SIMPLKOMB - A Very Cool Way to Make Comb Honey

[@elli637]

That sure makes comb honey easier. Thanks for sharing. I have 2 hives ,this is my first year. Excited to start my bee journey. Appreciate all the info you share. Your making others bee journey easier with less mistakes. Thx

[@Manuherikiabeekeeping]

Hi from southern new Zealand 👋 great news you've decided to start beekeeping I wish you great success 👍

[@brucesbees]

Yep whenever you are making comb honey with products like Simplkomb, Ross Rounds and I imagine High Half Comb packages it can be tricky and conditions have to be just right. But if everything perfect it can be rewarding.

[@brucesbees]

@Manuherikiabeekeeping ha! I need to get in that colony and see what’s going on. I think they may have been in the process of replacing her when I tried this experiment because the hive got a little weak from a short time. But is seems like they have rebounded nicely now. Maybe I need to do an inspection and see what I find assuming they are still alive. The hive looked strong in there last time I was down there. At least from the outside. But I didn’t go into it.

[@shrevesoule3567]

Hmmm, seems like more work and chance for error. I like the old fashion way. Enjoyed the video.

[@brucesbees]

Not a lot of work necessarily I don’t think but there is a learning curve and conditions have to be just right. I think it’s worth a shot and may try to perfect it even more next year. But each person has to decide what works best for them. Thanks for checking in!

[@jimallen1176]

Looks nice Bruce. I like split top bar frames with thin wax foundation. Beeline in Michigan sells them. I get four 4"×4" that I put in clear plastic packs. Then, store in freezer until ready to sell. This stops crystalization as well as kills microscopic eggs.

[@brucesbees]

Yep. That is the more traditional way to do it. I did freeze these and should have mentioned it in the video. They are nice but tricky. Traditional comb honey I think would be a little easier to produce but more complicated on the back end. It’s coo to see how different people do things differently.

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

Id say it turned out great for your first time. Awesome product and i love the story hopefully their invention helps secure the family future. Comb honey has tricks plus its harder in 10 frame equipment. Next time id keep a supper between the comb honey and the brood nest so they don't track dirt on to it. Using 10 frame equipment id just put reg frame on the outside wall. I've made alot comb honey past few years normally sells out in 5 minutes or less if I post whole boxes for sale. I think those 3+4 cuts are to big . By the time you eat all that way to much. That size looks perfect

[@brucesbees]

All good points though there were no issues with the cappings getting dirty. I have a few ideas for next year that may or may not help. You kind of hit on a couple of them in your comment.

[@GrammyMidwife]

Definitely a learning curve to them. My girls got them all too thick so your idea with a follower board and shims might help me next year. Awesome job! Thanks!

[@brucesbees]

Yeah that’s key. The frames have to be pushed tightly together.

[@taddrienstra7247]

You might find that soaking the brush in the wax and allowing it to get up to temp, but them also doing a brush off on the pot sides to drain off the heavy drips gives you a longer and better working time which my give a better result. Do the same with the foam rollers when you do foundation. Love your content Bruce.

[@brucesbees]

Thanks for the tip!

[@josephrawls]

Great video. I didn't get to try mine this year. I was waiting on the Tallow flow that didn't happen for me.

[@kathyhathaway8823]

I always run five comb honey supers but for some reason this year I did not get but two drawn out good. One or two of the other I got some good enough for my chunk honey . I have always done great on chunk honey. This year I had some people wanting chunk honey in half gallon jars . The customer is always correct I will make anything they want . LOL

[@brucesbees]

I like it! Yep so many different ways to do things. And each year is different.

[@Dundonian1981]

Hi Bruce, I enjoyed the video, but I feel like these are just another twist on similar products, they look great and in theory they work great. But often the bees do not fully cap /use all cells / cartons, plus the cartons are double the price of regular packaging. Not to mention the time to prepare these, ie waxing and installation, its far easier to use a horizontal wired frame, pull the wires out and use a comb cutter.

[@brucesbees]

I see your point but it was a fun experiment. And yes these conceptually are similar to Ross Rounds and the Hogg system. Set up is a little more difficult but harvesting is incredibly easy and clean. I completely see what you are saying though and if you have a system that works for you then it is never a bad idea to stick with. Just wanted to give a real world and comprehensive review of exactly what I did and how it worked for me.

[@MinnesotaBeekeeper]

Very useful Bruce. Wonder what the ounce yield range is.

[@brucesbees]

I think a well filled out package of Simplkomb is around 6oz

[@timbervalleyhomestead]

Looks great

[@brianbennett4374]

Thanks for sharing Bruce 👍 You should do live Q&A sometimes 😊 Have a great week

[@brucesbees]

Thanks for the suggestion. Maybe I will do that one day. 😎

[@Forks_of_the_Creek]

Awesome, I really want to try this now!! As a Mentor you are always giving me more to think about and challenge myself with!! Thank you for all your efforts and being You!!

[@brucesbees]

Thanks for the kind words Lynn. Simplkomb is a little tricky and there is a lot of room for improvement in my technique. But the finished product is really nice!

[@marcuswright8998]

To even out the comb building, could you separate the cassettes before installing then move them around during the drawing process?

[@brucesbees]

You want them to be packed in tightly or fat comb can become a bigger issue. I did move them around a little bit late in the game and I think it helped when I flipped that box around.

[@time2fly2124]

looks neat, can i ask how much the full ones weigh?

[@brucesbees]

Around 6 oz I believe.

[@phillipduncan2497]

i saw these at the Expo in January. Looks interesting. May pick a set up next January.

[@brucesbees]

It’s worth a try. A little tricky but really nice when they work.

[@hamburghoney]

The cells in the simplekom look fairly short. I wonder if a queen would even lay in those cassettes? They may be able to draw it out faster and better without a queen excluder. Might be worth a try

[@brucesbees]

That sounds like a good project for you and Mike!

[@hamburghoney]

@@brucesbees we usually make about 8 boxes of shallow frames of cut comb and put it in small containers to sell. Not sure if we will use the simplecomb or not. It is a neat product though

[@brucesbees]

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it…I just like to try new things. Have learned a lot and found a lot of neat products by doing that. But I completely understand those who stay with what works for them.

[@amydupree6490]

That is so cool!

[@brucesbees]

Yes it is neat. Still need to tweak things a bit but it has been a fun experiment!

[@glennsnaturalhoney4571]

How many ounces of honey when filled? I've seen these but currently use Ross Rounds. Might be worth a try.

[@brucesbees]

6 ounces. 80 cassettes in a medium super. So smaller than Ross Rounds. But really nice. Tricky though but conditions need to be the same as when you successfully introduce Ross Rounds. I think if you have figured that out then you will have success with Simplkomb as well.

[@TheMightyDel]

How did you like these vs the hogg ?

[@glennsnaturalhoney4571]

Versus Ross Rounds?

[@timbervalleyhomestead]

I have tried getting my bees to build out the Hogg comb since April and none of them will even remotely try to build wax and it is a very large colony lol

[@brucesbees]

I have never tried Hogg Half Comb. I have tried Ross Rounds with similar results as the Simplkomb. Just has to be a perfect situation for bees to build in pre-made cassettes or cartridges I believe.

[@TheMightyDel]

@@brucesbees thanks for responding. New North Alabama beekeeper here

[@brucesbees]

Awesome. You have a difficult but amazing adventure ahead of you. Best wishes to you and your bees!

[@dominicanbeekeeper6686]

Greetings from the Caribbean

[@brucesbees]

Thanks for checking in!

[@loverunsrampant6177]

❤❤❤ Hi from Maryland.

[@brucesbees]

Hey thanks for checking in!

[@3Beehivesto300]

You are supposed to have one super under your comb box. It helps keep pollen out of the comb.

[@brucesbees]

There was no pollen in the comb. We had a deep and medium under a queen excluder. Worked out ok. Wish I would have put the super on this colony first. I ended up a week behind. But still had some success and learned some things.

[@jchets327]

We didn't have much luck I believe cells are too big they wanna draw drone comb started on them good early then just quit I moved them around on some pretty big hives took supers off moved them too other hives I believe they quit cause later it was getting they didn't need drones so stopped drawing them idk we gonna freeze them try again next spring just my experience appreciate the video been looking for some too come out about them

[@brucesbees]

I think it’s more the timing and the hive you put them on. It’s tricky. I have found this to be the case with other similar products (Ross Rounds) I have tried in the past.

[@johnmarshall6572]

Did you try to graft from Big Red? Her daughters should be awesome!

[@brucesbees]

Never did. I think they would have been good strong bees but they were spicy and I am trying to time things down a bit.

[@BucksBeesS.C.]

Will you put them in freezer to kill any eggs that may have made its way into the comb?

[@BucksBeesS.C.]

Wax moth. Hive beetles?

[@brucesbees]

No issues with that.

[@brucesbees]

Yes I put these packages in the freezer for a few days.

[@markespich8574]

I’ve seen this idea before but it was a hard plastic box.

[@brucesbees]

You’re probably referring to High half comb boxes. Over never tried that though I did try Ross Rounds in the past.

[@5280Beekeeping]

Can you show how to get them out of the package? Sense it’s drawn onto the package not sure how it would come out Great idea though

[@varkgirl]

This is my question too. I bought these and haven't tried them yet but I was thinking you would basically have to serve it out of the plastic, right?

[@brucesbees]

That’s correct. Just close the lid and sell the whole package. Very easy.

[@barkersbees]

7:35 that will make them happy haha!

[@brucesbees]

No doubt lol. My clumsy self does that kind of stuff more than I should.

[@barkersbees]

@@brucesbees me too!

[@tonyfox5422]

What weight are they please.

[@brucesbees]

If nice and full they are around 6 oz. I weighed a couple. One was 5.75 oz and the other was a little less but was not completely full if I remember right.

[@justindavyduke4182]

I think they will swarm due to little space

[@brucesbees]

Didn’t happen.

[@markespich8574]

I’ll take the fat one!

[@brucesbees]

Ha! We are eating those. And they are so good!

[@2DayBob]

Not sure it's worth doing based on this video. You took a hive that was pushing out full supers by the stack down to one super that didn't pack up 100%. I run foundationless supers for comb honey that fill up pretty quick and can be cut into squares for plastic cases.

[@markespich8574]

You’re like a nervous cook, you know a watched pot never boils.j leave them alone and let God do his thing.

[@brucesbees]

Haha. I am not always like that but in this case I specifically wanted to document and show the progress as the bees worked on it. And I’m glad I moved the box to a stronger colony after rechecking them. That original colony was struggling there for a while and I do not believe they would have filled the super like the other one did. But I hear ya and tend to agree. Hope I was able to document my process in a way that will help people have success. Thanks for watching and for the advice. I have learned that sometimes it is best to just let the bees do their thing. It is easier for me to stay out of them as a whole now than it used to be.