Aaackkk! What do i do??

**MegP** · 07-03-2009, 05:33 PM

Ok, so this is a bot of a boast post but I seriously dont know what to do since I don't have a centrifuge and no one else near me does either but my bees built up and filled two shallows in a less than month and now I am in a panic to get another one on there but I don't have one. It was ordered last week from Brushy Mtn but I literally need to put something on there like, THIS WEEKEND or else i'm certain they will swarm.

what do i do?? i want to extract some honey but the comb is built on crimped wire foundation and i was advised not to put empty frames with no foundation in the hive.

Gah! i feel so stupid. I had no idea how truly quickly they work. please give me advice IM SCARED.

**alpha6** · 07-03-2009, 05:49 PM

Don't panic. Pull one super of filled frames off and pull every other one. Place empty, foundationless frames between the filled comb. Replace on the hive. They will build out and fill those frames. You may get a little burr comb between the filled out frames and the empty frames but not much and you can just run your hive tool down to cut them when you go to pull the frames.

**MegP** · 07-03-2009, 05:56 PM

they will build onto an empty frame?

**USCBeeMan** · 07-03-2009, 06:48 PM

Put a paint stirring stick middle ways at the top of the frame and nail it. I have dones this on a few frames as a test for using strips instead of foundation. Bees will start making comg on the stick and then spread it out until they cover the complete frame with comb.

**Hambone** · 07-03-2009, 06:49 PM

Yes. Either pop out the wedge and place it facing down. Or place half paint sticks or popsicle sticks in the groove as a comb guide (glue them in) Works great.

**donniethebeeman** · 07-03-2009, 07:42 PM

for years my grandpa never used any kind of foundation in his hives anywhere. Yes it does make for much nicer comb and less bridging but you can put some empty frames in there and the bees will know what to do with them. the popcicle stick is a good idea though anything that will help give them a guide and a little extra support. i have placed whole supers on hives with no foundation when i was in a pinch and a hurry and they filled them up just fine.

**MegP** · 07-03-2009, 07:48 PM

so just a frame (4 sides in tact) and a popsicle stick in the upper groove to help guide the bees and that should be good enough until i get my new super and frames on there?

**Countryboy** · 07-03-2009, 08:15 PM

You can place an empty frame between 2 frames that are already drawn out, and you do not need a comb guide. The bees will use the other drawn combs as a guide.

If you are placing 2 empty frames side by side, you need to use a comb guide of some kind. (popsicle stick, wedge turned 90 degrees, top bar cut to a triangle)

**MegP** · 07-03-2009, 08:17 PM

Awesome. I will do this tomorrow. You guys are the best. Thank you.

**beyondthesidewalks** · 07-03-2009, 09:40 PM

I have another idea that has worked for me, especially if some of the frames are not capped yet. Remove one frame and space the remaining frames out equally in the super. The bees will draw out real tall comb and those will be extremely easy come uncapping time. When I ran 10 frame equipment I used 9 frame supers. Now that I run 8 frame equipment I run 7 frame supers. Works great for me. Others hate it but they're all wrong!

**MegP** · 07-09-2009, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by Countryboy

You can place an empty frame between 2 frames that are already drawn out, and you do not need a comb guide. The bees will use the other drawn combs as a guide.

If you are placing 2 empty frames side by side, you need to use a comb guide of some kind. (popsicle stick, wedge turned 90 degrees, top bar cut to a triangle)

this was so right-on, my mind is blown. they are drawing comb so fast on the empty frames. in 5 days it was drawn down to the bottom bar and almost all the way out. i've harvested about 40 lbs of honey so far without removing supers and it's going great. low stress on the bees and all of my friends are very excited to have local comb honey.

**Countryboy** · 07-09-2009, 08:34 PM

Good to hear. If you end up getting a centrifugal extractor, keep in mind the comb in the foundationless frames is super soft. Thecomb hardens as it ages - after a month it should be hard/strong enough to put in an extractor, as long as the comb is well attached on both sides. (and hopefully some on the bottom too.)

Foundationless frames are a great way to get cut comb honey. If the combs are less than a month old and still super soft, just cut out a chunk of comb.

Another easy way to extract small scale is to put chunks of comb in a cake pan, and press all the honey out with a big spoon. (another method of crush and strain)

**USCBeeMan** · 07-09-2009, 08:53 PM

I have started putting wire in my foundationless frames. Bees just draw the comb right through it. Figured it would help with extracting honey in an extractor. I would rather have the comb for next year.

P.S.

Went to the doctor yesterday. While I was there I picked up 10 tongue depressers. Used 2 of them to create to medium frames yesterday evening. Put them in an 8 frame box that I will add on a hive in the next day or so.