Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => EQUIPMENT USAGE, EXPERIMENTATION, HIVE PLANS, CONSTRUCTION TIPS AND TOOLS => Topic started by: little john on June 12, 2016, 09:13:39 AM

Title: Precision Frame Spacing and Adjustment
Post by: little john on June 12, 2016, 09:13:39 AM

For some time now I've been looking for a method of spacing frames precisely, especially for my own DIY efforts, but also a method which would allow fine adjustment afterwards.

The oldsters used to use staples - well, I think that's a bit crude, and subsequent fine adjustment can't be easy.  Some folks with Hoffman frames machine their side-bars down to the required size - but then there's no easy way of putting that wood back on again - so it's very much a one-time adjustment.  And - not only did I want a means of adjustment - but that method must also allow co-existence with Hoffman frames.

So - this is what I've come up with.  The method uses four 25mm x 3mm woodscrews inserted into the sides of each top bar, spaced such that there is a bee-space between screws and also between the Hoffman spacer and the screw nearest to it.

Here's a photo mock-up using my latest 14x14 frames, and a Hoffman frame which is the type of frame the nuc to be used for install onto those larger frames is currently residing.

(http://i67.tinypic.com/2czzoi.jpg)


It'll be interesting to see what the bees make of them.
LJ
Title: Re: Precision Frame Spacing and Adjustment
Post by: BeeMaster2 on June 12, 2016, 09:44:45 AM
It will probably work better than the standard wood frame spacing that they propolis and that space keeps getting bigger and bigger every time you work in the hive.
Jim
Title: Re: Precision Frame Spacing and Adjustment
Post by: Jim134 on June 12, 2016, 06:12:52 PM
In the USA 98% of our suppliers used Hoffman frames which are self spacing.



                  BEE HAPPY Jim 134  :smile:
Title: Re: Precision Frame Spacing and Adjustment
Post by: little john on June 13, 2016, 03:11:43 AM
Quote from: Jim 134 on June 12, 2016, 06:12:52 PM
In the USA 98% of our suppliers used Hoffman frames which are self spacing.

Your point being ... ?