Foundation is one of the main elements for successful beekeeping. This substance is especially relevant when breeding insects for commercial purposes. It can be bought ready-made in the store. However, many beekeepers prefer to make foundation themselves. This helps save money, but requires effort and time.
What is it and what is it for?
Foundation is a sheet of wax in which hexagonal-shaped indentations are made. They are needed for the accelerated construction of hundreds of insects. The foundation is placed in a special frame, which is then placed in the hive.
The main purpose of the material is considered to be unloading the bee colony. Its use eliminates the need for insects to construct a base for honeycombs, since the beekeeper places ready-made wax sheets into the hive.
Natural foundation is the basis for honeycomb. Bees use this material to store honey and breed. If you do not use this substance in the hive, the insects will build honeycombs on their own. This will negatively affect the amount of honey, since construction takes a lot of energy and time from the bees.
Artificial foundation performs important functions. With its help it is possible to achieve the following results:
- expand the nest of the bee colony;
- increase family honey productivity;
- ensure normal swarm formation with the arrival of spring.
Types of foundation
Foundation can have different types. The material is divided into natural and artificial. Each variety has its own characteristics.
Natural
Ideally, the base of the honeycomb is made of wax. This material is considered environmentally friendly, it melts easily and leaves no residue at all. Honeycombs made from natural wax have many advantages. They are easy and comfortable to work with, the mass is plastic and melts at a low temperature.
The main disadvantage of natural wax is that wax is considered a very soft and plastic material. Therefore, it is important to store it correctly and handle it carefully. In addition, natural wax is prohibited from being reused.
Artificial
Artificial foundation is made from special plastic. In this case, a special form or rollers can be used. You can also use a matrix. It is made from silicone.
Artificial material has the following advantages:
- long period of operation;
- possibility of repeated use;
- minimum expenditure of effort, time and money;
- high strength and no risk of deformation during operation;
- possibility of self-production;
- simplicity and ease of storage - plastic foundation does not break or bend.
In addition to the advantages, artificial foundation has the following disadvantages:
- the need for constant inspection and treatment for various parasites and diseases;
- the need to apply a thin layer of wax before attaching the sheet to the frame;
- the impossibility of repair if the sheet is damaged - in this case it has to be replaced with a new one.
Selection rules
To buy or make foundation, you need to take into account a number of parameters. These include the following:
- material - natural wax, polypropylene or a composition with the addition of paraffin is suitable;
- appearance - the material must be clean and transparent;
- dimensions and weight - according to standards, foundation can have dimensions of 400x260 millimeters and weight 70-80 grams or 400x207 millimeters and 56-60 grams;
- number and appearance of cells - they must have a hexagonal shape and a concentration of at least 10 pieces per 5.5 centimeters.
The size and number of honeycombs produced are determined by the species characteristics of the bees, geographic location and other parameters. For example, for Asian breeds it is recommended to make small indentations, but there should be a lot of them. For European bees, on the contrary, it is worth making fewer recesses, but they must be quite large.
Making wax with your own hands
Foundation production is carried out in different ways. The easiest way is to purchase or make a matrix. If this is not possible, you can use rollers or a press at home. Sometimes this is done without rollers, but it is much more difficult.
Before carrying out work, it is worth preparing the raw materials. First, the wax needs to be heated in a special device. This is done for at least 3 hours. The container must have protective enamel. Using this procedure, it is possible to purify the source material. Then you should check its humidity. If it exceeds 2%, the container must be placed on low heat and the desired parameters must be achieved.
To make homemade foundation, you can use the following devices:
- Rollers. First, the wax needs to be melted. To do this, it is worth preparing containers of suitable sizes. It is best to use a shallow container, since the thickness of the sheet should not be more than 4-5 millimeters. Dip a flat sheet into the wax. Thanks to this, it is possible to obtain a sheet of the required thickness. After which it is recommended to pass it through rollers and dry it. It is important to consider that both shafts should be cooled before starting work.
- Press. In this case, it is recommended to pour the wax evenly onto the bottom plate and place the second one on top. First you need to clean the edges of the press from wax residues. Then open the device and place the sheet of workpiece directly on the plate under running cool water. When the material hardens, it is recommended to remove it and dry it. It is important to consider that the press should be heated before carrying out work. To do this, its plates must be kept in warm water for 1 hour.
Storage Features
The wax must be stored in a dry and cool place without foreign odors. It is recommended to keep it in thick paper. It is important to constantly monitor the temperature and humidity in the room. This will help prevent the plates from overheating.
Foundation is considered a very important material, which cannot be avoided.With its help, it is possible to increase the productivity of bee colonies and make them healthier. It is quite possible to make foundation yourself. To do this, you should strictly follow the instructions of experienced beekeepers.
