Super Foundation

jackbee · May 18, 2012

Poly Hive said:
Yes.

If you want to have a mess use starter strips.

If you want ease of extraction use Manleys. Lots of reasons but I am not typing out a 1000 word essay on the subject tonight.

I detest castellations per se. User unfriendly.

PH

I know they wouldn't be perfect, just curious to see what would be produced.

no prob, got the jist of why.

i must admt the sharp edges don't appeal, can imagine gloves being caught and ripped

Tom Bick · May 18, 2012

Wired frames and starter strip of foundation on 11 spacing or unwired for cut comb.

It’s very interesting watching the bees build comb and although you have to keep an eye on them its far from a mess. As a matter of fact the bees become quite artistic in the supers and its lovely to watch.

jackbee · May 18, 2012

Tom Bick said:
Wired frames and starter strip of foundation on 11 spacing or unwired for cut comb.

It’s very interesting watching the bees build comb and although you have to keep an eye on them its far from a mess. As a matter of fact the bees become quite artistic in the supers and its lovely to watch.

that's what i thought, does it tend to wander or is it generally bound by frames?

Tom Bick · May 18, 2012

On the whole its straight but the comb can go slightly off centre to the frame and to my experience to date not across two adjacent frames as some will have you believe but bees been bees it may one day.

It is a simple operation to push it back with the hive tool if it has nectar or with your fingers if empty. Another good trick is to rotate a frame that has slightly gone off centre so that it sits adjacent to a flat piece of comb.

jackbee · May 18, 2012

Tom Bick said:
On the whole its straight but the comb can go slightly off centre to the frame and to my experience to date not across two adjacent frames as some will have you believe but bees been bees it may one day.

It is a simple operation to push it back with the hive tool if it has nectar or with your fingers if empty. Another good trick is to rotate a frame that has slightly gone off centre so that it sits adjacent to a flat piece of comb.

cheers

MJBee · May 19, 2012

Checked my 5 Apideas the other day - all queens laying not worthy

BUT -

Despite having 1" starter strips one mini nuc has built 3 neat rows of comb at 90 degrees to the frames

Thus welding all 3 frames together :biggrinjester:

I managed to get all 3 out in one piece and confirm eggs present so I will leave then to it until it is confirmed as worker brood.

Why they have done this is beyond me