Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => NATURAL & ORGANIC BEEKEEPING METHODS => Topic started by: Greg watkevich on June 07, 2010, 09:23:26 pm

Title: Wire or fishing line?
Post by: Greg watkevich on June 07, 2010, 09:23:26 pm

I need to add a second deep onto my 2 new hives.  I'm not using foundations and the lower deep is getting pretty full, but had some difficulty with getting the bees to draw straight comb. Eventually after some comb removal and realignment things look OK.  I want to use some wire as a guide on the second deep.  Hopefully the bees will align and imbed the line into their comb.  I don't have any tinned wire just galvanized wire and don't want to use it because of the coating.  I was wondering if a strong monofilament fishing line would work just as well?  or will the bees eat throught the line????
Thanks,
Greg Watkevich

Title: Re: Wire or fishing line?
Post by: PeeVee on July 05, 2010, 08:18:42 am

"Fatbeeman" has a youtube video of using 50# test line to secure unwired foundation. I've been using wire so far in a foundationless frame but there is no guarantee the comb will be straight. The bees have been building around the wire though. Some frames without wire are just as straight.

Title: Re: Wire or fishing line?
Post by: Robo on July 05, 2010, 10:21:30 am

Couple of points.

Either run it in the 'X' pattern on both sides with bobby pins like Don does,  or run it the normal way you would wire, BUT do it on both sides for all 4 passes.  If you run it the normal way and alternate sides with each pass,  the foundation will sag into an 'S' shape around the line if the bees don't start drawing it right away.

Also, don't pull the line too tight,  otherwise you will go back to inspect and find some of it snapped.

Title: Re: Wire or fishing line?
Post by: fat/beeman on February 02, 2011, 08:09:00 pm

hello
in my u tube videos I use from 8# to 15 # test line.

if your wanting to cut out queen cells don't use wire
Don

Title: Re: Wire or fishing line?
Post by: BjornBee on February 03, 2011, 02:59:58 pm

Greg,
I know this is not what you are asking. But I wanted to mention I have almost no problems with foundationless frames when I use mediums. Deeps, yes. Mediums, almost never.

Something to consider.

Title: Re: Wire or fishing line?
Post by: deknow on February 03, 2011, 07:52:24 pm

Hi Greg,

Getting the bees to draw straight comb is 99% in making the hive level and providing good comb guides (they will sometimes do their own thing anyways, but most of the time this works well).  If these are not attended to, you will not have straight comb.

I don't think wire or fishing line will have any impact on how straight they will make comb, and I believe that they will incorporate either into the comb just fine.  We use all deeps, mostly foundationless, and don't wire at all.

deknow

Title: Re: Wire or fishing line?
Post by: hardwood on February 03, 2011, 07:56:33 pm

I also run without foundation and all (or nearly so) deeps. As said, leveling the hives is important at first. I have very few problems...no more than with foundation.

Scott

Title: Re: Wire or fishing line?
Post by: Michael Bush on February 03, 2011, 08:48:23 pm

Back when I was using deeps, I'd put a "X" with one cross on one side and the other on the other side and the foundation between...