Just getting started ... few equipment questions

[Simondsrach]

Maybe I will do 8 frame than.  What's the biggest difference besides weights... I'm not concerned about producing tons of honey I just want healthy happy bees a nice hobby that helps out nature and of course a little honey to have and share.  So for a first timer should I do 8 instead of 10 .... I am small. And I do want this to be an enjoyable hobby not a back breaking struggle

[Michael Bush]

I would do 8 frame mediums.  I AM doing all 8 frame mediums.  I had to convert from then frame mediums which I converted from ten frame deeps.  But I've been doing eight frame mediums now since about 2004.

[gww]

Micheal

I would do 8 frame mediums.  I AM doing all 8 frame mediums.  I had to convert from then frame mediums which I converted from ten frame deeps.  But I've been doing eight frame mediums now since about 2004.

That is a lot of converting over the years.  I went ahead with 10 frame mediums cause I thought it might be easier to come up with the little do-dads that you can buy for a hive.  In the end I have made everything except a queen excluder I bought to use in splits.  I will say this though.  I have used the heck out of you web site cause you seemed to talk in plain english and also seemed to be more geared to just getting it done with out getting too fancy.  What does this mean?  It means I could understand most of what you were saying.  Thanks for putting the resource out there and I hope you sell a million books.
Cheers
gww

[Simondsrach]

I was originally considering doing 3 medium box instead of two deep for the brood and bottom box...
but my finances are limited.  But maybe I should still consider it

[iddee]

Would someone PLEASE explain to me why they would put 10 items in a box, then complain about the weight, or spend more money for smaller items and smaller boxes. It seems to me it would be SO simple to move one piece at a time, rather than 10 plus the box.
I use all 10 frame deep brood chambers and 10 frame medium supers because I can't buy a small radial extractor for deeps.

[cao]

I was originally considering doing 3 medium box instead of two deep for the brood and bottom box...
but my finances are limited.  But maybe I should still consider it

I would advise someone just starting out to go with all the same size boxes. It just makes rearranging things in the hive easier. 
Whether 10 or eight frame is a matter of choice.  The main difference is the weight issue.  As a new beek with one or two hives there is not a lot of time where it is necessary to lift a full box of honey.  Except maybe doing a full inspection in the late summer or fall when they have honey stored. 
I am one of those oddball people who have to try everything to come to my own conclusions.  I have 10 frame, 8 frame equipment and 5 frame nucs.  I also have deep, medium and shallow boxes.  I actually like the shallow boxes best but that is not the norm so I wouldn't recommend those. 
So I would recommend if you are only going to have a hive or two go with 10 frame mediums.  If you plan on having 10-20 hives then I would consider 8 frame mediums.

[jalentour]

Simon,
I use deep as the bottom brood box as most nucs are deeps.  I rarely lift them once they are established hives.  On top of them I put mediums.  I move the mediums about a lot.
Should you ever need to lift a deep you can do so frame by frame if you are physically unable to lift a full box.  (Wow I just had to say that).
If you are a healthy human being lifting 30-80 pounds should not be a problem. 

If you are starting new, go with mediums, if you can monitor your hives more than weekly.  Otherwise deeps present a Yuge advantage for weekly or less  monitored growth.

All depends on your personal needs and schedule.

[bwallace23350]

I personally went with ten frame deeps but wished I would have gone with 8 frame deeps because of the weight or even 10 frame mediums. I am 32 and in fantastic health but I worry about the future. I use shallows for my honey supers though.