Frames are wired so the foundation is supported and the drawn comb survives extraction.

What you need

• Stainless wire of the right gauge; too thin cuts through the wax, too thick is hard to tension
• Eyelets preventing the wire pulling into the timber
• An eyelet punch
• A wire tensioner
• An embedding tool: A spur wheel or an electric embedder

Tensioning

The wire must be tight enough to give a light note when plucked.

• Too loose: The comb goes wavy and tears during extraction
• Too tight: The frame bar warps and the dimensions no longer hold

Horizontal wiring is standard; it carries the weight in the direction the extractor pulls.

Embedding

• Spur wheel: Simple and cheap, requires practice. Pressing too hard cuts through the wax
• Electric embedder: Heats the wire briefly so it sinks into the wax. Faster and more even; heating too long lets the wire sink right through

Work at room temperature; cold wax breaks.

Why eyelets matter

Without eyelets the tensioned wire slowly cuts into the timber. The tension is lost, the comb goes wavy, and retensioning is impossible without new holes.

Practical points

• Wire all frames in one session; far faster than piecemeal
• Put the year on the frame when fitting it
• Check old frames for rusted or slackened wire before fitting foundation
• Keep spare wire and spare eyelets in stock

Maintenance

When reusing frames, remove the old wax and assess the wire. Rusty or slack wire is replaced: the cheapest part of the frame and the most expensive to leave in place.