Tag: Ross Rounds

Cut Comb – Reusing Thin Drawn Foundation?

Cut Comb – Reusing Thin Drawn Foundation?

Last Year’s Thin Foundation

Last year was the first time I made cut comb and though I made less honey in weight than other beekeepers it was a success on my criteria as it was pure, gorgeous honeycomb and quick to harvest.

This weekend I checked last years supers of thin foundation to see if it is OK to reuse this year.  The drawn comb was brittle and at the bottom of most of the frames and comb was a light dusting of mould (or mold, American spelling).  See photos below.

Last Years Thin Drawn Foundation
Last Years Thin Drawn Foundation
Thin Drawn Foundation - With Dusting Of Mould (or Mold)
Thin Drawn Foundation – With Dusting Of Mould (or Mold)

Questions Around Reusing Thin Foundation

This raised a number of questions which I posted on a beekeeping forum with mixed answers.

Q1. Can I use the thin foundation that was drawn last year, this year? I.e. its brittle at present, but will it soften up and be as good as new when the bees get on to it?

Answers:

  • The bees will clean it out and hopefully fill it
  • No, it will serve better use in the melt pot. Use it to secure fresh foundation with

Q2. In some of the frames, some of the drawn foundation has gone mould. I have cut this out, to leave a strip of drawn comb (1cm) at the top. Is this OK? Or should I start afresh?

Answers:

  • The bees will clean it out and hopefully fill it
  • The strip should be ok

Q3. In my super frames, could I have no foundation to start with?

Answers:

  • The bees will clean it out and hopefully fill it
  • You could, I prefer a strip or a sheet of foundation

Plan Of Action

My instinct was to cut out the mouldy comb and leave a clean (if brittle) strip where possible.

Strip Of Thin Drawn Foundation
Strip Of Thin Drawn Foundation

My plan:

  • Use the blow torch on the bottoms of the frames to remove any residue mould
  • Use the frames with no foundation, but space them with frames that have thin foundation already or have a starter strip like the above, to improve chances of straight comb
  • The thin foundation that I used last year but was not drawn has no signs of mould and will be fine to use again this year

Note: mouldy brood comb can be reused and the bees will clean it up.  I am just aiming to make sure I get the best possible cut comb honey whilst reducing time and cost of creating new frames of thin foundation unnecessarily.

Further Reading

Supering-Up With Ross Rounds

Supering-Up With Ross Rounds

It’s all about making section honey this summer and in yesterday’s glorious weather I added Ross Round (RR) supers to my 3 strong hives (with no queen excluders this year).

Ross Rounds - Placing Foundation In Frames
Ross Rounds – Placing Foundation In Frames

I only have 3 RR supers, so my plan is to put regular supers containing thin foundation on top of these RRs. I will do this in about a weeks time.

I will not be using queen excluders with the RR because (A) it slows down the bees, (B) it’s hard enough to get the bees into the circular RRs, and (C ) I read that the Queen does not like or go in the RRs to lay anyhow.  The plan is that creating a layer of honey in the RR will deter the Queen going further up and laying eggs in the thin foundation supers.

I have written about RRs here:

For an update on my hive records, visit My Apiary.

And this is what I am aiming for with the RRs by the end of July, except more of them this year:

Eight Ross Rounds Sections (the 2016 haul)
Eight Ross Rounds Sections (the 2016 haul)

 

What I Learnt From Making Ross Rounds

What I Learnt From Making Ross Rounds

As I have mentioned in earlier posts (links at bottom of page), with 2 young children and a busy job, I need to make beekeeping as low intervention as possible. This led me to consider section honey as both a time saver and an opportunity to make something really beautiful that also keeps the natural goodness of local honey.  When I discovered Ross Rounds sections (easy assembly, reusable, bees like the round shape), that was it, decision made.

Opening The Ross Rounds Sections

The video below is a novice beekeeper, who has never made sections, and is not very practically-minded, with a wife who is a bit twitchy around bees. It’s definitely not professional, but it does show how easy it is to remove the Ross Rounds sections … watch out for the flying springs:

My First Ross Rounds Honey Sections 2016
My First Ross Rounds Honey Sections 2016
Cutting foundation from Ross Rounds sections
Cutting foundation from Ross Rounds sections
Removing wax from Ross Rounds section
Removing wax from Ross Rounds section

Packaging The Ross Rounds Sections

Another amateur video of me removing the Ross Rounds frome the racks and packaging them in their plastic containers.  It is all very quick and easy, with a beautiful result.

Ross Round Section - You Keep The Plastic Ring On Section
Ross Rounds Section – You Keep The Plastic Ring On Section
Fitting Two Halves Of Completed Ross Round Section
Fitting Two Halves Of Completed Ross Rounds Section
Very Very Delighted Beekeeper With Ross Rounds Section
Very Very Delighted Beekeeper With Ross Rounds Section
Eight Ross Rounds Sections (the 2016 haul)
Eight Ross Rounds Sections (the 2016 haul)
Ross Round Section In Sealed Bag Ready For Freezing
Ross Rounds Section In Sealed Bag Ready For Freezing

Extended/Uncut Video

If you want to watch a novice beekeeper trying to work out how to package Ross Rounds for the first time, here you go.  There are lots of long pauses as I observe and try to work out what to do.  It’s like watching my boy trying to work out how to assemble his toy plane … but in this case, it’s an adult (I trained as an engineer … seriously!)

Conclusion

I am delighted with the results:

  • Eight sections (each weighs about 200g net)
  • Attractively packaged
  • Easy to assemble at start of season and harvest at end of season
  • Minimal time required (approx. 1 hour to assemble 3 racks at start of season and 1 hour to harvest and store racks at end of season)
  • A happy beekeeper!

This is my first effort.  I don’t think it has been a great year for honey production, with warnings by the National Bee Unit to feed bees. I have since bought and read Richard Taylors “The Comb Honey Book” – so I know  a bit more.  Richard refers to making section honey as an art form … and I am starting to get that.

This book has led me to think that next season I am going to try two methods of making honey sections: (1) leave alone – I will use new anti-swarm method I have discussed, and leave the bees to fill the Ross Rounds; (2) possibly try some shook swarms into a super and then queen excluder and 3 Ross Rounds boxes.  I’ll write more in due course (subscribe to keep updated).

I will definitely purse Ross Rounds sections next year, and probably every year.  “I will get good at it!”

Read More

  • Honey Sections – I consider the advantages, disadvantages, options (square, wood, round, plastic) and make a decision to buy Ross Rounds
  • Ross Rounds Assembly – I put the section racks together and place on the hive
  • My Hive Records – worth a read, now up to an unplanned 7 colonies (including 2 nucs)
  • Feeding Bees – This is what a lot of people are doing right now
  • Varroa Management – This is what a lot of people are doing right now
  • Beekeeping Calendar – I keep updating this based on my reading and experiences
  • Anti-swarm method that I reference in my conclusion above