Using wire or support pins?

[Coon]

I already have some support pins to help hold the foundation on the sides of the frames.
I am planning on using crimp wire foundation, and i would like to know if i should crosswire the frames or use the support pins.

Should i do the same for both brood box and supers?

I have the frames all assembled, i am just waiting to purchase foundation. Somewhere i read that you should not order the foundation while it is cold because some places will not insure its delivery while it is cold out.

[iddee]

Should you buy a ford or chevy, or even a dodge???

I personally like the cross wires. Many will use the support pins. A few will use both. It is one of those personal preference items.

Most suppliers will tell you when you order if they will ship at that time, or wait for the weather to warm.

If you are extracting, wired foundation is best in all frames. If you are cutting the honey out, the non-wired is best in the supers.

[Ravenseye]

In brood boxes, the pins are generally sufficient. They keep the foundation straight until the bees fill it out.

In honey supers, it's your call. Many cross wire the foundation since the forces associated with extracting machines can cause comb to come apart. The cross wiring helps add stability and strength. However, many (myself included) don't cross wire at all. Yes, there is an occasional blown up frame but not so much that it forces me to change the way I make my frames. Maybe in the future, but not now.

Some suppliers won't ship wax in the cold due to it's tendency to break. Some ship it at any time of the year. It's certainly safer to wait if you don't need it now. However, if you delay ordering until Spring, you may run across spot shortages here and there. I like to build frames in the winter and order foundation in the early spring, installing the foundation just before the frames go into the hive.

[Coon]

Ok well maybee i will just use the support pins then.. it sounds like less work and less money overall since i already have enough pins..

thank you for the replys, im putting in a order and guess i will not be ordering the wiring aspect of it.

[brooksbeefarm]

Coon, as you can see it depends on what you want to produce? With wire fondation I cross wire for more support,when using a extracter.If producing comb honey I use the pins and thin wireless fondation.I like to cross wire my brood frames also,because sometimes you have empty brood boxes with drawn comb that you can use for a honey super, and if their not wired their bad about breaking when extracting.Better have a strong back if you do, were talking 80lbs.of honey.Have fun and good luck.Jack

[Tom G. Laury]

#1 brood comb is the heart of the hive. Durable construction is something beekeepers have worked on for a long time. Unless you're using plastic foundation, if deeps are not cross wired they will sag, creating drone comb in the nest. Read one of the old Walter Kelley beginner books on frame construction.

Never time to do it right but always time to do it twice!;)

[beemandan]

Should you buy a ford or chevy, or even a dodge???
Heaven forbid......not a dodge!!!!!

[Musashi]

I am shooting for comb/chunk honey production and maybe some extracted stuff too. Consequently I have a wide variety of foundations and set ups to try this year. As I primarily want to use empty frames with just a was starter strip beaded into place with a wax bead in my supers, my main concern has been like your coon...what to do in the brood box. If you're going to use 100% beeswax foundation or just starter strips, then the wiring seems pretty critical to keep the broodbox foundation from sagging longer term. Supers is not an issue since you pull those frames asap to avoid travel stains.

You first need to see if you're going to be an extractor, a crush and strainer, a cut comb honey person or a combination of both. I'm shooting for hybrid and after I have some more experience under my belt will decide if this shotgun method makes sense for me or if I'll settle on just one way.
Musashi

[wayacoyote]

Coon,
If you're using wired foundation, the pins will, as stated above, should hold the foundation well enough until the bees can attach it. Cross-wiring is a pain, in my opinion, but I do it (I use unwired foundation) and I do it with fishing line.

TIP:
If you use the push pins, don't push them in all the way. Leave enough for a claw-hammer or the like, and pull them out after your first or second extraction. After the bees attach the comb and it matures, the push pins could be used on new equipment. I freeze them and then bang them around to clean off bits of wax.

[Musashi]

Great tip, Waya! I'll start doing that too!

[KGreen]

Instead of support pins I use bobi pins, you know the things women use to curl their hair with {maybe a long time ago}. They are longer than the support pins and do hold the new wax a little straighter than the pins. Cheaper to. I have no problem using them unless I'm going to show a frame of honey in contests.

[Musashi]

Hey, that's good too! Too bad I JUST ordered 400 of the "official pins" from Dadant...lol

[dickm]

I haven't seen it but have heard of a dude that puts a dowel down through the center of the frame for support. (1/4 " dowel, I'm guessing.) Anyone see this?

dickm

[Musashi]

I haven't seen it but have heard of a dude that puts a dowel down through the center of the frame for support. (1/4 " dowel, I'm guessing.) Anyone see this?

dickm

You'd need to put one dowel on one side of the foundation and one on the other side right? That seems like a lot of dowel running across the frame but it sure would be strong I guess?