>I can see the skewers helping with comb collapse. I dont have that problem. I am careful when inspecting.
Bob, I am thinking that skewers serve a two part purpose. A guide for the bees to draw comb by, thus eliminating what you have described "crooked building", (wonky comb), along with serving as rigid reinforcement for foundationless comb. It is good to hear that you have no problems with comb collapse while inspecting. Careful you are and careful you should be, especially with new comb that may not yet be attached to the side bar and bottom. lol
>However, skewers won't help with fat comb, or crooked building, as opposed to straight, I wouldn't think.
I do not know if skewers will help you either, since you are having so much trouble building straight comb. Remember, I have not used skewers yet either. Maybe Paus will chime in on this? I do know that it is imperative that a hive is level, at least side to side when going foundationless. Bees use gravity when drawing comb, hanging from the starter bar. If your hive is not leveled as described you get what gravity decides. As I said earlier, Something else you might consider while going foundationless, that may help you, can be plastic foundation placed between each of your foundationless frames? (See Barnyard Bees). This method should keep your foundationless straight eliminating the crooked building, (wonky comb)? And unlike a Dummy board, bees can draw out on them if they wish, serving a two part purpose. Of course if you move the (plastic foundation placed for dummy boards), at the proper time, like you would move a real dummy board; Will the bees get the chance to draw the plastic out? I think they will. And if they do draw it out, nothing lost, but gain. You can later use these as honey frames. Do you use an extractor? At least the bees will have an option to built upon these, unlike a dummy board, while hopefully eliminating wonky comb, part of your problem? One thing that I noticed about Kwalts dummy boards, they are flush to the outer edge of the frames and should eliminate fat comb for sure. I do not know if plastic will do this?
I hope this helps.
Phillip Hall
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