Wire Embedding Tool

[Jen]

This wire embedding tool is a pain in the behind ~ grrrr ~ gets clogged up real easy

Is there a better way to imbed the wire into wax foundation?

[sc-bee]

My first question would be is it wired foundation? And if you said yes.... my comment would be "why are you wasting time wiring it?"

[rwlaw]

I watched a old boy wire foundation (he was really good), he'd hook it up to a battery, and poof it would sink into the wax.
I suppose if I was brought into bk'n with nothing available but wax foundation like he was, I might be half as good as him, but give me the ten second snap in plastic any day.

[iddee]

This is what I use.

 
https://www.kelleybees.com/Shop?page=1&perpage=12&cat=0&orderby=featured+desc&search=153&brand=&sale=0&new=0&featured=0&all=0


SC, wired wax will fold and fall the same as unwired if it isn't cross wired.

[sc-bee]

This is what I use.

 
https://www.kelleybees.com/Shop?page=1&perpage=12&cat=0&orderby=featured+desc&search=153&brand=&sale=0&new=0&featured=0&all=0


SC, wired wax will fold and fall the same as unwired if it isn't cross wired.

Never wired never had an issue. My mentor is 85 he does not wire no issue.... I guess that is why I do not wire.

[sc-bee]

I lied, I wired a few and electric embedded a few my first year until I met my mentor. I asked he laughed. That is all I needed to hear or see with the 350 hives he was running 

[iddee]

Add a box of foundation when the flow is ending and they don't draw it for awhile and you will have issues.

[sc-bee]

Add a box of foundation when the flow is ending and they don't draw it for awhile and you will have issues.

That I agree with or foundation stored ready for use....

I got a great deal on 18 five frames nucs the other week from an old timer beekeeper scaling back. Most had five new frames with foundation as he had cause they were sitting on go. Come to think of it. none of them were wired..

[LazyBkpr]

   Use mediums, dont wire anything!   

    The few occasions I have had issues, don't come close to adding up to the time I would spend wiring.  The bees seem to do VERY well making their own wax, and attaching it to the frames. In the last few xtracting episodes, I have only lost two or three frames total. Didnt lose ANY frames last year, but didnt extract much last year, was too busy building up...   Will see how it goes this year!

[sc-bee]

Add a box of foundation when the flow is ending and they don't draw it for awhile and you will have issues.

The time spent wiring, IMHO, out weighs what few issues I have with not wiring like foundation issues or an occasional drawn frame full of brood coming loose when the frame if warm from summer heat. Just have to be careful handling it and turn it in the right direction. Of course those are the kind of beekeeping task I hate but others enjoy putting in foundation, wiring, etc. Not me I am the one whose screen name should be lzbeekeeper 

As far as foundation and wiring at end of flow, no big deal because of wiring. Just the bees will chew the foundation and leave your frame of foundation a half of frame of foundation

[iddee]

I feel my time teaching cross wiring is well spent, especially when I go into a newbee's first hive and find fallen foundation and wild comb joining 3 or 4 pieces into one conglomerated mess.

[Jen]

For me, who will have no more than 4 hives, I don't mind the task of building my own frames, wax/wire foundation and cross wiring. I throw on a good movie and build away. Last year I used an extractor for the first time and two frames blew out right away. What that did was drop the foundation mess into the bottom of the extractor with the honey. It's not a huge thing, I just don't want to deal with that inconvenience again