Beeswax foundations

How to choose and use wax foundation well

Wax foundation isn't just “a base” for the bees to build on: it's the starting point of the comb. A good foundation sheet should be well embossed, have a size compatible with your frame and be made with a wax that the bees accept well. If the wax isn't good, the colony usually says so quickly: it rejects it, builds crooked, makes brace comb or takes much longer to draw it out. That's why, for beekeeping use, I wouldn't choose foundation just by price or colour. I'd look above all at the quality of the wax, origin, cleanliness, aroma, flexibility, embossing and compatibility with Layens, Dadant or Langstroth.

My advice is to introduce foundation when the colony is strong, with enough temperature and a nectar flow or adequate feeding. I wouldn't put new foundation in a weak colony, in the cold or without a flow, expecting them to draw it out under duress. In the brood chamber, moreover, it's worth renewing combs on a planned schedule to reduce old wax, residues and health problems. For supers, the sanitary demands are usually lower, but if you're going to produce comb honey or sections, I'd be especially careful with the traceability of the wax, because the consumer may chew or ingest part of the comb. And if you use them for candles, I'd look for a clean, aromatic, easy-to-handle sheet with a good finish; but for the hive, before a pretty wax, I'd prioritize a wax well accepted by the bees. A good foundation sheet doesn't work miracles, but it makes the colony's work much easier.