Assembling or building foundationless frames for bee hives is pretty easy to do and can save you about $1 per frame on cost. But this can lead to $100 in frustration if you don’t manage them well.
There are several variations of foundationless frames we have made in the past few years.
These frames are designed to fit standard beehive setups and enhance hive management. After exploring a number of them, we have landed on our favorite.
The evolution of frame designs, especially since the introduction of movable frames in the 19th century, has played a significant role in beekeeping practices, with notable advancements occurring in October of key historical years.
Foundationless beekeeping allows bees to build their own natural comb without wax or plastic foundation, encouraging healthy, strong, and more resilient colonies while requiring careful hive management to guide comb building.
The best foundationless frame setup uses a grooved top bar with a thin wooden starter strip and a solid bottom bar, helping reduce hiding spots for small hive beetles and creating a cleaner, stronger hive.
Assembling foundationless frames is simple with wood glue and nails, a grooved top bar, and solid bottom bar pieces, giving beekeepers durable, long-lasting frames that support natural comb building and healthy bee colonies.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Foundationless Beekeeping Choosing the Right Materials These Are The Variations We Have Tried: Here Is How We Assemble Our Foundationless Frames Without Wax Foundation Adding the Frames to the Hive Keeping Hive Beetle Numbers Low In Foundationless Frames These Are The Tools We Use 3 Effective Ways Of Minimizing Spaces In Bottom Grooves
Introduction to Foundationless Beekeeping
Foundationless beekeeping is an approach that allows bees to construct their own comb without the use of wax foundation or plastic foundation. Instead of providing a pre-formed base, beekeepers give their bees the freedom to build comb in a way that’s most natural for them. This method is gaining popularity among beekeepers around the world who want to support natural bee behavior and promote healthier hives.
By letting the bees use their own wax and design, foundationless beekeeping can lead to stronger, more resilient colonies. However, it does require beekeepers to pay close attention to hive management, as the bees may take more time to establish their comb and fill the frames. For those looking to move away from traditional foundation and embrace a more natural way to keep bees, foundationless beekeeping offers a rewarding and insightful experience.
Choosing the Right Materials
Selecting the right materials is a key step in successful foundationless beekeeping. Many beekeepers prefer wood frames for their durability and ease of assembly, as they can be fitted together with pre-drilled holes and secured with nails or screws. Plastic frames are another option, but some beekeepers choose to avoid them due to concerns about long-term durability and the potential for chemicals to affect the hive environment.
When shopping for frames, look for top bars with a groove, as this feature helps guide the bees as they start building their comb. It’s important to verify the quality of all materials before purchase. Whether you’re buying from a local shop or online. This is to ensure they are strong enough to support the weight of the comb and withstand the demands of the hive. By taking the time to find reliable, well-made parts, you’ll set your bees up for success and create a hive that’s built to last.
These Are The Variations We Have Tried:
- Removed, rotated, and nailed wedge from a wedge top bar in place
Several standard popsicle sticks glued into the grooved top bar
Paint stir sticks left whole and glued into the grooved top bar
Paint stir sticks split lengthwise and glued into the grooved top bar
Paint stir sticks, split and glued into the grooved bottom bar to reduce hive beetles
Fishing line and wire run through medium frames to give comb extra support
All of these variations have been tried. However, our favorite way to make foundationless frames is with a grooved top bar, a thin wooden starter strip, and a solid bottom bar. This combination is the ideal way to use foundationless frames in a Langstroth hive.
The solid bottom bars do not give small hive beetles a place to harbor in a foundationless frame. This is why we like them so much. The more nooks in a hive, the more space beetles have to live. If every frame had an open, grooved bottom bar, there would be a lot of space for beetles to live in.
Here Is How We Assemble Our Foundationless Frames Without Wax Foundation
Step 1 – Cut clear (knot free) 3/4-inch thick wood boards into strips the length of the groove and just narrower than the width of the groove in the top bar.
You would need a table saw to do this. If you can’t cut any wood for this, these are a good alternative.
Step 2 -Line each grooved top bar side by side, with the groove facing up.
Place several drops of wood glue the length of each grove. This is the glue we use and we highly recommend it for assembling boxes or frames
Step 3 – Press a starter strip into the length of each groove, pressing firmly into the groove (be sure not to place the strip beyond the edges of the groove). Let dry.
Step 4 – Spread wood glue into the wide slot of each side bar and press onto either side of the top bar. Secure with nails or staples.
Step 5 – Spread wood glue onto the narrow side of each side bar and press bottom bar onto either side of the side bars. Secure with nails or staples.
Adding the Frames to the Hive
Once your frames are assembled and ready, it’s time to add them to the hive. Place each frame in the hive body, making sure they are spaced evenly to allow the bees to move freely and build comb without obstruction. Take care to ensure each frame is seated properly and that there’s enough space between the bars for the bees to work efficiently. By carefully placing the frames and paying attention to their arrangement, you’ll create an environment where your bees can easily access each frame, build strong comb, and thrive throughout the season.
Keeping Hive Beetle Numbers Low In Foundationless Frames
Small hive beetles are a problem in much of the southern United States. We are based in Birmingham, AL and have been dealing with small hive beetles for a long time.
We have found the best way to prevent a problem is to keep beetle numbers low. There are several ways to keep their numbers low, but minimizing spaces for them to hide is a great place to start.
If buying grooved bottom frames (which typically come with grooved top frames), it is good practice to fill the bottom groove with something.
These Are The Tools We Use
We have assembled 10,000 frames and counting and these are the 4 tools we have found that work best for us. There are different staples and air staplers available, but this wood glue, titebond 3 and these acid brushes are excellent and we highly recommend them.
3 Effective Ways Of Minimizing Spaces In Bottom Grooves
The 1st is to make a solid bottom bar to replace it, which is more work. We have them here if you are interested.
2nd option is to cut another thin piece of wood to fit in the groove and glue it in similar to the top bar. Leaving as little wood protruding above the bottom bar as possible.
The 3rd option is to place a paint stir stick in the bottom bar groove with glue, then snap it off flush with the bottom bar.
Finding Success With Foundationless Frames
Foundationless frames are a simple way to save money and give your bees a more natural way to build their comb, but they do take a little more attention. Once you’ve built and installed them, the key to success is managing them well early on. Keep an eye on how your bees are drawing the comb, make sure it’s straight, and correct any cross comb before it gets out of hand. It only takes a little extra care to get them off to a good start.
With solid bottom bars, good starter strips, and a clean setup, you’ll reduce beetle hiding spots and give your bees the best chance to thrive. Once they’re established, foundationless frames can produce beautiful, natural comb that’s strong and efficient for the colony. Like most things in beekeeping, it’s about finding what works best for you and sticking with it.
Adam Hickman owns Foxhound Bee Company and is a certified EAS Master Beekeeper. Before ever selling a box through Foxhound Bee Company, Adam wrote beekeeping blogs for education. Adam regularly teaches beekeeping classes through Foxhound Bee Co and also through his local beekeeping club.