Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: Jen on May 16, 2014, 12:09:28 pm
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I would like to make comb to put into a honey jar for the gift appeal. I would start that process with a shallow?
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I would start with a shallow and thin surplus foundation. A medium will work also. When you cut out the comb leave a couple rows of cells at the top of the frame. This will give the bees a starter the next time you use them and no foundation will be needed.
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I'm planning on cutting some comb for jars as well. Not sure how yet, since I've never done it, but am excited none the less.
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I'm hoping that I can do that this year, it's iffy due to all the swarming. But it looks like the hives are holding firm, so I'm a little more optomistic ;D
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I do like Riverrat says.
A serrated knife works the best for cutting or "sawing" the comb to size.
I like to use the prettiest white caps for chunk honey, really reflects the light and shows off the honey in the jar.
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Riverrat, I have never seen this done, why thin surplus foundation? is it edible?
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yes jen it is edible, i do mine a little different than riverrat or g3, i use an empty frame, i know you have seen my slideshow, but will work for chunk honey as well, you can cut it to the desired chunks to the size of your jars:
Cut Comb Honey Production (http://www.worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/index.php/topic,493.msg5394.html#msg5394)
the key to this is a strong colony and good strong nectar flow. whatever you use, place the frame in off center of the box, this will keep the face of the comb nice and white and free of travel stain from the bees. also, when i first started using blank frames i didn't use any starter strips of any kind, and on some i would just place a bead of wax in the top and bottom grooves. after harvesting the frames, there is enough wax left on for the bees to start all over again. i don't leave the 2 or 3 cells like riverrat does because i use all of the frame for cut comb, and any imperfect slices (rare) i use for chunk honey, but riverrat's method is a good idea.
good luck jen, i sincerely hope your bees produce a well deserved honey crop for you this year.....
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Riverrat, I have never seen this done, why thin surplus foundation? is it edible?
Thin Surplus foundation or as some call it cutcomb foundation. Is very thin and is designed especially for comb honey production
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http://removeandreplace.com/2013/05/07/how-to-easily-make-a-beehive-in-a-jar-backyard-project-diy/
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Jen: you've been wondering about foundationless. This is a great reason to give it a try. Like Riverbee said, the best way is to put a frame without foundation between two frames that are fully drawn out. Just make sure you mark them, because it can be hard to tell. Also make sure that the queen can't get to those frames, because you don't want the discolouration from brood. It's also good to try it in the middle of a strong honey flow with a strong hive. You really want that frame drawn out hard and fast so the wax is thin and clean.
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Pete - ''Also make sure that the queen can't get to those frames, because you don't want the discolouration from brood. ''
How in the heck am I gonna keep the queen away from that frame?
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you can use a queen excluder, or you can produce cut comb honey in the second super after the first super is filled. The queen will not cross a super of honey to find a spot to lay.
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Ooooh! okay I see know. So Intrigued. We'll see if I even get a super of honey first this year :)
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This was my best comb honey. I used a spacer that reduced the 10 frame down to 9. The bees helped a lot as well. ;D
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs21.postimg.cc%2Flw8rdeu1f%2FP5233389.jpg&hash=8afc6edf68bcce72d0ce54892e3e2928314421e3) (http://postimg.cc/image/lw8rdeu1f/)
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs21.postimg.cc%2F47h0lsiab%2FP5233392.jpg&hash=cb5d51195df0b0b9021b192394c1b834f72e2757) (http://postimg.cc/image/47h0lsiab/)
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I think Fatbeeman posted how to get the bees to build comb in the jar, that would blow your friends mind trying to figure out how you done that. :o Jack
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Ooooooo Jack! That would be a Very Cool Idea! I'll check it out, Thanks!