HSC is available only in deeps. I am converting everything to mediums and would like to cut the deep HSC frames down to medium size. Has anyone ever done this? If so, the top part would be easily used as is. However, the bottom part would need to be modified / attached to a top bar. It seems that whatever shortage is left at the bottom could be easily added onto by the bees.
Any thoughts? Even better, pictures?
Thanks
I would take the cut-off and put it in a medium frame. Perhaps two if they would fit. Any extra space the bees could fill in with drone comb.
>Has anyone ever done this?
Yes. I just run them through the table saw set at 6 1/4". The 3" castoff can be cut to fit in a frame as mentioned. It's possible to weld them together. If one did this you'd just need a 3/8" by 1" by 19" piece to glue on for a top bar.
Thanks for the info. I'm going to give it a try.
Thanks again!
I trim them down to 6-1/4" on my band saw by cutting off the bottom three inches, then I trim the pieces of end bars off of the remnant. Afterwards the remnant fits into a wooden frame -- where I hot-melt-glue it to the top bar, then I reinforce it by driving a frame assembly nail through the top of the end bars and into the HSC remnant to ensure it does not come loose. This has worked quite well, the open space beneath the HSC remnant is eventually filled with comb -- some are drone and some are small cell worker.
I take 2 scrap pieces and 1 wood top bar,
drill holes down thru the ribs of the comb and the top bar,
then gorilla glue & drive dowel rods to connect the parts.
(http://www.hivebuilder.com/custom/images/HSC_Scrap1.jpg)
(http://www.hivebuilder.com/custom/images/HSC_Scrap2.jpg)
Only after doing this to 3 boxes of HCS did I get a call that PermaComb was again available.