Thanks for this. I have been kicking around the idea of going foundation-less and was looking for info on starter strips. This can save a good bit of money, as you mentioned. Subscribed!
Happy to help! Catch up with me on my active channel "Brueggens Bees" for all the latest work and education that I have to share. This particular video is actually NOT how I do them anymore. I buy pure beeswax sheets (without wires) and cut them long ways. Each deep sheet can make 5-6, ~1.5-2" strips that span the whole frame width. I use a small paint brush to apply the molten beeswax, as opposed to the turkey baster. We'll see you over there!
Ha, turns out it's a suggested video off to the side here. I just let Autoplay do it's thing and it cued up my current idea as the next video. th-cam.com/video/TDz8pRiI1Rs/w-d-xo.html
You could dip the foundation in the wax and then put them in the frames. Maybe even rest the frames on the lip of your container. Any drips would go right back in the liquid wax.
Alex Stonewall That's a great idea! In this case I didn't have a big enough wax container for dipping, and hardly big enough to balance over. But now I do use a larger pot for melting wax which makes things a bit easier.
Forthe person who asked about using plastic strips I have had good success just using plastic Foundation that is waxed. I cut them into 3/4 inch strips on my table saw. You would have better luck using a paint brush that is 1 inch wide and hold it horizontally to apply the melted wax. It cuts down on drips. The bees will build on plastic starter strips just fine and you can add a little wax to the plastic Foundation while you're securing them in.
Glad you posted this. The frames I just got don't have the cleat, just a groove, plus there's no holes on the sides. I'm wondering if I need to drill holes for fishing line or something to hold foundation? It's plastic foundation wax coated. I have tbhs so this is new for me. There's no metal piece for that lip the frame sits on. Any thoughts?
Any bee supplier that sells foundation should be able to get you pure wax foundation as well. I bought mine through Mann Lake LTD I’m sure. Make sure you specify that you want pure wax sheets without wires if you’re going to cut it into strips.
In this case I did and it was fine. I don’t do two short strips anymore. I think that was only because I was using up some wired wax. I prefer to do one long strip.
Thanks for this video! If I have a starter strip frame and want to insert it into a strong hive to get it drawn, do I need to put it between two frames that are already fully drawn to ensure the starter strip frame is drawn straight and true? I am afraid that if I place two such frames side-by-side that the bees will draw wonky comb in the space despite there being starter strips. What do you think?
Yes it's best to place between two straight combs as a guide. And as long as you aren't getting cold nights, I"d place in the middle of two brood frames to really encourage quick drawing. They won't always get wonky with it if you place several starter strips together, but there is a higher chance for sure. If they are drawing it quickly, in just a day or so they'll have a solid start, and you can put in the next frame. A lot of times I'll reuse an empty frame that once had a scrap of comb from a cutout or something. But not even a starter strip, just a perimeter on wax residue on the frame. This works just fine as well, but again, put it between two well drawn frames.
You can try. But it doesn't always work. I tried that years ago. Remember, they don't need the wax as the starter per se. They need some sort of structure as a guide. Otherwise they may draw the wax off at funny angles, not in line with the frame. Even with a short strip like this they can still curve the ends. I recommend at least 2-3" vertical and the whole width of the frame.
And use a lot more wax eh? Actually it turns out doing the big eyedropper here was a total fail. I took that idea from Fat bee man. I think I have a latter video where demonstrate using a small paint brush for wax application. I still don't know that I've found the total perfect way to do this. I tried using wedge top frames and just mashing it in tight and stapling, that but didn't work. Most of them fell out once the wood relaxed just a little. Who knows, maybe priming the groove like you suggest won't use that much more wax. I have plenty anyway. Time is my problem! Thanks for the input.
Gapeys Grub I suppose. But if you are using starter strip, why not just use pure beeswax? The big advantage to plastic is RIGIDITY in the whole comb for handling and extraction. Just a small strip of plastic is not better than a small strip of beeswax. Bees don't like plastic all that much anyway from what I've found.
Thanks for showing this. I would guess this could be used for top bar hives as well. I think it is a good thing to show your face, it makes your videos a bit personal but I guess there are practical reasons why you dont. At least it isnt like what I call stalker videos where people walk through showing their gardens and say nothing at all. I feel like I am watching a stalker from a horror movie.
![เปิดบ้าน โคตรสวย ป๋องกพล รู้จักตั้งนาน เพิ่งรู้ว่ารวย!!! l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tmgCF_2HfYI/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for this. I have been kicking around the idea of going foundation-less and was looking for info on starter strips. This can save a good bit of money, as you mentioned. Subscribed!
Happy to help! Catch up with me on my active channel "Brueggens Bees" for all the latest work and education that I have to share. This particular video is actually NOT how I do them anymore. I buy pure beeswax sheets (without wires) and cut them long ways. Each deep sheet can make 5-6, ~1.5-2" strips that span the whole frame width. I use a small paint brush to apply the molten beeswax, as opposed to the turkey baster. We'll see you over there!
Ha, turns out it's a suggested video off to the side here. I just let Autoplay do it's thing and it cued up my current idea as the next video.
th-cam.com/video/TDz8pRiI1Rs/w-d-xo.html
You could dip the foundation in the wax and then put them in the frames. Maybe even rest the frames on the lip of your container. Any drips would go right back in the liquid wax.
Alex Stonewall That's a great idea! In this case I didn't have a big enough wax container for dipping, and hardly big enough to balance over. But now I do use a larger pot for melting wax which makes things a bit easier.
Why not dip the cut-foundation to the wax pot?
Forthe person who asked about using plastic strips I have had good success just using plastic Foundation that is waxed. I cut them into 3/4 inch strips on my table saw. You would have better luck using a paint brush that is 1 inch wide and hold it horizontally to apply the melted wax. It cuts down on drips. The bees will build on plastic starter strips just fine and you can add a little wax to the plastic Foundation while you're securing them in.
I always use waxed plastic in my honey supers. I’ve found bees reluctant to build on bare plastic foundation, but happy to build on waxed plastic.
Thanks
Glad you posted this. The frames I just got don't have the cleat, just a groove, plus there's no holes on the sides. I'm wondering if I need to drill holes for fishing line or something to hold foundation? It's plastic foundation wax coated. I have tbhs so this is new for me. There's no metal piece for that lip the frame sits on. Any thoughts?
I tried this ..it does work. I got a little distracted trying to figure out what the dog was looking at
Where can I get the pure wax foundation sheets I was prepare to try to cut a plastic sheet into strips
Any bee supplier that sells foundation should be able to get you pure wax foundation as well. I bought mine through Mann Lake LTD I’m sure. Make sure you specify that you want pure wax sheets without wires if you’re going to cut it into strips.
So you rotate the foundation 90 degrees? Hmmm. If it works, it works!
In this case I did and it was fine. I don’t do two short strips anymore. I think that was only because I was using up some wired wax. I prefer to do one long strip.
Just normal candle wax work?
I suppose. But most candle wax is paraffin wax and I avoid paraffin wax in my hives.
Thanks for this video! If I have a starter strip frame and want to insert it into a strong hive to get it drawn, do I need to put it between two frames that are already fully drawn to ensure the starter strip frame is drawn straight and true? I am afraid that if I place two such frames side-by-side that the bees will draw wonky comb in the space despite there being starter strips. What do you think?
Yes it's best to place between two straight combs as a guide. And as long as you aren't getting cold nights, I"d place in the middle of two brood frames to really encourage quick drawing. They won't always get wonky with it if you place several starter strips together, but there is a higher chance for sure. If they are drawing it quickly, in just a day or so they'll have a solid start, and you can put in the next frame.
A lot of times I'll reuse an empty frame that once had a scrap of comb from a cutout or something. But not even a starter strip, just a perimeter on wax residue on the frame. This works just fine as well, but again, put it between two well drawn frames.
OK. Makes sense. Thanks!!
wax foundation can’t be rotated 90 deg…. Bees build their cells in specific way, and we don’t want to make their job more difficult …
Can’t i just smeared some of that wax on under the top frame? Will they build their nest just from that?
You can try. But it doesn't always work. I tried that years ago. Remember, they don't need the wax as the starter per se. They need some sort of structure as a guide. Otherwise they may draw the wax off at funny angles, not in line with the frame. Even with a short strip like this they can still curve the ends. I recommend at least 2-3" vertical and the whole width of the frame.
Tom Brueggen Nice. Thanks for your advice ! 😁👍🏻
Fill the crack with the hot wax, then insert the foundation. That will speed up those steps.
And use a lot more wax eh? Actually it turns out doing the big eyedropper here was a total fail. I took that idea from Fat bee man. I think I have a latter video where demonstrate using a small paint brush for wax application. I still don't know that I've found the total perfect way to do this. I tried using wedge top frames and just mashing it in tight and stapling, that but didn't work. Most of them fell out once the wood relaxed just a little.
Who knows, maybe priming the groove like you suggest won't use that much more wax. I have plenty anyway. Time is my problem! Thanks for the input.
you are smart ,,tx tx
thanks.
Would this work to secure a starter strip of plastic foundation?
Gapeys Grub I suppose. But if you are using starter strip, why not just use pure beeswax? The big advantage to plastic is RIGIDITY in the whole comb for handling and extraction. Just a small strip of plastic is not better than a small strip of beeswax. Bees don't like plastic all that much anyway from what I've found.
Thanks for showing this. I would guess this could be used for top bar hives as well.
I think it is a good thing to show your face, it makes your videos a bit personal but I guess there are practical reasons why you dont. At least it isnt like what I call stalker videos where people walk through showing their gardens and say nothing at all. I feel like I am watching a stalker from a horror movie.
Haha, I hate those videos! They kind of creep me out too! I just want them to say something! Anything!