10kg of honey to make 1kg of wax !The best way to help your bees to draw new comb is to reduce ventilation in the hive so it is warmer and they start to sweat/secret wax.This will only happen if they have space to build , and a steady flow of nectar or sugar or syrup.mvh edward :-P
Is this for real? I am not saying you are wrong but after loosing our hive to moisture we propped up the cover for the whole season and they didn't have an issue building out the frames from clean foundation. We are gunshy about closing up the ventilation. Sugar or syrup is not an option for us.
As I am expanding my bee hives so I have a shortage of drawn out comb , You can buy bees , bee hives but it is hard to find anyone who is willing to sell drawn out comb.
If you do find someone , the price is usually horrendous or there are no guarantees that the wax is free from disease .
I have gone from 7 hives to 35 this year , drawn out comb = gold !!
10kg to 1kg well known fact
Ventilation , I suppose it depends on your climate , temp ? humidity.?
Also the style of bee keeping , On your side of the pond I understand that lots of ventilation is popular
On my side we like to keep them warm on top in the winter with a draft over the floor , helps ventilate out moisture , also our winters are very dry , lots of snow but dry air.
By seasoned bee keeper(S) I was recommended to reduce the ventilation under spring and summer = brood and egg laying can start earlier , also it takes less energy/bees to warm the hive = easier to sweat wax.
But come winter , the need to ventilate moisture is key to survival .
until we can ask the bees how they would like to have it we will have to keep guessing :roll:
mvh edward :-P