I'm a hobby beekeeper with two to four colonies which I have
maintained for about 10 years here in Georgia USA at Canton, about 80
km north of Atlanta.  We're having difficult times in Georgia with the
problems of mites...the old "disappearing phenonenon".  I've been
reading the messages on BEE-L related to mites and medication with
much interest. Many thanks to all who contribute.
 
    Some years ago I visited a wonderful apiary in South Moulton,
England where the heather honey had to be extracted by pressing it
out.  They had their own foundation "mill" and seemed to be quite
self-sufficient.  This gave me inspiration for the following.
 
    I am in the process of "reinventing the wheel" as I tinker around
trying to make my own foundation.  I have decided to go to
"destructive extraction" by pressing or rolling the honey out of the
combs then using the wax to make my foundation.  I can sell the excess
wax, use it to make candles, etc.  I realize that I am sacrificing
honey production for the wax, but I really prefer to wax in a small
strip of foundation each year than deal with the extractor and sticky
combs.  Besides, I like beeswax!
 
    My brother has a business of making rubber stamps.  Actually the
stamps are now made of a polymer that hardens under UV light.  He has
made me a set of "stamps" for foundation, and I'm trying to mold the
beeswax into foundation by pressing thin, warm sheets.  I have already
tried pouring melted wax on one of the "stamps" which gave a good
impression of the comb pattern on one side only.  I folded the sheet
to get impressions on both sides.  A preliminary test late in the
summer showed that the bees would indeed draw out this foundation.
 
   I have a problem in getting thin sheets of beeswax.  I've tried
pouring melted wax out on the top of hot water and letting it cool.  I
can get sheets of wax, but they're about 3x too thick.  I've tried
warming the wax and using a rolling pin to roll it out between sheets
of clingwrap. That offers some promise.  Are any of you "hobby
beekeepers" making your own foundation??  If you are and if you have
any suggestions or techniques you would share, I'd like to hear from
you.
 
   If you are doing "destructive extraction", I would enjoy hearing of
your method.  I don't have a press of any sort, but this last year I
used a mesh bag to hold the combs then a squeeze/wring action to get
the honey out.  I think some type of rollers to feed the bag through
might work well in forcing the honey out. I'd like to learn of your
experiences.
 
    It may be desirable to reply to me privately if questions such as
these generate much response; ie, is this a "beeswax uses" type of
solicitation???  (I did enjoy reading the beeswax-use responses!)
 
    Why try to make foundation when I could undoubtedly buy it much
cheaper, especially if time is considered???  It's the
challenge...will the bees use it well??  Many thanks to all.
 
 
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|  James D. Satterfield  |  [log in to unmask] |
|  P.O. Box 2243         |  [log in to unmask]        |
|  Decatur, GA 30031 USA |  Telephone 404 378-8917  |
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