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British Beekeepers Association Official Forum 

  • Making Your Own Super Foundation..

  • Bee Hive building & a place to share howto's on equipment
Bee Hive building & a place to share howto's on equipment
 #8036  by Steve 1972
 28 Jun 2020, 18:53
Recently ordered a plastic sheet of foundation as a template for making a silicone press ..has anyone tried this and what could the pro's and con's making your own super foundation..the reason i want to give it a go is the wax exchange prices are diabolical IMO and i have enough wax here at the moment to make a lot of foundation.
thank You in advance..
Steve.
 #8038  by Liam
 28 Jun 2020, 19:41
Steve 1972 wrote:
28 Jun 2020, 18:53
Recently ordered a plastic sheet of foundation as a template for making a silicone press ..has anyone tried this and what could the pro's and con's making your own super foundation..the reason i want to give it a go is the wax exchange prices are diabolical IMO and i have enough wax here at the moment to make a lot of foundation.
thank You in advance..
Steve.
Hiya
haha i just came into this forum section to post about the same thing.

After a total diaster of a company giving me all drone foundation and me not knowing any different, I have also been researching this exact same idea today.

I have found a youtube video on making the mould and then making the wax sheet. you can just buy the mould for £40. You then take a battery a make up a little device to imbed the wire. I will be using my own wax and foundation costs to much for me. The actual foundation press is crazy expensive and really not needed.
 #8039  by Liam
 28 Jun 2020, 19:43
Not sure if im allowed to link videos, but if needed I can Pm you with all the info. looks very easy, great results and I will be doing it for sure when my wax supplies come in.
 #8045  by Chrisbarlow
 28 Jun 2020, 23:05
Liam wrote:
28 Jun 2020, 19:43
Not sure if im allowed to link videos, but if needed I can Pm you with all the info. looks very easy, great results and I will be doing it for sure when my wax supplies come in.
You can post the link but it has to be copied and pasted into the browser address field as it won't work automatic
 #8046  by Chrisbarlow
 28 Jun 2020, 23:06
Never tried but good luck
 #8051  by NigelP
 29 Jun 2020, 09:28
Home made foundation is thicker than shop bought and more brittle.
The best deal for wax exchange is Thornes where you pay them £1.63 per pound to turn your beeswax into foundation 1lb of beeswax gets you 8 sheets of national brood box.. Rather than a straight swap with no cash being exchanged.
https://www.thorne.co.uk/frames-and-foundations/foundation/wax-conversion
 #8052  by Steve 1972
 29 Jun 2020, 09:42
The only thing that has me thinking on the negative side is it being brittle as you have mentioned Nigel.. i was watching a video a while back about that fellow who keeps rose hives making his own foundation with a wooden paddle..he also mentioned that it was brittle and his solution to it was roll the wax a few times with a rolling pin but his foundation was plain with no starter cell imprint..i will still give it a go and see what happens..the cost is very low so not much to loose if i fail.. :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7VxZVSLm4E
 #8055  by AdamD
 29 Jun 2020, 11:52
I have never tried making foundation - maybe candles would be easier (get them ready for Christmas). Sell the candles to buy foundation for next year?
 #8059  by Liam
 29 Jun 2020, 17:32
here is the video on making the mould:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBrBzFTxu0I

I would make it with a lip rather than flat, it depends how thick you want your foundation. easy to make a wooden box jig and then pour silicone.

here you can buy one for £40 but I would ask them what size the cells are. if you buy the mould, you have no control on the thickness tho, maybe better to make your own.

https://www.thorne.co.uk/frames-and-foundations/foundation-making?product_id=8146

here is the video of him pouring the wax, but i don't recommend you do it this way and watch the link I have put below this one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgSTaDBkOw4&t=2s

This is a much better way to pour the wax and also shows you the imbeder he has made, which seems easy enough:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fjq-ilNd39M
 #8064  by Steve 1972
 29 Jun 2020, 21:15
Thank you for that Liam i have my head around it i think..?..however i will not be using wire in my supers so i do not need to mess about with the electrical palava.. :D ..