Making own foundation

[Spikedog]

Have any members experience (good & bad) with using a silicone foundation press (as advertised) to make their own foundation - using the wax from apiary. Would be obliged to hear if it does what says on tin.

 

[Codford]

Lots of info/discussion here

 

[Quis Custodiet]

Making one's own foundation is quite feasible, but those who have done so seem to find that the sheets are very thick. I have absolutely no experience of making any myself, but the idea of so doing for cut comb does interest me. Apparently to do a decent job two rollers are necessary; a smooth one to stretch the wax ( otherwise it will be brittle) and reduce it to the optimum thickness and the other to then emboss this wax.

 

[Anduril]

As above it produces thicker sheets and they are brittle, putting the sheets through rollers alters the structure of the wax, it makes them more pliable.

 

[3bees]

I have used foundation sheets, made from wax harvested from my apiaries, this year.

My ideas came from the Youtube video-

[ame]www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7VxZVSLm4E[/ame]

and previous posts on this forum about foundationless frames. You don't need to emboss the pattern - the bees do it themselves. The photo below shows how the bees deal with blank foundation in my hives - of course you get many more drone cells drawn (they draw what THEY want).

As in the video (link above) I use a wet rolling pin on the wax foundation when it is still warm.

No bought foundation in my hives this year.

 

[Quis Custodiet]

The bees do seem to have done a spot of reshaping, it does look quite artistic.

 

[Anduril]

I have used foundation sheets, made from wax harvested from my apiaries, this year.

My ideas came from the Youtube video-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7VxZVSLm4E

and previous posts on this forum about foundationless frames. You don't need to emboss the pattern - the bees do it themselves. The photo below shows how the bees deal with blank foundation in my hives - of course you get many more drone cells drawn (they draw what THEY want).

As in the video (link above) I use a wet rolling pin on the wax foundation when it is still warm.

No bought foundation in my hives this year.

I used to do that over 30 years ago and put the sheets in the plastic Dn4 frames, same result.

 

[Stiffy]

When I get a few hours, might try and see
Not tried this and have no idea if it would work but .....if you wrapped the silicone mould around a rolling pin when stretching the wax, would it leave an imprint or is the silicone too soft?
S

 

[mjt68]

I have used foundation sheets, made from wax harvested from my apiaries, this year.

My ideas came from the Youtube video-

www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7VxZVSLm4E

and previous posts on this forum about foundationless frames. You don't need to emboss the pattern - the bees do it themselves. The photo below shows how the bees deal with blank foundation in my hives - of course you get many more drone cells drawn (they draw what THEY want).

As in the video (link above) I use a wet rolling pin on the wax foundation when it is still warm.

No bought foundation in my hives this year.

Brilliant, might try for TBH...