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There are foundations for sale with different cell sizes. And there are many different "theories" that explain why small cell size foundations should be used.
There are NO serious studies that confirmed which cell size is preferable for the specific strain of bees. Therefore do not squeeze your bees, because "Small-cell comb foundation does not impede Varroa mite population growth in honey bee colonies.
So, where is the answer? I think with brood chamber foundationless frames every beekeeper can find out the needs of his bees to build a comb with naturally required cell size. You will be surprised to see that the same strain of bees could build combs with DIFERENT cell sizes during different periods of time, different honey flow, different colony size and so on. My bees' natural cell size runs from about 4.9mm to 5.5 mm in the core of the brood nest. But in general, the average cell size is about 5.25 mm to 5.4 mm. Therefore I chose Pierco Deep Frames (foundations) with a cell size of 5.25 mm and Dadant Duragilt foundations with a cell size of 5.4 mm that are very close to the natural sell size for my specific variety of bees. And I recommend that you also follow this method to choose the right foundation for brood nest for your bees. You can apply the same approach to choose the right foundation used by bees to store honey.
Usually honey bees make combs with different cell sizes for different purposes: combs with one cell size for worker bees, combs with a different cell size for drones and combs with yet another cell size to store honey and pollen.
You can recognize different cell sizes visually or by using hex keys, or
a tape measure. Measure 10 cells in your comb and then divide by 10 to get the individual cell size or some precision measuring instruments such as vernier caliper or a digital caliper.
My deep homemade foundationless frame for brood area with fishing line. Top bar with a beveled edge and a flat bottom.
I would recommend to apply wax for a fishing line too. "How to install a fishing line" video is posted here:
I always apply natural wax to speed up acceptance of new frames by the bees. For this purpose I use a brush
to paint the edge of the top bar on the inside of the bar. You can also use this approach for factory made foundationless frames.
April 20, 2010 Five day progress. My deep homemade foundationless frame with a beveled edge top bar. I prefer to use a fishing line to make my frames stronger and as an additional guideline for my bees. Without such a guideline the comb structure could be messy.
May 01 2010 This colony recently replaced the old queen, therefore the bees decided to build the drone comb first.
If you prefer to use frames with starter strips I recommend to install starter strips made from carton. For this purpose you can use any carton from a milk or a juice container. Cut the carton into 3/4" (1") x 16,5" strips.
You can use any standard wedge/split wooden frames. To assemble the frames, remove the wedge from the top bar. Staple carton starter strip to the top bar. Firmly press the wedge against the starter strip and the top bar, and using several 5/8" nails, nail or staple the wedge to the top bar.
And finally you have to paint the starter strips with fresh wax. My bees like carton starter strips waxed with their own fresh wax much better than the starter strips made from comb foundation, because they prefer their own fresh wax instead of foreign (and very often old) foundation. Another reason not to use a starter strip made from factory comb foundation is because bees can start replicating the cell size on the starter strip.
April 21 2010
Three day progress. It's still a not main nectar flow for my area. Standard deep frame with carton starter strip.
April 29, 2010
Here you can see more progress.
May 05, 2010
And more progress
May 11, 2010 Natural size comb, natural size bees and natural size Russian-Italian queen
May 01, 2010
Four day progress, frame from a different hive. You can see colored carton under top bar.
May 01, 2010
Eight day progress, frame from a different hive.
May 01, 2010 Eight day progress, frame from a different hive.
May 11, 2010
Four day progress, frame without fishing line from a different hive.
Once again my bees confirmed the size of cells they prefer.
Huge size cells, July 24, 2013
NOTES: 1. Introduce foundationless frames slowly - one frame at the time.
2. Place a foundationless frame between two drawn out brood combs in the middle of the brood nest.
3. Do not feed your bees with any kind of syrup. Syrup is an effluence factor.<br>
4. If you would like to become a good breeder - you have to have ad least 3 to 5 foundationless
frames for each hive body with brood.
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