Corner Moulding vs Paint Stir/Popcicle Stick starter strip

[nietssemaj]

I'm in the process of building my first hive for the spring and I am on the bars. I'm going frame/foundationless and I am wondering what the best option is.

Corner Molding with the corner down?
1/2 round Molding round down?
Popcicle stick/paint stir stick glued in a groove?
waxed string?

I suppose I could make a couple of different types and see what works best, but I'd rather learn from others experiences than re-invent the bar so to speak.

[Michael Bush]

Best to ok to terrible:

o  Chamfer molding.  Best.  Strongest when turned sideways (not recommended but it's a good test).  Cheaper than corner molding.
o  Corner Molding.  Same as Chamfer but more expensive.
o  1/2 round round down.   I wouldn't do that.  You need an "edge".
o  Popcicle stick/paint stick.  Not as strong as the chamfer but works fine.  Turning the wedge sideways is cheaper and works as well.
o  Waxed string is almost the same as nothing at all  Not very reliable.  They MIGHT take the hint.  They may just ignore it.  Some bees build perfect comb on the least hint.  Some won't take anything but a distinct edge.  So I go for the more sure thing

[BlueBee]

I just tilt my table saw blade to 45 degree and feed through some 1 by stock to make my comb guides.  This generates a lot of triangular strips.  I then chop the triangular strips to length, put a little glue on the back side for good measure and air nail (brad) them to the underside of the top bar.  Works great and is real cheap.  Just be extra careful with the table saw if you try it.

[kingbee]

How about ripping plastic foundation 4 or 5 cells wide and gluing it in the top bar notch or grove?

[loumaro]

I agree with BlueBee
That should be the cheapest way to go also .

[KD4MOJ]

I just tilt my table saw blade to 45 degree and feed through some 1 by stock to make my comb guides.  This generates a lot of triangular strips.  I then chop the triangular strips to length, put a little glue on the back side for good measure and air nail (brad) them to the underside of the top bar.  Works great and is real cheap.  Just be extra careful with the table saw if you try it.

Very interesting... haven't thought of that. A very cheap way to go.

I see that some suppliers are selling a "one piece" bar that has the triangular guide... haven't figured out how they manage to do that. Ok here it is. Click on the photo to blow it up.

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

[Michael Bush]

You can cut plastic into strips, but the bees will like the wood strips better... and won't care about the imprints and won't prefer plastic over wood...

I cut the corner off of a one by at 45 like Blue Bee.  If I could find chamfer molding somewhere easily, I would buy that but it's hard to find for some reason.  We used to buy it back when I poured concrete from all the local lumber yards but it seems harder to find now that they all converted to these "department store" formats instead of a real lumber yard.

[KD4MOJ]

Michael:

  Both Lowes and Home Depot carry the molding... don't know if you have any of those stores in your area or that they don't carry it for some reason.

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

[Joe D]

Doug I have cut some that look like those in pic.  Just set table saw blade at 45 degrees run a 2X4 through then run other direction, cut to lenght and knotch out for ends.  Did tbh last spring.  May have messed up don't know yet but left bars full width 1 1/2 inch.

Joe

[KD4MOJ]

Thanks for the info JoeD. I'll have to give that a try and see how the bar turns out.

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

[Joe D]

Doug

After making these top bars, I had a cutout so recut knotch so there was an angle at the wedge and I made sides and a bottom where I could tie in the comb.  Made it
a top bar with frame.

[KD4MOJ]

Doug

After making these top bars, I had a cutout so recut knotch so there was an angle at the wedge and I made sides and a bottom where I could tie in the comb.  Made it
a top bar with frame.

Joe D you happen to have a picture of that? I'm not sure i'm grasping it.

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

[gov1623]

I like using wedge top bar frames. I turn the wedge side ways and staple it in place.

[Joe D]

Doug

My computer seems to have lost most of my pics.  Will try to send pics soon.

Joe

[Joe D]

Hi

Got a pic of those top bar with frame.  Maybe this will work.

Joe

[Sundog]

I experimented with frames in my TBH, and I think it is neither desirable nor advantageous.  The bees don’t seem to need it, they try to build comb around the frame or propolize it to the wall.  More trouble than it’s worth.

I cut a ¼ inch kerf into my top bars and rip ¼ inch slats off a scrap one-by and glue it into the kerf.  Seems to work just fine.

http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab218/Sunchaser01/DSCN0144.jpg
http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab218/Sunchaser01/DSCN0255.jpg
http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab218/Sunchaser01/DSCN0034.jpg
http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab218/Sunchaser01/DSCN0708.jpg

[Bee Busters]

when you're doing a cutout and placing it in a topbar hive; what is the best way to attach the combs?