How to post pictures here

Though having looked at them on the net I can understand why they cost a lot. I doubt anyone here without a 4th axis CNC would want to take on the job of making them and even then the run time would make it a very expensive job for a one off.

I thought a change to the title may attract out bee keeping member, looks like it has acted as a honey pot

Surely years ago these were spiral milled. I have done a couple of spiral milling jobs (internal m/cycle throttles) unfortunately setup time was about 95% of the job but interesting. Machinerys Handbook has some good info.

As Clive says the bees will build their own comb, in Top Bar beehives there is only a wooden bar with a groove milled in it and this is filled with melted beeswax, the bees will build their comb from the groove filled with beeswax, it’s surprising how quickly they can fill a hive with fresh comb. Unless you are keeping bees on an industrial scale then producing your own embossed foundation will be a very expensive exercise, I find that the commercially available embossed foundation is reasonably priced and so easy to use. Dave W

Looks a lot like the pattern on retro reflective things – like the reflectors on cycles.

Maybe some clues there for how to

Dave

I am pretty sure they are done flat and then folded around a cylinder.

Many years ago when I was young and had 15 hives I wanted to make combs and hives and all that but the cost !

When I was 50 i made hives at a cost, it was a just a fad and I soon returned to buying in the flat. The cost of Cedar wood in the various thicknesses and the complicated set ups thwarted me in the end.

because people found out I had a saw bench and planer they were always wanting something made in my time and cost! Amazing how many planks of wood I shaved and cut.

As the name suggests these rollers are embossed. A single tool is made something like a knurling wheel only more robust. It is then forced under pressure into a softened roller. The embossed roller is then hardened or more frequently hard chrome plated. If a pair is required the first roller is made and hardened and used to emboss the second roller. Ensuring a perfect pattern match.