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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