Mike Palmer is twice the beekeeper I will ever be...that tends to
happen when you must support a family from beekeeping...and his points
on using the slotted bar are exactly right.  (I use them also.) But...

One does not have to melt the comb in!  I raise the comb just enough
so about 1/4" shows ABOVE the top bar.  Then I fold the 1/4" over so
it is at 90 degrees to the comb inside the frame.  THEN I put three
staples in the top to hold the slots firmly together.  The staples
plus the folding amount to wearing both a belt and suspenders...but it
is a lot better than having the comb break loose.

Mike is also correct about having the pan of very hot water and
rotating the knives used to cut the comb.  I forgot that.

I produce a lot of cut comb, this year about 50 supers.  I use it all
for chunk honey.  But all beekeepers can surely see (from this
discussion) that it is a LOT of work.  You know what is coming...if
you are selling your cut comb as comb honey (in boxes), you should
save yourself an awful lot of work by producing Ross Rounds instead!
Advantages:  Comb never falls out of frames; no cleaning of frames
before reloading; no cutting, no draining, and no leaking once in
consumer packages.  And Ross Rounds shares with cut comb the
tremendous advantage of using 'real beeswax' as foundation, instead of
plastic or plastic coated with beeswax.

This year I am wholesaling 8-ounce Ross Rounds sections for $4.00 each
and they are retailing for $6.00-$8.50 in most stands.  But I know one
merchant retailing them for $13 and another for $15!

If you are selling your cut comb in boxes, try RR next year.  I
predict you will never go back.

Lloyd

--
Lloyd Spear
Owner Ross Rounds, Inc.
Manufacture of equipment for round comb honey sections,
Sundance Pollen Traps, and producer of Sundance custom labels.
Contact your dealer or www.RossRounds.com

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