One thing that seems to be confusing this issue is that the numbers are
for either drawn comb (wax) alone or drawn comb and the honey filling
that comb. Can get confusing. Plus some talk about what is needed to
draw a single deep and include (or not)the honey. So you can have a
range of $9 to $75 if you are talking about drawn comb and drawn comb
with "honey".

Generally the ratios I have seen for wax vrs. honey vary (as noted by
several) so there is no absolute but a range. As Lloyd notes, the
conditions in and outside the hive make a big difference.

 From the Hive and the Honey Bee- 3.8 kilos of honey is needed to
produce  453 grams of wax. (or about 1(wax):8(honey). The ranges I have
seen go from 1:5 to 1:10.)

The HATHB also notes that pollen is required by bees to produce wax
(they eat it to stay healthy and strong), so feeding to draw comb when
pollen is not plentiful is inefficient. Part of the pollen load for the
hive is in producing wax, so bees are not involved in bring in nectar
but must bring in extra pollen for wax and not honey/brood generation.

This is one of those problems that has a lot of variables. Best to stick
with a range.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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