-RACTICAL BEEKEEPING
A low-cost foundation press
Figure
1.
Embossed beeswax foundation sheet
by Rafiq Ahmad
A foundation press is one of the most not easily available to beekeepers in important components of frame hive beekeeping. They are manufactured in industrialised countries and therefore even if available in developing countries, are extremely expensive. Consequently, embossed wax foundation sheets are
Making the press _
Take a perfect sheet of embossed beeswax foundation for Apis cerana or Apis-
mellifera and place it on a plain wooden sheet or floor (Figure 1). Mixtures of white cement and water, or portland cement and water, or plaster of Paris and water are used to prepare the press. Fill all the cell cavities of the foundation sheet with cement or plaster of Paris mixture, and turn it upside down. All the cell cavities of the other side of the wax sheet are now filled with the mixture
(white cement and water ratio 32 g: 16 ml, or plaster of Paris, sodium
carbonate and water ratio g:3g:21 ml) rubbed into each cell
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with your fingers for 15-20 minutes per 40 cm x 20 cm sheet area, in such a way that air bubbles are completely removed from all the cell cavities (Figure 2) . This is the most critical stage. A little carelessness in filling the cell cavities will spoil the mould. The beeswax sheet is placed in a rectangular frame of “deodar” or some other good quality wood of size 40cm x 20cm, depending upon the size of the hive frames (Figure 3). This wooden frame is half-filled with a mixture of white cement and water (ratio 2.5kg: 1 litre) or plaster of Paris, sodium carbonate and water (ratio 2.2 kg:50g:1.75 litre) and finished with a steel trowel. Four horizontal and three vertical iron strips are placed to give strength to the press plate. An iron or wooden handle is fixed on to the plate (Figure 4). The mixture is further used to fill up the wooden frame to give 3 cm or more thickness to the plate and it is finally finished with a steel trowel. Then
many countries. Studies were therefore conducted to develop a low-cost foundation embossing machine or press. This article describes how to make one for Apis cerana or Apis mellifera at very low cost.
it is left for five to eight hours to dry thoroughly. Thereafter, the comb foundation wax sheet is removed (Figure 5) and, if made of cement (not of plaster of Paris) the plate is placed in water for 48 hours. It is afterwards dried in the shade for at least two days. This plate forms one part of the press. The other part of the press is prepared in the same way but without a handle. Both plates, made either of cement or plaster of Paris after lining up the indentations, are united by using hinges. They are now ready for imprinting of wax foundation sheets (Figures 6 and 7).
:
°
Figure 2. Embossed beeswax foundation sheet filled with white cement mixture and rubbed in wé to remove air bubbles from cell cavities.
Making the foundation
A releasing agent containing one table-
spoon of honey in one litre of warm water and 125 ml of methylated spirit is prepared. The beeswax is melted in a pot placed in another container with water to prevent burning of wax. A sieve made of very fine fabric is hung into the melted wax to obtain clean and liquid wax. The releasing agent is brushed over the lower and upper plates. The press is closed for a few seconds. Then the upper plate is lifted slightly and excess liquid is poured off from a corner: this is important to gain the best results. The hot wax is taken out in a small ladle from the sieve and poured on to the lower plate (Figure 8). Quickly completely cover the lower plate with a thin layer of wax, and close the press before the wax has time to set. Surplus wax, if any, is quickly poured off at a corner. The hotter the wax the thinner the sheets.
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Figure 3. Embossed beeswax foundation sheet két in the frame.
Figure 4. Frame with the embossed beeswax sheet, half-filled with white cement mixture, along with wires and handle.
