According to Joel Govostes: > > Someone on sci.agriculture.beekeeping asked about a simple method to wire > frames. Here is my cheap and lazy technique, which usually works without > trouble: > > I only use two wires across each sheet of foundation, to hold it straight > and centered in the (deep) frame. So I only use the two center-most wire > holes in the end bars. The upper portion of the sheet is anchored by > the wedge in the top bar, and the lower portion is anchored by its fitting > in to the bottom bar, and being fixed by the bees there as well. > > I hold the frame in my left hand, and with my right I "thread" the wire > through the eyelets so I have two wires crossing the frame. Next, I start > a brad (small nail) into the end bar, wrap the end of the wire around it a > few times, and drive it in. Then I wiggle or snip off the pigtail sticking > out from under the nail-head. > > So one end of the wire is anchored, and the wire passes across the frame > twice and comes out of the end now facing "up" at me, and leads back to > the spool. > > Now I grab the wire with my right hand, a short distance away from where > it emerges from the end-bar hole, and tug firmly to take up any slack. > Now the easy part: > > I set the opposite end bar against the edge of my work bench, and lean > gently on the frame while pulling on the wire. What happens is, the frame > bows, ever so slightly, and I take up the slack by pulling on the wire. > NOW right away, while the frame is still under tension, I wrap the wire > around another brad which has been set into the edge of the end bar near > where the wire passes thru. A few quick wraps, then drive that 2nd brad > in, and wiggle or snip the wire off. That's it. The wire is well tense > enough for supporting the comb straight and firm. > > It helps to have a little V or groove cut in the edge of the work table, > so that when you press the frame toward it (to slightly bow the frame), > the wire won't get pinched between the far end bar and the edge of the > table iself. > > I hope this description is adequate. It is very fast. Then I insert a > sheet of crimp-wired brood foundation, with hooks, nail the top-bar wedge > back in, and the frame is ready for the embedder. My cheap method is to > set the frames with foundation out in the sun, or on the warm hood of my > car, for very few minutes, just to warm slightly. Then I set each frame > over a simple embedding board, and run the hand (spur-wheel) embedder > across the wires. Works like a charm, and the resulting combs are just > great. > > If the wire isn't taught enough, just start over, and lean on the frame a > bit more next time. But not too much! The wires don't have to extremely > tight, just straight and under firm tension. You should notice a > low-medium singing note if you pluck them. I hope someone else will find > this useful. -- JG > I use the same technique, but I use a staple gun to anchor the wires-- I staple the end of the wire, then fold it back and staple agaijn. I also use staples at the edge of the frame holes, to keep the wire from digging into ,the frames. Then I pass an electrivc soldering iron over the wire to heat and embed it. FWIW Regards, fredE