On Sun, 10 Nov 1996, Gerry Visel wrote:
>
>    How do you attach your starter "foundation" strip?  Staple it to the
> (square?) bar?  Centered, I presume?
 
Gerry and others, I make a 1/4 inch groove, centered, the length of the
tb.  I take the 1/2 in strip of foundation, inserted it in the groove,
tilt the bar slightly, then pour melted wax next to the foundation at one
end.  The wax runs the length of the foundation strip...no nailing, etc.
I use a tin can for a pitcher in which to melt the wax.  I put the can in
a pot of water which acts as a double boiler to melt the wax.  I waxed in
the foundation to my Langstroth frames when I was using them...got tired
of trying to nail in wedge bars.  The tin can works well...never found the
waxers that are sold commercially (tube with hole in end) to work as well
for me.
 
>    Brown paper bag dipped in wax?
>
>    Where did you hear of this method?  Any other good books besides
> Dartington?  I haven't seen anything like this in our public library.
 
If by method you mean using brown paper as foundation, I arrived at this
own my own though I have since found that I "reinvented" it.  I think it
has been used by Curtis Gentry, Conrad Berube, and others as well, long
before my using it.  I also make my own foundation by dipping a smooth
board that I have soaked in water into melted beeswax.  Plunge the board
and wax into cold water, then the wax peels off easily.  Thickness of wax
depends on temperature of wax, speed of dipping, and number of dips.  Bees
use this well...it doesn't have to be embossed with cell pattern.  I think
it was Allen or Andy or someone who said that during a strong honeyflow,
bees will built comb on most anything.  Original plans from Paul Magnuson
suggested putting a strip of hardboard along the underside of the tb then
dipping the edge of the strip in wax to give the starter strip.  Some tbh
beekeepers have tried triangular bars with one point down, that point
having been dipped in wax.
 
Other books??  Curtis Gentry and assistants did an excellent book on tbh
beekeeping for a South American project for the US Peace Corps.  I don't
think that the book is generally available.  I keep coming back to Eva
Crane's incredible $100.00+ book that is loaded with information on bees
and beekeeping around the world.  She has excellent material on tbh's in
her book.
 
Hope this information is helpful.
 
Cordially yours,
 
Jim
 
  ---------------------------------------------------------------
  |  James D. Satterfield        |  E-Mail: [log in to unmask]       |
  |                              --------------------------------
  |  258 Ridge Pine Drive         Canton is about 40 mi/64 km   |
  |  Canton, GA 30114, USA        north of Atlanta, Georgia USA |
  |  Telephone (770) 479-4784                                   |
  ---------------------------------------------------------------