top bar hives top bars

Wandering Buddhist · June 26, 2005, 05:57:00 PM

I am having some trouble finding info on just how big the bars of a TBH ought to be. Anyone know exact dimensions? Thanks.

If you know if any useful site for TBH construction, please let me know. I have found some, but still somehow not what I need.

Thanks and happy beekeeping.

Robo · June 26, 2005, 07:08:35 PM

Here is a good site for TBHs
http://bwrangler.madpage.com/bee/index.html

Phoenix · June 26, 2005, 07:14:48 PM

That's the great thing aboiut TB Hives, use what you have, there is no standard for sizes like there are for Langstroth hives.

Wandering Buddhist · June 27, 2005, 02:25:20 AM

Yes, true that there are no standard sizes, but I had thought that the space between the top bars was crucial, to get the so-called bee space correct.

Thank you for the link, I will give it a look now.

Robo · June 27, 2005, 09:05:29 AM

Quote from: Wandering BuddhistI had thought that the space between the top bars was crucial, to get the so-called bee space correct.

There shouldn't be any space between the top bars, but I think you mean comb spacing. Use top bars that are 1 1/4" to 1 3/8" wide.

Wandering Buddhist · June 27, 2005, 09:49:09 AM

Yes, of course, I meant that. Thanks very much, though.

Wandering Buddhist · June 27, 2005, 09:50:25 AM

Robo, thanks for that site, it really is excellent.

I send you greetings from northern Iraq, where the Kurds are about to learn something about TBH's.

bassman1977 · June 27, 2005, 09:55:18 AM

Lots of pollen and nectar in that sand over there :D Are you a contractor or military? Either way, stay safe. I got back from over there a few months ago.

Wandering Buddhist · June 27, 2005, 10:00:07 AM

Hello Bassman. I am working for the State Department. I am an Army Contractor, so in a sense, I am in limbo between the two options you gave me.

Stay safe inded! I was in Mosul the other day. Today they are shut down. Nasty business.

Luckily, there are some flowers in bloom in the mountains north of Erbil.

Thank you for your service. I am happy you are home safely.

Michael Bush · June 27, 2005, 05:34:01 PM

I find that 1 1/4" is the spacing by natural sized bees in the brood nest and 1 1/2" works well for the honey storage area, so I use both. The large cell bees at first will space them more like 1 5/16" in the brood area. I made mine half and half 1 1/4" and 1 1/2" and juggle them around to where the bees want to build that size comb.