You don't actually need to use foundation at all, or very little of it. I
have had a swarm hive itself in a brood box with frames but no foundation and
they did a perfect job. I would have difficulty in distinguishing those combs
from foundation - based. However I have also had a swarm go against the run of
frames. On my top bar hive a bead of wax along the centre drawn with a
soldering iron is sufficient. On conventional hives nowadays I use a starter strip
of foundation and wire the frames with fishing line and it works fine.
The Danes change all their brood comb every year as a health promotion
measure.
Chris
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