Understanding Beehive Frames and Foundation: A Practical Guide for Australian Beekeepers
Everything you need to know before you set up your first frame
If you’re new to beekeeping, frames and foundation can feel a little overwhelming at first. There are different sizes, different materials, and a few things worth knowing before you buy. Get this right from the start and your bees will have a good environment to build comb, raise brood and produce honey. Get it wrong and you’ll be fixing expensive mistakes down the track. Let’s keep it simple.
What are beehive frames?
Frames are the wooden or plastic structures that sit inside your beehive boxes, in both the brood box and the super. They’re what your bees build their comb on, and they’re what you pull out during inspections to check on your colony. A standard Langstroth hive takes either 8 or 10 frames per box, depending on the size you’re running.
Frames come in different depths to match your boxes. Full-depth frames are used in brood boxes, where the queen lays her eggs and the colony raises its young. For honey supers, many Australian beekeepers use shallower frames: WSP (a medium depth) or Ideal (shallower again). Both are lighter to lift when full of honey and easier to handle during inspections. Whichever depth you choose, match it to your boxes. Mixing depths in the one hive creates problems, so keep your setup consistent.
What is foundation?
Foundation is the sheet of material that sits inside the frame and gives your bees a guide to start building comb. Without it, bees build comb in all directions, which makes inspections difficult, damages the comb when you try to remove frames, and turns into a management headache very quickly. Foundation keeps everything straight and manageable.
Australian beekeepers use two main types of foundation, wax and plastic, and each has its strengths.
Wax foundation, and why we recommend Australian made
Wax foundation is the traditional choice, and bees love it. It’s made from pure beeswax, so bees accept it immediately and draw comb quickly without any encouragement. The result is natural comb that works well for both brood rearing and honey production.
Where your beeswax comes from matters. Wax that hasn’t been produced and handled carefully can carry pests, diseases and residues into your hive, and Australian beekeepers already have enough biosecurity pressure without adding to it. Buy Australian-made foundation and you know where the wax came from and how it was handled.
At Beekeeping Gear Australia, all of our wax foundation is made from Australian beeswax. You can buy with confidence.
Plastic foundation: durable and long lasting
Plastic foundation has become increasingly popular with Australian beekeepers in recent years, and the reasons are practical.
Plastic foundation is tough. Wax foundation can sag in hot weather, blow out in the extractor, and be chewed through by wax moth larvae. Plastic holds its shape, lasts for years, can be scraped clean and re-waxed, and gives your frames a rigid base that stands up to regular inspections and extracting.
It also handles rough treatment better. Damaged or sagging wax comb is harder to inspect and quicker to fall apart in your hands, and comb that breaks up during an inspection is a mess for you and a stress for the colony. A rigid sheet keeps the comb flat and intact, which makes every inspection quicker and cleaner.
The one thing to know about plastic foundation is that it needs a thin coat of beeswax before your bees will readily accept it. Bees are reluctant to build on bare plastic because it isn’t a material they recognise. A light coat of melted Australian beeswax brushed over both sides is all it takes, and your bees will get to work almost immediately. Some plastic foundation comes pre-coated. If yours doesn’t, take the extra five minutes to wax it before placing it in the hive. It makes a real difference to how quickly your bees draw the comb.
Wax or plastic: which should you choose?
Both work well, and many experienced beekeepers use a combination depending on where in the hive the frame is going. Wax foundation in the brood box is a popular choice because bees take to it naturally and it creates good conditions for the queen to lay. Plastic foundation in the honey super is a sensible option because it survives extracting and summer heat without sagging or breaking.
If you’re just starting, wax foundation is a good place to begin. It’s easy to work with, your bees will accept it straight away, and it gives you a feel for how frames and comb work before you experiment with plastic.
One last thing: frame wiring
Most full-depth frames used with wax foundation are wired to give the foundation extra support, particularly in the brood box, where the comb takes a lot of weight and handling. Wiring your frames properly before inserting the foundation keeps everything firm and prevents comb collapse during inspections. If you’re using plastic foundation, wiring is generally not needed because the plastic provides its own rigidity.
At Beekeeping Gear Australia, we stock a full range of frames and foundation, including Australian-made wax foundation and plastic foundation, plus the frame wiring tools you need to set your frames up properly. Get your foundation right and your bees will do the rest.