# Freshly drawn comb wax - question **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [May 2, 2021, 5:09pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243 "2021-05-02T17:09:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sambees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sambees](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Sambees)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2021, 5:09pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/1 "2021-05-02T17:09:39Z")
It has been many years since I ate some honeycomb. I remember it being waxy and chewy. Last night, I inspected our week old hives. One of the new frames (foundationless) was partially drawn out. In the middle, was a small section of comb perpendicular to the frame. I cut it out leaving a small gap between the comb that was correct. After finishing, I decided to eat that small section that I had cut out. It seemed rather dry and crumblely. Is that normal (not how I remember) ? Is that indicative of any kind of issue ? ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2021, 5:47pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/2 "2021-05-02T17:47:20Z")
I don’t much like eating wax, but it can be crumbly. It gets crumblier if you freeze it. For me, it has a crumblier mouth-feel if there isn’t much honey in it. It doesn’t mean that there is a problem with the wax or the bees. If I am going to eat comb honey, I do one of the following: 1. Toast some English muffins or crusty bread (baguettes are excellent), then smear the comb honey onto the hot toast. The wax melts and the texture is more appealing 2. Put a tiny chunk on top of crackers with a sharp cheese. Sharp cheddar is good, and so are blue cheeses 3. Cut it into very small chunks (1/4" or ~5mm) and sprinkle it over a crunchy fresh salad With one of those methods, it can be enjoyable. I still prefer the liquid stuff though! Good thing I have a Flow hive, I suppose… 😊 ---
**Author:** ![Sambees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sambees](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Sambees)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2021, 6:27pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/3 "2021-05-02T18:27:12Z")
@Dawn_SD 😂 thanks You are making me hungry talking about all of that food. It did have a little honey in it. But, I think it was probably syrup honey. Both hives went through about 3 gal each in a week. It was a little on the cool side, so, that may have been part of it. Just wanted to be sure that didn’t indicate some kind of problem. Thank you ---
**Author:** ![claire\_c](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/claire_c/32/27544_2.png) [@claire\_c](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/claire_c)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/4 "2021-05-02T19:09:10Z")
I have some stray comb between the two center frames because I didn’t remove the queen cage in time. After their rough start, I’ve been wondering if it might be better to leave it as is for now. It’s been 10 days, and I guess the queen has been out and about for about 8 days. In June I’m going to transfer them all to a Flow Hive, and I thought that might be a better time to remove it. Any thoughts about how much disruption I should cause? ---
**Author:** ![Sambees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sambees](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Sambees)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2021, 7:20pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/5 "2021-05-02T19:20:54Z")
@claire_c I don’t know what the good answer may be, however, I just cut mine out as I encounter it, before the problem expands. ---
**Author:** ![JeffH](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/jeffh/32/7192_2.png) [@JeffH](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/JeffH)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2021, 9:14pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/6 "2021-05-02T21:14:43Z")
Your experience sounds normal for new comb that’s not finished. I agree that there’s nothing wrong with it. What you could do if it’s only a small piece is place it in a tea strainer, then press the honey out with a teaspoon. I would do that because wax sticks to my false teeth. ---
**Author:** ![claire\_c](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/claire_c/32/27544_2.png) [@claire\_c](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/claire_c)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2021, 9:21pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/7 "2021-05-02T21:21:34Z")
I’ll give it a try. I’ll have to feed them a fresh baggie tomorrow and my new feeder should be here in a few days. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Sambees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sambees](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Sambees)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2021, 10:05pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/8 "2021-05-02T22:05:50Z")
![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/honeyflow/original/3X/3/5/359c1388c122f4a4076d980308d68303d56fe9ef.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Sambees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sambees](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Sambees)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2021, 10:11pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/9 "2021-05-02T22:11:02Z")
@JeffH It was a rather small piece. If you look at the frame, about 1/3 from the left, you can see it, with bees drinking the honey where it split away from the adjacent frame. ---
**Author:** ![Sambees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sambees](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Sambees)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2021, 10:17pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/10 "2021-05-02T22:17:45Z")
@claire_c Good luck ! I was worried about making the rest of the comb fall off too. I just started cutting slowly and carefully, next thing I knew the cross-comb just fell off in my hand and I hadn’t even finished cutting. The rest of the comb seemed fine. I did clean up a lot of burr comb on the bottom of the inner cover, top of frames, bottom of frames, and a little bridge comb between frames. It wasn’t too bad. I just worked slowly and carefully. ---
**Author:** ![JeffH](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/jeffh/32/7192_2.png) [@JeffH](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/JeffH)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2021, 10:18pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/11 "2021-05-02T22:18:05Z")
Hi Sam, I would try to encourage you to use properly fitted wax foundation. That eliminates the issues you’re having. Plus you’ll get mostly worker comb, which results in a strong population of worker bees. ---
**Author:** ![Sambees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sambees](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Sambees)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2021, 10:23pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/12 "2021-05-02T22:23:10Z")
@JeffH Thanks Jeff. I may consider that for the future. I would like to find someone experienced in my area to watch installing and wiring. I have seen a couple of videos, but, it’s always better in person. I am sure I could figure it out on my own, but, it may save some headaches to do some observation and learning first. ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 12:41am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/13 "2021-05-03T00:41:10Z")
> [@claire\_c](#): > > I have some stray comb between the two center frames I always remove it ASAP, because it never goes away, it just gets worse. If you are going to open the hive to feed them, I would just cut it off then. If it is bigger than the palm of my hand, I would consider “rubber banding” it into an empty frame, so that it isn’t wasted. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![claire\_c](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/claire_c/32/27544_2.png) [@claire\_c](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/claire_c)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 1:31am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/14 "2021-05-03T01:31:33Z")
That’s a good idea! I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow! Thanks 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JeffH](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/jeffh/32/7192_2.png) [@JeffH](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/JeffH)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 8:14am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/15 "2021-05-03T08:14:54Z")
Hi Sam, you might be able to pick @Doug1 's brains in relation to plastic foundation. His bees do a beautiful job of drawing out the comb on plastic foundation. I haven’t had much luck with it, however I haven’t tried all that hard either. I’m happy to continue on with wax foundation. ---
**Author:** ![claire\_c](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/claire_c/32/27544_2.png) [@claire\_c](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/claire_c)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 8:13pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/16 "2021-05-03T20:13:08Z")
OK, mission accomplished! I carefully cut the crosscomb away from the frames with a ceramic knife and pulled it out. I also did my first official inspection. I found that I like using a feather to brush away bees much more than the bee brush. I didn’t see the queen, but I’m sure she’s in there. About 4 frames were covered solid with bees on both sides. I’m using plastic foundation coated with some Texas beeswax. (Sounds good to me!) The comb had a little pollen and nectar, and I put it in the freezer for safe keeping until I have a foundationless frame to attach it to. Thanks so much for your good advice. I was a little hesitant (and a little scared) to do it, but I’m glad that’s taken care of! ![crosscomb](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/honeyflow/original/3X/1/e/1ec60cd3ee6a79129933517df062efada0cde545.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![HappyHibee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/happyhibee/32/27808_2.png) [@HappyHibee](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/HappyHibee)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 8:18pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/17 "2021-05-03T20:18:55Z")
Squish it into your flow frames. Itll help draw bees up when you eventually use your super… ---
**Author:** ![claire\_c](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/claire_c/32/27544_2.png) [@claire\_c](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/claire_c)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 8:22pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/18 "2021-05-03T20:22:15Z")
Thanks! That sound like a good idea! ---
**Author:** ![Dawn\_SD](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dawn_sd/32/15954_2.png) [@Dawn\_SD](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Dawn_SD)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 9:54pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/19 "2021-05-03T21:54:03Z")
Nicely done, Claire! I am so proud of you. 😊 @HappyHibee has a great idea there, but I would keep it frozen until needed. We are going to be inspecting our bees over the next few weeks, and if we have an overpopulated hive, I will let you know in case you want a frame of brood or two… So far it sounds as if your nurturing is working very well though. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sambees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sambees](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Sambees)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2021, 2:56am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/freshly-drawn-comb-wax-question/30243/20 "2021-05-04T02:56:53Z")
@Dawn_SD That’s awesome ! Very nice of you !