Wired BetterComb follow up

[@danskisbees7348]

A big "Thank you!" to Neal at Betterbee. If he hadn't of sent this to me to test, we wouldn't have known how well it's doing. www.betterbee.com/frames/bcombkit1.asp

[@FrederickDunn]

They sent you that entire kid Dan? (';')( ';')... wow... that's great!

[@danskisbees7348]

@@FrederickDunn They sent me 5 pre-assembled frames to test in a honey super.

[@FrederickDunn]

You are going to really like the Acorn heavy waxed foundation Dan... it outperforms all other plastic foundation based on my own observations, and I get them all. You've given me another idea for testing - sending off pre-waxed plastic foundation for testing... could cut a bunch of 2" square segments and have the wax content examined.

[@danskisbees7348]

Fred, that's a great idea! I wouldn't of known how good the Acorn is if it hadn't of been for you, thank you. After watching your video, then I started hearing others talk about it.

[@FrederickDunn]

Hi Dan! Thanks for sending me this link, it's great to see that comb holding up under your extreme heat conditions down there! Wired is the way to go for sure. I've written the suppliers also about the melting/sagging issues and recommended that toothpick supports no longer be recommended. Did you receive those frames pre-wired, or did you do that yourself? I always enjoy sending viewers your way Dan, nice thoughtful presentation as always!

[@danskisbees7348]

Thank you Fred, I really appreciate it! I could be wrong, but I believe they only sell them in the USA, to be assembled like your video shows. Although, Neal did send these pre-assembled. www.betterbee.com/frames/bcombkit1.asp

[@628DirtRooster]

Better Comb frames look pretty nice.

[@danskisbees7348]

Hey Randy, thanks!

[@LarryLeesBees]

Hey Dan! Wow! Those frames look amazing!!! Looking forward to seeing how much honey you get this year my friend!

[@danskisbees7348]

Thank you Larry!

[@berrrygr]

Those are nice looking frames Dan. Nice even comb pattern on them.

[@danskisbees7348]

Thank you Gary!

[@donbearden1953]

Good job Dan! Happy to see that the better comb is holding up for you this time.

[@danskisbees7348]

Thanks Don!

[@unclebobsbees4899]

Dan, sweat that it is working out. I thought it would. The ladies are looking great.

[@danskisbees7348]

Thank you Bob!

[@strugglingbeekeepermarkcot9642]

Thanks for a great video Dan your bees look good. And the better comb looks like it is doing well for you.

[@danskisbees7348]

Thank you Mark!

[@medic5836]

Thanks for the test. I think I’ll buy now. I was on the fence at first but after seeing this I feel better . I live in Illinois I think it will definitely work here with our weather during beekeeping season .

[@danskisbees7348]

You're welcome! I recommend that you still use the wired frames though. www.betterbee.com/frames/bcombkit1.asp

[@medic5836]

Dan Ski's Bees ok will do.

[@SmallTNHomestead]

I'm a true optimist by nature and my gut said the better comb would not do well even with the wire. Boy was I wrong! I'm so happy it worked. You got some great video Dan I love the close ups. This message is from 2018 so my advice to you is stalk up on toilet paper in 2020....hope it's not too late! 🤭

[@danskisbees7348]

If I only had a 2020 calendar. 🤣 I'm really surprised myself. Thank you Mary, I was hoping the close ups turned out okay.

[@SmallTNHomestead]

@@danskisbees7348 what are you using in your smoker?

[@danskisbees7348]

@@SmallTNHomestead Ahh, I guess you noticed how well my smoker works. 😀 it really doesn't matter what you use, if you set it up right. I've been thinking about making a video, I just didn't want to copy everyone.

[@SmallTNHomestead]

@@danskisbees7348 okay Dan, I'll wait for the "Smokin Video" 😁 Yes, to be honest I've never seen a smoker smoke so perfect. (Is that a sentence?) It was kind of calming to watch. Lol

[@danskisbees7348]

@@SmallTNHomestead I probably won't make the video for a while. I use coarse pine shavings from TSC.

[@bearclawws]

Thanks for this wonderful video Dan. I liked and sub'd to your channel. And also thanks to Frederick Dunn's awesome KZbin channel. In his #FAQ #68 video he suggested those of us in the south check out your channel. Being that I live in Texas I was worried about the bettercomb sagging, especially since we had several week of over 100 degrees including a couple of days of 105 to 107. So I am very appreciative of your testing this. I am excited about this product and I plan to start using Bettercomb with wired frames next spring when I start my first hive. I went ahead and ordered the "Complete Unassm BetterComb Kit" because I know they are going to be in huge demand.

[@danskisbees7348]

Hello Robert, thank you and you're welcome! You're keeping good company, Fred's one of my favorite beeks. You're learning early, smart. 👍

[@mishagray2835]

I just bought some. I can't wait to see how my girls like it.

[@daniellasinski8968]

Good deal!

[@russellkoopman3004]

Did you notice that the bees had brood on every frame except the BB comb? They even had brood on the outside frame which is not common, I am seeing the same with my BB comb. It stretched at the top but hasn't done anything else and they seldom use it for brood. Not sure why that is. I have seen a little brood but not often. Queens measure the holes and maybe they don't match up?? Thanks for the update. I have had good luck with ML foundation also but I still throw some more wax on them.

[@danskisbees7348]

Hey Russell, the outside frames had brood in them when I installed the BetterComb. The RiteCell frame with brood was empty when all of the BetterComb frames were full of nectar. I've heard similar reports about the bees preferring to use the BetterComb for nectar. I really don't know, but they used a lot of Frederick Dunn's BetterComb for brood, but I think it was because he hived a swarm and it gave the queen a place to lay before they drew out the heavy waxed, Acorn frames. I still have a lot of unwaxed RiteCell that I may end waxing. My deep freeze is actually full of drawn comb. 😀

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

That 1st frame...if that air space in the bottom bothers you (it bothers me intensely)...mainly cause it structurally weak if you move the frame wrong, ...you can put little lumps of wax in spots at the bottom of the comb and the bees will fill in the gap (at least near the lump-o-wax). You've got some really nice look'n frames there!

[@danskisbees7348]

Hey Joe, thank you! Yeah, I can't tell you how many times they've broken loose on me in the heat.

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

@@danskisbees7348 I hate that, I hate that SOOOOOO bad! I wire most of my frames and am contemplating NOT doing that for some super frames, but I hate breaking them off (I did one, partially, today)...but, try the lump-o-wax. The easiest way is to have a 'doner frame,' break pieces off and fill that bottom gap. They'll fill it in quickly!

[@birdnest5814]

Hi Dan👋 those girls were behaving because they knew you were filming them 😆😁💕

[@danskisbees7348]

Hi Laura, yes ma'am, I have them trained very well.😀 They did get a little testy when I got into the bottom box, but no stings through the gloves.

[@privatebubba8876]

Hey Dan thank mother nature for your varroa mite treatment. 106F for about 3 hours is supposed to kill all varroa mites in the hive including those in capped cells. I haven't done a mite check since the heat wave. Maybe this weekend if it isn't raining.

[@danskisbees7348]

Hey Mike, did it actually get that hot in your hives? For those of you who don't know, Mike uses screened bottom boards/inner covers and monitors the temperature within his hives.

[@privatebubba8876]

@@danskisbees7348 I don't know Dan. I know it was feels like 114f one day, I was in Colorado so I didn't get to see the reading from my sensors and they are not logged. I don't know if bees can cool a hive down that much fanning and using water. A honeybee can stand up to about 118F before the heat affects them. One neat thing about that is the Asian Giant hornet can only stand 116F so honeybees can ball them and roast them.

[@danskisbees7348]

I wish I was in Colora, make that Wyoming. 😀

[@FloryJohann]

If you are in a dry area and you evaporate water, the temperature can drop about 8 F from ambient temperature , this is what bees are doing in hot weather, they collect water and put it in cells so the water can evaporate. With an screened bottom board, the bees may have a problem to cool down the the hive since the ventilation may be to much for the moister to build up inside the hive to actually cool it down. Bees may cool down the hive below the lethal temperature for mites, so the mites may not die.

[@privatebubba8876]

@@FloryJohann We generally have over 70% humidity here in south Louisiana.

[@azridanalam4951]

very good. greetings from Indonesia 👍

[@danskisbees7348]

Thank you!

[@JBEESHoneyJoelBrutcher]

👍 looking good

[@danskisbees7348]

Thanks Joel!

[@2minutegardener639]

Good job on this video!

[@danskisbees7348]

Thank you!

[@bonhamvapor298]

In my thoughts I would have it as brood not honey super

[@danskisbees7348]

Hello Mike! Yes sir, I think so too. I'm really glad it's holding up though.

[@FloryJohann]

Dan It is about the hottest time of the year. How did those new better Comb frames hold up in those temperatures?

[@danskisbees7348]

I need to make a video for my channel. I was in the hive this evening and it's holding up very well, there's some stretching, but no big deal, I'm very impressed. They're even using it for brood! 😄

[@FloryJohann]

@@danskisbees7348 That is great to hear. Thanks for the update.

[@2minutegardener639]

new subscriber

[@WoolieBsApiary]

wow $109.95 for 10 frames and you have to put it together yourself Dan ill pass the bees can do it them selves. great video.

[@danskisbees7348]

Thank you Lankford!

[@russellkoopman3004]

For a new hobbyist that has no drawn comb it is a bonus to have. Now that I have a lot more drawn comb I may not buy to much more. I bought a box of BB combs for my supers and the bees jumped on them right away. I put two in the middle of each box of undrawn comb and they went through the Q excluder and filled those two first then drew out the rest of the box. Good product for a newbie to give his hive a jump start - to expensive to use all day.

[@danskisbees7348]

@@russellkoopman3004 Definitely!

[@FloryJohann]

I use wired wax foundation and wooden frames for $ 3 a piece and give the bees sugar water if I want the bees to draw foundation fast. I tried plastic, but my bees turned about 10% to 15 % of the plastics into a mess, while they drawn wax out at a 100% rate and faster. I buy from a local guy cheap that builds and sells wooden ware and I pick it up.

[@natserog]

thanks Dan.....Would suggest working on audio and much shorter videos...almost 18 min ZZZZZZZZZZZZ--- keep at it!! 3 to 5 min tops!

[@danskisbees7348]

Hey Stan! Yeah, time gets away from me, I hope you didn't fall asleep.😀

[@russellkoopman3004]

@@danskisbees7348 I enjoyed every minute. Thanks!!

[@426superbee4]

Fishing line i think works better than wire. But i don''t use em! Now i do take string and wrap around the frame for cut out comb to hold it in Other than rubber bands, I use small thumb tacks to hold the string > Its what works for you! > Any thing better than cell RITE! Nice comb! Pretty

[@danskisbees7348]

😀 Yeah, definitely moving up to Acorn!

[@426superbee4]

Don't worry if they don't attach the bottom of the comb to the frames, Just the top and sides all is needed to be attached to the frames> Some times. i help them out. put some burr comb on the side and hot wax it.

[@426superbee4]

Can you afford to buy that stuff at 200 hives? Why i make my own boxes and frames, Example > i can make 4 boxes for the price of one! Every thing i got! I made it! even with the fancy handles done with a jig and circular saw. i could use blocks for handle! is it better than blocks? No block handles are better! But when you stack them to store, the cut handles are better! > lets say 200 boxes at 37 dollars each> That 7,400 dollars, Make them my self 1,850 dollars is my cost> I get 4x amount of equipment! Cheaper!

[@danskisbees7348]

Hey Super Bee! Yeah, this definitely wouldn't be cost effective for you, besides, you probably have a boatload of drawn-out frames. I can see it now: "SuperComb" by SuperBee, get yours Free! 😀

[@426superbee4]

lmao Dan > i don't ! wax moths got into the comb storage was wrap and stored > i ran out of room in the walk in freezer