Comb Foundation

Comb foundation is a sheet of wax on which is embossed the base of the honey comb with slight cell walls on which the bees will build their comb. Comb foundation is embossed with worker cells so that the bees must build worker comb or rework this base and as a result of its use combs of nearly 100% worker cells can be produced.

Rippled, spring steel wires are deeply imbedded in the sheets of comb foundation and the top ends are bent at right angles. The wedge is nailed under these hooks to prevent the sheet from slipping out.

Rippled, spring steel wires are deeply imbedded in the sheets of comb foundation and the top ends are bent at right angles. The wedge is nailed under these hooks to prevent the sheet from slipping out.

Comb foundation is just as important in a bee hive as a good foundation is in the construction of a house. While it is possible to build a house on the ground without a foundation the same as it is possible to drive an automobile down the road without tires on the wheels it is not the reasonable nor practical thing to do.

Without comb foundation in the frames for the bees to build their combs on they will invariably cross the combs from one frame to another so that no individual frame can be lifted out by itself without breaking the combs. This is the same condition that you have in a box hive therefore, it is foolish to invest in movable frame hives without installing sheets of comb foundation.

Years ago many beekeepers used only starters or narrow strips of comb foundation in the top bars and while this induced the bees in most cases to build reasonably straight combs that could be lifted out, the bees in their haste would build half or more of the comb as drone comb as these cells are larger and more quickly built. This was false economy because the drones do not gather honey but consume large amounts of it.

All beginners should use wired foundation and divided bottom bar frames. Cut out the wedge in the top bar and insert the sheet of foundation between the divided bottom bars. You do expertly what formerly was a difficult job.

All beginners should use wired foundation and divided bottom bar frames. Cut out the wedge in the top bar and insert the sheet of foundation between the divided bottom bars. You do expertly what formerly was a difficult job.

Inserting The Foundation:

Although the beginner may consider comb foundation high in price he will find it more expensive in the end to do without it. It is far better to set up two colonies right than to set up 10 and use no comb foundation at all.

Types Of Comb Foundation

There are two general types of comb foundation:

Brood foundation is a heavy weight type used in the brood nest and is also used in the production of extracted honey.

Thin super is a light weight foundation used in the production of comb honey, which is to be eaten in the comb. This is largely used in shallow frames and sections but is sometimes used in deep frames.

Plain Brood Foundation

Plain brood foundation is manufactured in sizes for both the deep and shallow frames. It is used in the brood nest and in the production of extracted honey. While these sheets are nailed into the top bars and may be ordered wide enough to extend through divided bottom bars they need to be reinforced with tinned wire to prevent sagging when the comb is held in a horizontal position while examining the comb and to withstand extractor forces.

Wired Foundation

Wired foundation is made only in the heavy brood grade and is for the brood nest and extracting supers (both shallow and deep. ) Hooks are normally bent on the top edges to prevent the foundation from slipping out of the top bars. The better grades are made with spring steel wires that have been crimped for additional strength and to prevent the sheets of wax from slipping down the wires in hot weather.

The small beekeeper, producing comb honey, needs only to nail wired foundation into his frames, when used in the divided bottom bar sizes, to secure perfect combs. However, beekeepers producing extracted honey and beekeepers who have out yards and those who move their bees should reinforce wired foundation with horizontal wires also.

Plain brood foundation must always be wired into the frames to hold it in place. While the beginner need not use cross wires in the wired foundation in the brood nest as his number increases he will find it advisable to use two cross wires in the middle holes in the end bars. All end bars are drilled for wiring, the shallow frames having 2 holes and the deep frames 4 holes.

Plain brood foundation must always be wired into the frames to hold it in place. While the beginner need not use cross wires in the wired foundation in the brood nest as his number increases he will find it advisable to use two cross wires in the middle holes in the end bars. All end bars are drilled for wiring, the shallow frames having 2 holes and the deep frames 4 holes.

Thin Super Foundation

Thin super is the lighest grade of comb foundation made and is manufactured from capping wax that is bleached out nearly white. It is used as the base in producing comb honey in sections and shallow frames. The comb honey is eaten without the consumer being aware that the comb was built on a manufactured base.