Natural Beekeeping International Forum

[BBC]

This is a technique I've wanted to play with for ages, but only got around to doing so yesterday and, although my intended use of the technique is directed towards foundationless frames, it could equally be applied to Top Bar Beekeeping as well - so here you go ...

I'm just about ready to get a couple of dozen mating-nuc frames drawn-out from their popsicle (lollipop) stick starter-strips, but thought this might be a good opportunity to see just how well all-round wax starter-strips work.

The technique itself is straightforward enough - simply place a batten which has been pre-soaked in water against the target surface, pour a spoonful of just-molten wax along the batten, wait a few seconds, then remove it. Hey presto - one starter strip remains in place, firmly attached to the target surface.


This was my second attempt yesterday:




Highlighted in blue are some unwelcomed thicker areas, with a highly desirable thin area marked in red:




But - after playing with molten wax for an hour or two, I was able to produce a fairly uniform paper-thin wax strip:




So - there you go - yet another way of producing a starter guide for the bees to use. I'll post pictures of the results as and when these frames are drawn-out.
'best
Colin
(BBC)
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Bees build Brace Comb for a reason, not just to be bloody-minded.