Foundation Question

[dnelson]

Has anyone had any luck putting 9 frames in a 10 frame super with new foundation? I was wondering if the bees will draw out the comb normally or will they make bridge comb all over the place?

[StevenG]

My experience has been it rarely, if ever works... Frequently they'll draw out a two-sided comb hanging off one of the frames, and won't draw the foundation in the frame... it ends up being a mess.

What I do, especially in my extracting supers, is provide ten frames of foundation in a super. Once the comb is drawn, then I reduce to nine frames. I've had good luck doing that.

Of course, your luck may vary! lolol
Regards,
Steven

[alpha6]

We run around 12,000 ten frame supers with 9 frames in them...no problems.

[jdpro5010]

All my honey supers started out that way and never had a problem.

[D Coates]

Alpa 6 is dead on. Don't do it with undrawn foundation. You'll end up with bur and brace comb all over the place. Once drawn though, it works like a charm. It makes it easier to extract because the frames are drawn out wider. Uncapping is a breeze.

[peacekeeperapiaries]

I run 9 frames in my 10 frame supers no problems. I purchased some used supers with the 9 frame spacers already in place, I don't really like the spacers, but no problems with the bees drawing foundation with 9 verses 10.

[dnelson]

I'm going to check them tomorrow. This is my first year using 9 instead of 10 frames, but I didn't consider the fact that I was using new foundation. I haven't had hives for about 8 years so these are new ones I put out this year.:doh:

[Michael Bush]

In my experience if you want the most reliable method of getting good comb start with ten when they are just foundation. This does not mean that they won't draw it correctly with 9, but they will draw it correctly more often with 10.

[Roland]

I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Bush. Start with 10, then 9 when drawn.


Roland

[wcubed]

Agreeing with the above, let me throw in some "whys". The colony adding honey at the top is growing comb upward - generally in the heat rise above the center of the brood nest. (can be off-center of the box.) They have no problem with in-line growth of comb upward. But if you switch from a ten frame brood nest to a 9 frame super of F immediatly above they have a little problem. The middle frame of the super squarely centered between 5 and 6 below. Some get it right, and some botch the job.

With my 9 frame brood nest, have NEVER seen them get it wrong. But if I were using 10 frames in the brood boxes, I'ld let them draw the F in-line.

Walt W.