PRACTICAL BEEKEEPING 



51 



features of these are a boiler for water, above which is placed a 

 can containing a basket made of perforated zinc or heavy galvanized 

 wire cloth to hold the comb. In the better forms within this basket 

 is arranged a press so that the rendering of the combs into wax 

 is greatly facilitated by pressure. Rendering comb by steam is a 

 much quicker process and where a large amount of wax is to be 

 thus prepared it pays. 



While the average person keeping bees will usually buy his 

 comb foundation already made, yet he may be interested in know- 

 ing something of the process. The thin sheets of wax are prepared 

 by dipping. For this purpose a good sized tank is prepared with 

 heated wax in it. Dipping boards of about three-eights inch stuff 



Fig 15 The Daisy foundation fastener. 



with the edges pointed and of the width of the sheets desired are 

 first dipped into cold water nearby, then dipped into the melted 

 wax. Tto prevent too much water adhering to the board it may 

 be wiped by a sponge when once well soaked. After cooling a 

 moment the sheets of wax may be stripped off, running the thumb 

 nail along the sharpened edges to start the sheet. These sheets 

 are then allowed to stand in a cellar for some days. Then after dip- 

 ping in tepid water the sheets are run through the foundation mill. 

 This mill consists of double rollers bearing the impression of the 

 bottoms of the cells and operated by a crank much like a washing 

 wringer. To prevent the wax from adhering to the rollers they are 

 lubricated by soap suds or starch. Flour paste is a simple and hand- 



