I'm wondering how you go about cutting/framing the comb from the old hive into the frames. I know to use rubber bands, but do you have any tips you can share. Do you brush the bees off before putting in the frame, do you worry about the size of the comb when cutting it to put into the frames? Just curious in case I get the opportunity to do a removal.
Thanks,
Derrick
Derrick, I just make sure to transfer comb sections vertically like they were positioned in the void space. Some sections are wide which really fill up a frame nicely others are long and skinny and require you to secure several sections in a frame.
I use rubber bands to secure comb sections some people use hinged, wired frames like Robo
http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/cut-out-frames/ that open up whereby comb sections can be layed in place and secured rather quickly once the frames are closed.
As for brushing bees off while securing them in frames, I do not. I generally go gloveless unless the bees are extra aggressive. I just move my fingers right in amongst the bees. They seem to put up with intrusions perhaps cause our hands are warm.
I have a few bee vacs and I use them to reduce numbers so that I can see what I'm doing on hives with large numbers.
I find a razor knife best at cutting comb sections to transfer, make sure you have extra blades with you as combs dull the blades sooner than you like, particularly tough comb. A serrated knife like a bread knife works well as well. My all time favorite was a Ginsu knife I lost on a job, which I never did replace, maybe one day.
Hope this helps, if you have any other questions please feel free to ask.
Catfish, have a great season and thanks for the accolades. Getting calls left and right now, the season is here!
...JP