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 rules in Australia that you absolutely need to know before you buy. Get this right from the start, and your bees will have the perfect environment to build comb, raise brood, and produce honey. Get it wrong, and you’ll be making 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 — 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. Ideal depth frames (also called WSP) are a popular choice in Australia for honey supers, as they’re lighter to lift when full of honey and easier to handle during inspections. Choosing the right frame depth to match your boxes is important — mixing depths creates problems, so always keep your setup consistent.
What Is Foundation?
The foundation is the sheet of material that sits inside the frame and gives your bees a guide to start building comb. Without a foundation, bees will build comb in all directions, which makes inspections difficult, damages the comb when you try to remove frames, and can create a management headache very quickly. Foundation keeps everything neat, straight, and manageable.
There are two main types of foundation used by Australian beekeepers — wax and plastic — and each has its strengths.
Wax Foundation — and Why It Must Be Australian Made
Wax foundation is the traditional choice and for very good reason — bees love it. It’s made from pure beeswax, and bees accept it immediately, drawing comb quickly and naturally without any encouragement. The result is a beautiful, natural comb that’s ideal for both brood rearing and honey production.
Here’s something every Australian beekeeper needs to know — importing beeswax foundation from overseas is illegal in Australia. Imported beeswax carries a very real risk of introducing serious bee diseases and pests into our country that we simply don’t need more of. Australian beekeeping is already facing significant biosecurity challenges, and bringing in unregulated foreign beeswax is not a risk worth taking. All wax foundations used in Australia must be sourced locally from Australian-made beeswax. When you buy foundation, always check it’s Australian made — your bees, your hive, and the broader beekeeping community will thank you for it.
At Beekeeping Gear Australia, all of our wax foundation is Australian-made and fully compliant with biosecurity regulations. You can buy with confidence.
Plastic Foundation — Durable, Long-Lasting, and Great for Hive Beetle Control
Plastic foundation has become increasingly popular with Australian beekeepers in recent years — and once you understand why, it’s easy to see the appeal.
Plastic foundation is tough. Unlike wax foundation, which can be damaged by heat, rough handling, or chewing by hive beetles and wax moths, plastic foundation holds its shape and structure no matter what. It lasts for years, can be cleaned and reused, and gives your frames a rigid, stable base that holds up to the demands of regular inspections.
One of the biggest advantages of plastic foundation in Australia is its effectiveness against small hive beetles. Hive beetles are a serious pest for Australian beekeepers, and they love hiding in the gaps and spaces that damaged or poorly fitting wax foundation can create. Plastic foundation fits tightly and leaves no gaps — making it much harder for beetles to get a foothold and establish in your comb.
The one thing to know about plastic foundation is that it needs to be coated with a thin layer of beeswax before your bees will readily accept it. Bees are naturally reluctant to build on bare plastic — it’s not a material they recognise. A light coat of melted Australian beeswax brushed over both sides of the foundation 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 up 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 of both depending on where in the hive the frame is going. Wax foundation in the brood box is a popular choice as bees take to it naturally, and it creates ideal conditions for the queen to lay. Plastic foundation in the honey super is a great option for its durability and beetle resistance — especially during peak summer when hive beetle pressure is at its highest in Australia.
If you’re just starting, wax foundation is a great place to begin. It’s easy to work with, your bees will accept it straight away, and it gives you a good feel for how frames and comb work before you start experimenting 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 a plastic foundation, wiring is generally not required as the plastic provides its own rigidity.
At Beekeeping Gear Australia, we stock a full range of frames, Australian-made wax foundation, plastic foundation, and all the wiring tools you need to get your frames set up properly. Get your foundation right, and your bees will do the rest.