay

You need a release agent to prevent the wax sticking to the plates, soapy water is usually good. Wet, pour molten wax, close lid, wait about 30seconds for wax to set. Open, peel off wax sheet, re-wet and so on. I'd be very interested to know the thickness from that weight of concrete. I do a lot of cut comb and need thin foundation, which most wax foundation presses won't do.

 

[wightbees]

Once I start using it I'll post the mess...I mean results
Probably once the bees are shut down for winter. I have plant to do in between drying time lol

 

[Millet]

That advise may well run along the lines of... get it out for sale on ebay

You need a release agent to prevent the wax sticking to the plates, soapy water is usually good. Wet, pour molten wax, close lid, wait about 30seconds for wax to set. Open, peel off wax sheet, re-wet and so on. I'd be very interested to know the thickness from that weight of concrete. I do a lot of cut comb and need thin foundation, which most wax foundation presses won't do.

Some of the ones i have seen have an adjustable wax thickness setting in the form of a nut and bolt lol but i am sure shims of different thicknesses could be used in fractions of mm's by the way.. for your required taste .

 

[wightbees]

Anyone have a ratio of soap to water and how much to tip into it? I think I'll make up some type of water run off to catch the mess! Ideas anyone?

 

[yeogi75]

I use a 5lt bottle and use the cap of the bottle as measurement of liquid to water , use spray bottle spray both leaves pour in wax and shut keep pressure on the top leaf, throw away the first couple they will too thick or incomplete, take a bit of practice to get right, set up some candle moulds ready so you do something between each pressing good luck

 

[Quis Custodiet]

As an aside, every now and then bees will not work wax obtained from commercial manufacturers, they will build their own comb between the sheets of foundation. However if the foundation is washed, the bees will often use it and build normally. I would be very careful what is used as a release agent.