Working with top bars requires the
preparation of the bars to go on the hive, then maintaining the bars for
colony development. Sometimes this requires that the brood be spread or
that bars of surplus be taken off as soon as they are capped.Working with top bars requires the
preparation of the bars to go on the hive, then maintaining the bars for
colony development. Sometimes this requires that the brood be spread or
that bars of surplus be taken off as soon as they are capped.
This photograph shows some of the items I use in making foundation strips and preparing the top bars for use in the hive. Strips of beeswax are made, pressed in a foundation mold, then waxed into a groove in a top bar.
Here is a link to a larger, annotated image
This bar has a strip of my "home-made" foundation that is being drawn out by the honeybees. The foundation strip is probably three times wider than is necessary or desirable. A strip about 2cm is more than enough.
The top bar is resting on a cradle which is sitting on top of the hive. In the background the rest of the hive is visible with its several tb's. You can see the gap created when this bar was removed. In addition the center notches that I put on my tb's are visible. The brown rectangle of material is a strip of "masonite" that I use to cover the notches as I desire.
After the comb is drawn by the bees...
This photo shows a comb after it has been fully drawn. Again, it is being supported by a cradle so that I can work on the comb if necessary.
Managing tbh's requires a great deal of cutting and trimming on occasions. A cradle to hold the comb is very useful. I also use a 5-bar "super" often to hold combs that I have removed from the hive for some reason.
Scissors are useful for trimming comb. If it is possible to heat the scissors in boiling water, they cut easier and cleaner. The cradle is seen more clearly in this photo.
Rick Jeavons reported constructing a hive in which he made the sides 16 inches longer than the body. This left 8 inch extensions at both ends. A piece of wood was attached to the top at each end, and this made handles to use in moving the hive. The rest of the space between the handle and the end of the hive can be used as a cradle to hold any combs that are removed from the hive. Ingenious! Rick is a woodworker by profession. Perhaps he can share other ideas with us.