[AHudd]

I used 20 grams, 10 to the side for one coat. I let them cool and made another pass and surprisingly added another 20 grams.
I failed to take a photo of the first pass but I did take a photo of the second. I also weighed a few of the clean sheets as well as the first and second passes to arrive at an average.

I used a paint roller cover with a 1/4 inch nap in an electric skillet to achieve a very uniform coat.
If you have a shallow skillet it will work better than the deep one I have. Or should I say the one my wife had? I modified mine so the top of the roller was about a 1/4 inch above the lip of the skillet.

Alex

 

[mtnmyke]

More photos of your setup? Your coating looks very uniform!

I heat my wax in an old slow cooker and dip a 4" roller in for my foundation. Seems to work just fine but I do get some roll marks and although I just want the top of the cells coated some seem to get filled - which is likely just wasting wax.

 

[AHudd]

Here are some photos of this simple and fast method.
When I was a young helper in the ceramic tile field occasionally we had to wax paver tile before it was set because it was to be grouted with Furan grout which was the predecessor of epoxy. Both were almost impossible to clean with water and soap alone. After being waxed a steam cleaner did the job.
We just placed the roller on the bottom of the skillet because the pavers were either 6x6 or 4x8, but the foundations are too long. I ran out of pan before I ran out of foundation. When the roller hits the pan it causes the foundation to slide, filling the cells with wax, so I put the roller on a piece of all thread.
Having the top of the roller cover above the rim of the skillet keeps your fingers from contacting the hot skillet.
It only takes a couple of seconds to swipe each side and it only takes a few swipes to get the hang of it.

Alex

 

[mtnmyke]

Impressive. I've never seen it quite done like that!

 

[crofter]

That is a lovely even coat but it would add considerable cost if you did not have your own wax. Beyond what added weight of wax would you start to see diminishing returns?

 

[ericweller]

What an excellent idea!

 

[AHudd]

That is a lovely even coat but it would add considerable cost if you did not have your own wax. Beyond what added weight of wax would you start to see diminishing returns?

That is the 64K question. I only did 10 with the double coat that is pictured. My intention is to examine them as they are being drawn and compare them to the lighter coated frames, but as we know, all things are not equal from hive to hive. I don't know if I'll be able to determine the point of diminishing returns. If the lesser amount seems to work as well, I will go that way.

Alex

 

[mtnmyke]

Keep us posted on the results. I tend to just add enough to get the bees to work it...but am not sure if more would speed things along.

I'm foundationless in the brood box, but supers definitely get coated and I often order the "double coat" or "max wax" - but could very well be wasting my money on it.

I mostly on coat older frames as the wax seems to turn to powder over time, if they aren't drawn out within a year or so.

 

[Kamon A. Reynolds]

we get 40+ deep sheets to a lb of wax and it is plenty enough for great comb drawing

 

[funwithbees]

acorn double waxed is great when you have to do a few thousand.

 

[AHudd]

If less works, then that is the way to go. I will get a shorter nap roller cover and try it.
Hopefully I'll need more supers this year.

I have more time and wax than money. The unwaxed is less expensive and does not add to the cost of shipping from California.

Alex

 

[AHudd]

we get 40+ deep sheets to a lb of wax and it is plenty enough for great comb drawing

Thanks for the info. If my calculations are correct, you are using about 11 grams per deep. It looks as though I am using about two times as much at 20 grams per medium.
I am going to Home Depot today, so I think I will get a shorter knap and use less pressure to see how that works.

Alex

 

[AHudd]

Keep us posted on the results. I tend to just add enough to get the bees to work it...but am not sure if more would speed things along.

I'm foundationless in the brood box, but supers definitely get coated and I often order the "double coat" or "max wax" - but could very well be wasting my money on it.

I mostly on coat older frames as the wax seems to turn to powder over time, if they aren't drawn out within a year or so.

From what I have read here, so far, is that I am probably using more than necessary, but I am hopeful that more helps to speed up the process. I had plenty of wax.
What I like is how fast it works and when I finish all I do is put the lid on the skillet and put it on a shelf. No clean up.

Alex

 

[AHudd]

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[JWPalmer]

Kamon has a video where he demonstrates his technique for waxing foundation. I end up using a lot more; 1# will do about 20 deeps.

 

[mtnmyke]

Kamon has a video where he demonstrates his technique for waxing foundation. I end up using a lot more; 1# will do about 20 deeps.

That's nearly my exact method. I use the same roller and feel like I have that exact slow cooker.

However, I don't stack my sheets right after rolling as I like the wax to harden first.
I also do three passes per side to make sure I get ALL the cells. If the original foundation wasn't pre-waxed my girls won't use it. They literally just leave a dead space or draw cross comb in those areas.

Great video and that method is fast and easy!

 

[dleemc1]

From what I have read here, so far, is that I am probably using more than necessary, but I am hopeful that more helps to speed up the process. I had plenty of wax.
What I like is how fast it works and when I finish all I do is put the lid on the skillet and put it on a shelf. No clean up.

Alex

i have been painting mine with a brush, i may give your way a try. thanks

 

[AHudd]

i have been painting mine with a brush, i may give your way a try. thanks

It seems faster as one doesn't have to pick-up and dip the brush or roller into the hot wax then brush or roll it on, eliminating a couple of motions.
Also, being that the foundation is upside down the cups do not fill with wax as much. More gets on the cell walls.
I was trying to get as much wax on as possible, but judging from the comments this may have not been necessary.
I will be try to use less the next time I need to add more supers. I bought a shorter knap roller cover for this purpose.
Good luck.
Alex

 

[crofter]

It seems faster as one doesn't have to pick-up and dip the brush or roller into the hot wax then brush or roll it on, eliminating a couple of motions.
Also, being that the foundation is upside down the cups do not fill with wax as much. More gets on the cell walls.
I was trying to get as much wax on as possible, but judging from the comments this may have not been necessary.
I will be try to use less the next time I need to add more supers. I bought a shorter knap roller cover for this purpose.
Good luck.
Alex

I agree that brushing puts a lot more wax in the dimples rather than the mouth of the cells. Wax in the cell bottoms is mostly wasted. I thought they might scrape it up and use it but I often see it white in the cell bottoms even as the walls are approaching full drawn.