Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: Stone on March 01, 2011, 11:34:58 pm
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I think can be used to mount cut out combs onto frames. Haven't tried it yet but it's an idea. They fit perfectly through the holes on the ends of frames, so I thought combs can be "skewered" and mounted onto frames while doing a extraction or cut out. Just snip the ends with metal sheers. I've tried rubber bands - (when I attempted to rescue a feral hive from a storm torn tree) - and it took forever. Anybody try something like this yet?
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you'd probably stab through some brood. next time, try putting the rubber bands on the frames before you start. then you just have to slip the over the brood. use the fat ones that office supply places carry.
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Thanks, Kathy. Yeh, I realize I'd probably lose some brood with this method. And I did have the rubber bands on the frames first. Still took forever. My problem was cutting the combs the right size to fit into the frame. Too small, they'd kind of dangle. Too big and they'd get smooshed. If I skewered them, they'd be stable no matter what.
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It takes a bit to get the hang of rubber bands but it'll come to you soon enough. I use #64 bands. They are pretty wide and are just the right size for deep frames. I buy them in 2lb bags from office depot.
Scott
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Putting comb into frames is one of the hardest things I have ever done. It's usually hotter than heck, and the comb is super soft. I did a cut out last year on the hottest day in August, and the comb was so soft, it could not be done. It was like trying to put socks on a rooster. I am convinced that hinged frames are the way to go. Now, I just need to find the time to build some.
http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/cut-out-frames/ (http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/cut-out-frames/)