How To Cross Wire Foundation

Cross wiring foundation is a good practice for wax foundation. It keeps the foundation straight for the bees to build comb on and provides strength and stability. At first, cross wiring can be a daunting task, however after a few frames you’ll become a pro! Read our guide to learn how to cross wire foundation.

Tools you will need

• Wiring device
• Eyelet Punch
• Brass Eyelets
• Tinned Wire
• Hammer
• Needle-nose pliers
• Side (wire) cutters

Step 1: Insert Brass Eyelets

Once you have assembled your frames, it’s time to insert your brass eyelets. The reason for using eyelets is so the tinned wire doesn’t cut into the wood of the frame.

Simply place an eyelet on the eyelet insertion tool and firmly press into the pre-drilled holes on the side of the end bar on the frame.

Step 2: Start Cross Wiring

Once all the eyelets have been inserted, it is time to start cross wiring. You will need two 11/16 inch nails. These nails will be the tie off point for the wire. You will sink the nail, halfway, on the front side of the end bar. Again, don’t hammer the nail all the way. Hammering it half way should be adequate.

Step 3: Run Wire Through The Eyelet

Now with the wire on the wiring device, take the wire and run it through the eyelet at the top of the frame, run it across the frame and through the opposite eyelet. Then, loop it through the second from top eyelet, and run it back across the frame and through the opposite end eyelet.

Step 4: Nail Into The End Bar

One end of the wire should be wrapped around the nail. Now using the needle-nose pliers, pull the opposite wire tightly. As you’re keeping tension on the wire, wrap it around the same nail. Once you’ve done that, you can hammer the nail the rest of the way into the end bar.

Step 5: Trim Any Excess Wire

Any excess wire hanging from the nail can be trimmed off with some side (wire) cutters. If you are doing a deep frame, you will have to do this process twice. If you are cross wiring shallow or medium frames this process will only be done once.