wire embedded wax foundation

[jamiev]

Help!! I am trying to get ready for the late April package delivery.. The wire embedded small cell wax foundation I ordered from Brushy Mt is too big for my medium frames and not avail in that size. I cut the first one down and installed it in a medium frame last evening. It was an "interesting" experience. Is there an easy way to do it? I cut the wire first using a wire cutter. Then the easy part, the wax. It was room temperature. It turned out ok give or take a few "irregularities" I saved the left over piece to use as a starter in another frame. I figured I can feed it between full frames later in the season. Can anyone offer any advice?

[Michael Bush]

I don't know of an easy way to cut wired foundation. Unwired I usually use a pizza cutter or a rotary knife from a fabric store or scissors.

Part of the confusion in your order is probably that foundation is always listed as "medium brood" when it is the typical thickness for brood comb. This is the thickness of the wax and not the depth of the frame.

[drobbins]

I'd try a chisel to cut all the wires then cut the wax

Dave

[jamiev]

Thanks for the advice Michael and Dave
Brushy told me that that was the only size small cell embedded wax foundation they had. I needed 16 frames but had to order in 10's so I have 20 now. Good because I need extras for the goofs.
michael you have referred to starter strips like popsicle sticks, etc. in frames fed into the brood chamber later. Can I use the extra 3 inch foundation pieces or that later?
For cutting the wire, I am going to test the aviator tin snips recommended by "onlygoodAHB...
I must have clicked twice and so this topic string is on twice. Can you tell I am brand new to all of this? Thanks for your patience

[Michael Bush]

>Brushy told me that that was the only size small cell embedded wax foundation they had.

Probably but Dadant keeps promising some medium depth (not just medium thickness) wired foundation. So far no one has recieved it and many have had trouble getting them to take the orders for it, but it sounds like there will be some.

>I needed 16 frames but had to order in 10's so I have 20 now. Good because I need extras for the goofs.

Of course.

>michael you have referred to starter strips like popsicle sticks, etc. in frames fed into the brood chamber later.

Actually if it's in between drawn brood combs you don't need anything. Just put the empty frame in and crowd the frames tightly together (as you should anyway).

>Can I use the extra 3 inch foundation pieces or that later?

Certainly you can use them for starter strips.

>I must have clicked twice and so this topic string is on twice.

Sometimes you click the button again because you got no feedback that anything happened. Other times it seems to happen for no reason that I can tell.

[Jeff McGuire]

I received my small cell medium depth from Dadant last week. Make sure to call the Main number in Illinois. I tried ordering through the NY branch and they sent me the wrong stuff but sent a pick up ticket to return it. The medium crimp wire is nice I have been installing it all weekend. You have to order a box of 50 sheets though

Jeff

[amymcg]

I have an abundance of LC deep wired that I had to do something with. I decided to cut it into strips for starter strips. I found that if I heat up the foundation a little bit, I use a very small space heater, then it's flexible enough not to break. I take a pizza cutter and roll it down the foundation to cut the wax, then I take a pair of tin snips and very carefully snip the wires. It's working fine for me, but you have to be patient and work slowly.

[jamiev]

I appreciate everyones help. I have also figured out that some heat is the trick. I use a hair dryer on low heat some distance away to warm up the wax. ( it sure melts fast so I have learned) Then I poke the wax with a sharp tool around the wires where I need to cut. This is where I insert the tips of the wire cutter to cut the wire This must be done slowly and it helps to hold the wax foundation near the wire when you cut to lessen cracking of the wax. A sharp blade or knift cuts the sofened wax without cracking it. I also heat the wire cutter and other cutting instruments. this sounds complicated but it really went faster after the first few. I am also saving the strips for starter strips later

[mdotson]

If you use a divided bottom frame you can install the foundation in the frame with the extra foundation sticking down below the bottom. I would then use a heated knife to cut the wax then use sharp pointed wire cutters to cut the wire.

[ April 02, 2006, 01:35 PM: Message edited by: mdotson ]

[jamiev]

Thanks mdotson
I am nearly done (four more frames) If I can't get the right size embedded wax next time I guess i should order some divided bottom frames Are there any other advantages or disadvantages to divided bottom boards? what are they for?

[mdotson]

I think they are easier to install the foundation.

[Michael Bush]

>Are there any other advantages or disadvantages to divided bottom boards?

They break easily when you try to clean and reuse them. I don't like them much.