Foundationless in unwired 6 5/8" medium..

[LtlWilli]

I am building the medium frames I just received, and because they are going to medium brood boxes, I plan to go foundationless. My quandry is wondering if I need at least one wire to support the bottom section of comb and keep it from "swinging"---if the hive gets tipped of jostled..If so, which hole to use?...I was thinking of drilling a new hole to run one wire only thru the middle of it...I am confident that plenty of you already know the answer, and I need to be let in on it. :o

[beemanlee]

LtlWilli,
There are some tried and proven ways to support the comb that work on the top bar frame and standard type frame too .
Drill some small holes on the top and bottom bars while holding them together down the center line of the comb that you want them to draw the wax on , and insert some dowels into them for support of the comb. By adding a short piece of comb where you want the center to be between the dowels on the top frame with some hot bees wax, you give some direction to the bees work.
This is a method that works for the small Queen matting nuc also.
If you are using a standard frame, then wire it the way you usually do. I like to put a starter piece right in the middle to give the bees the postiton I want them to start at and worto the edges wher they like to make larger honey storage cells. This starter can be as small as 2X4 inches cut from brood comb foundation.
Lee...

[Ross]

No, you don't need any wires. Just don't turn the frame on it's side until it's attached on 3 sides or until it's hardened. I have some comb from last year that is only attached at the top bar. It is no problem to handle. I have new white comb this year that is attached only at the top. It must be handled carefully if it has honey in it. I have new white comb from this year that is fully attached. I would not hesitate to extract it.

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfoundationless.htm#dowire