Homemade foundation ?

[Maryland Beekeeper]

I have made some foundation by pulling window screen through hot wax, what size cells will be built ?
Thanks,
Drew

[westernbeekeeper]

THAT'S small cell bees! Seriously though, interesting experiment; I'm interested in what thoughts there are on it.

[Maryland Beekeeper]

As well am I, considering texture and will rough up surface in varying ways.

[shannonswyatt]

It sounds like you are trying to just make a rough sheet of wax for foundation. I'm not sure how that would be better than just un-embossed foundation. Or are you layering the wax over the screen and the screen would be permanently encased in the wax? If it is the latter I think it would not work well at all. I could be wrong, I often am.

[Maryland Beekeeper]

It is, I think precisely, as you say, "un-embossed", foundation.

[shannonswyatt]

I've heard that un-embossed (flat sheets of wax) will work, but the bees won't be too fond of it. They are not too fond of any foundation (given the chance they seem to like to pull their own comb). Not sure that putting square indentations (using the screen) will affect the size of the cell the draw out.

[Maryland Beekeeper]

I would be interested to hear your observations of comparisons between foundation and foundation-less as I am making similar inquires. I have constructed my hives with large windows on multiple sides, in part, toward this end. 2013 models will be as close to completely transparent as my ingenuity will allow

[Fishman43]

Got to love the search function:

http://www.beesource.com/forums/show...sed+foundation

[shannonswyatt]

So I guess go foundation-less and purchase some candle making stuff!

[Maryland Beekeeper]

-the brine board method seemed to me like an awful lot of trouble
-made candles yesterday by pouring beeswax in pint mason jars, found out when they cool the shrinkage allows them to pop right out !

[JRG13]

Why transparent? I did not think bees were fond of light.

[Maryland Beekeeper]

Ease in observation, that's an ole wives tail

[JRG13]

FBM shows us how it's done

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lU3C4f2Xfc

[shannonswyatt]

FBM shows us how it's done

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lU3C4f2Xfc

Dang, that's cool! I thought it would be harder than that. I always wondered how you get sheets of foundation.

[Acebird]

Just a discussion...
A while back there was a thread about how bees make a round cell and not a hexagon cell. I don't want to argue that point (again) but supposing you made a foundation that was nothing but perforated wax sheets. Pick the diameter of your choice 4.9 or 5.4 for instance, you simply make a sheet and perf it to the dia of your preference. Do you think the bees would draw the comb out? What the heck, has it been tried before?

[shannonswyatt]

Interesting idea, but not sure how that would be better than the existing hex dies.

[Acebird]

It would only use maybe 20% of the wax or less and it wouldn't take an embossing roll to make it. The question is would it slow them down?

[shannonswyatt]

You would need something for the holes, but maybe you could make something simple. I think the advantage of more foundation is they can draw it out requiring less wax from the bees. I would think that you would go foundation-less if you want less foundation. Bees seem to like that best.

[Maryland Beekeeper]

Guess I'll have to do a video

[Acebird]

I would think that you would go foundation-less if you want less foundation. Bees seem to like that best.

Maybe they would but I see an advantage to use foundation because it requires less baby sitting to get the combs to come out right. To be honest with you that is my only reason for using foundation over foundationless.