Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: Joseph Clemens on July 17, 2005, 04:52:21 PM

Title: Slatted Racks
Post by: Joseph Clemens on July 17, 2005, 04:52:21 PM
http://cordovan-honeybee.com/slatted_racks/slatted_rack_photo_gallery.htm
Title: Slatted Racks
Post by: fuzzybeekeeper on July 20, 2005, 12:58:18 PM
Beautiful construction.

But....

.....what is the purpose of the slatted racks?  Ventilation?  Ease of movement for bees?  You still have 10 frames in the box.  Wouldn't it be about the same if you do like Michael and shave a little off each frame and put 11 frames in and have more brood space?

Just a country boy scratching his noggin at the purpose of the extra work.

Fuzzybeekeeper
Title: Slatted Racks bottom and sides
Post by: Joseph Clemens on July 20, 2005, 03:23:08 PM
It seems to be very similar indeed;

In the slatted rack setup I use:  10 frames of 1-1/4" spacing are used with small-cell (similar to what MB does), this provides 20 comb surfaces. With side racks the bees will regularly use the outside comb surfaces for brood. Without side racks the bees seldom use the outside comb surfaces for anything but honey and pollen. So we have the extra ventilation afforded by the racks, extra space for the bees to allow them to stay out of the congested brood nest, and a little less weight (one less frame and comb).

11 frames without slatted side racks (22 comb surfaces, the outer two seldom if ever used for brood) = 20 comb surfaces for brood.
Title: Slatted Racks
Post by: Phoenix on July 20, 2005, 10:45:35 PM
Plus two for honey and pollen... :D
Title: Honey and Pollen in Brood Nest
Post by: Joseph Clemens on July 20, 2005, 11:03:41 PM
My bees put some honey and pollen on almost every frame in the brood nest,