Wax foundation making

Naomi Saville explains how Holly Keens-Dumas, beekeeper from Tobago demonstrates how to make wax foundation sheets by hand

1. Heat some clean beeswax in double boiler: water in the outside pan and wax in the inside pan.

2. Once the wax is melted (never allow the water to boil) pour on to a wet tray with space for pouring off excess wax. Carefully tip the tray until there is thin even layer of wax covering the surface (2-3 mm thick), pouring off excess in the process.

3. Immerse the tray in bath of cold water and gently ease it off the board

4. Once the wax has hardened you might emboss the sheet with worker brood comb pattern using press, or in this case a hand operated roller. Bees will also use plain wax sheet without the embossed pattern.

*Please see the original journal article to see some photos of the above steps