'iLKANIN(i» IN BEE CULTURE. 



3Ht 



Uu li. C. Aihiii. 



FOUNDATION FA8TKNEH. 



It seems tome there is yet much imperfect 

 worK in fastening foundation in sections. I 

 have used the pressure method, pressure and 

 iieat combined, and heat alone. Utre is a le.-t 

 to prove to any one who "ill try it ihat pr<-s- 

 sure or mashing it on is not good work: Pre>-s 

 on a piece of foundation, then bring it into 

 position in whicn it should iiang. and look 

 closely at the point of contact with the >ection. 

 Here is an i nlarged vi. w of how ii will appear. 



5ECTI0N 



The foundation is pressed into a wedge shape, 

 the thin edge of the wedge adhering. If the 

 wax would adhere before being cut partially 

 off, there would be no difficulty; but as the 

 pressure increases, the wax is pressed out thin- 

 ner; and by the time the pressure is heavy 

 enough to make tiie wax adhere, the founda- 

 tion is about half cut off; and as the sheet is 

 bent to bring it to proper position, a portion 

 peeis from the wood. 



I have a rude machine that I have used for 

 several seasons, and it does good work. It is 

 original with me. is not patented, and is not 

 on the market, so do not order one, for I am not 

 manufacturing them. It is a hot-plate founda- 

 tion-fastener and section press, in one machine. 

 I wish, however, to speak particularly of the 

 fastening work, for that is the more important. 



The plate stands at an angle of about ^'i de- 

 grees, and the section is placed under the lower 

 end. I put the foundation in before the section 

 is folded. Here is the method. Before me at 

 easy working height is a table (1). Above the 

 table is arranged the plate (2), pointing toward 

 me and downward, while under the table is the 

 lamp (5) for heating, and a tread (4) that throws 

 the plate forward (toward me) and downward, 

 sliding at the angle at which it is set. The 

 sections are previously dampened at the grooves 

 only, by pouring a small stream of water 

 terough the grooves before opening the crate, 

 or bunched. I pick up a section and put it on 

 the I able, and by the foot-lever throw the plate 

 out till it rests on the section just where the 

 foundation is 1o go on. While the plate was 

 at rest, the wax left on from the previous fas- 

 tening accumulates on the very end, and when 

 it comes down on the next section the hot wax 

 is at ouce, as it were, fried into the grain of the 

 wood. The plate must be so hot that it will 

 instantly melt the edge of the sheet of wax 

 when applied, and the wax must be quickly 

 applied and the plate withdrawn before the 

 section is heated, and the foundation set in the 

 line of the melted wax on the section. The 

 plate must be hot, the section and foundation 

 both cold, then the wax sets or hardens quickly. 

 Just as soon as the foundation is in place, 

 and almost as rapidly as one can handle the 

 sheets, thi^ wax will be cool enough to almost 

 support the foundation in an upright position. 

 I use a bottom starter and put it on first, then 

 put on the full sheet and support it with my 

 fingers while I pick up the section and bring 

 the ends together with the foundation in a 

 hanging position, place the section in the press, 

 and fasten it, and at once set it in a super. 



The illustration shows the starters on in such 

 a way that, when the section is in the hive, the 

 dovetailed corner is down. This is the way 

 many us- it, and has in its favor the fact that 

 the dovetailing does not show so plainly when 

 the section is set right side up. Some also pre- 

 fer them so because, otherwise, when they take 

 hold of the top to lift a section, the corner is 

 apt to pull loose. The former idea in regard to 

 appf-arance has some little weight, though not 

 enough to be seriously considered; but the lat- 

 ter has no weight whatever, because when 

 ouce a section is properly filled with honey any 

 pull that would pull out the top is altogether 

 unnecessary in any manipulation. 



I prefer to put the bottom starter where the 

 illustration shows the full sheet being put on, 

 and the full sheet or top starter on the end 

 where appears the bottom starter, so when I 

 lift the section from the table to place in the 

 folder I have the full sheet hanging instead of 

 stayiding, a,nd the dovetailing comes up under 

 the head-block just above the numeral 6. The 

 folder (6) is set just as close to the plate as It 



