beginner ? about 8 vs 10 frames

[Flygirl]

Hi all ~

I have a question about moving to 8 frames from 10.  I'm going to switch over to all medium boxes this year & a number of times I've seen people menition that they were going to use 8 frames instead of 10?  I thought all the boxes were a standard size so it seems like there'd be too much room with only 8 frames?

Do you just allow more space between the frames?  It would seem that the bees would fill up the extra space & it'd be difficult to remove the frames?  I use a top feeder too but an inside feeder would take up one space.

What am I missing ~  sorry if this is a really elementary question ~ I just haven't been able to figure this out.

Thanks!  Flygirl

[reinbeau]

Eight frame boxes are made specifically to hold eight frames.  It is possible to transition from ten frame to eight by putting in boards to take the place of the two outer frames in a ten frame box, then put the eight frame on top of that.  Rotate the bottom ten frame out when you can.  We have so much invested in ten frame I don't ever see us going to eight frame, but we may rue that decision in twenty years or so!

[Joseph Clemens]

The usual 10-frame langstroth super is 16-1/4 inches wide (outside dimension) and 19-7/8 inches long (outside dimension). 8-frame langstroth supers are the same length, but are not as wide. Though the widths vary among those that manufacture them -- some are 13-3/4 inches wide (outside dimension), others are 14 inches wide (outside dimension), still others are somewhere in between.

Here is a link to Michael Bush's web page about this subject: Lighter Beekeeping Equipment

[metzelplex]

  I'm just curious why you want to go to all mediums is it because of the weight? I buy alot of used equipment so I have a mix of 8 and 10 frame equipment and weight wise an 8 frame deep with medium box on top moves pretty easy and does really well here in northern calif. where I live but towards the end of summer to early fall I put a second medium box on top with honey or else I feed them syrup to make sure that those two mediums are full of honey or syrup and they  have enough to make it through the winter .       It's just something to think about . metzelplex

[Flygirl]

Ahhh....thank you.  Yes, it's really because of the weight of the 10 frames that I was thinking about switching to the 8.  But now I think I might stick with one deep on the bottom & then use mediums all with 10 frames & just have my beloved help me with the lifting  :)

I wasn't aware there's so many different boxes.  I a new bee & I haven't seen this when looking through the catalogs?  But I did just get the new Brushy Mountain catalog so I need to do some reading ~ 

Also, another plug for the kid's wee bee suit from Brushy Mountain ~ it's fab!

Thanks ~FG

[buzzbee]

Flygirl,
You can get 9 frame spacers for a 10 hive box.Or when removing frames of honey for processing,you could always use an empty box and just put in the amount of frames you're comfortable with lifting at one time.

[Michael Bush]

>you could always use an empty box and just put in the amount of frames you're comfortable with lifting at one time.

The problem is with honey supers they will weigh the same no matter how many you put in.  The brood boxes, in my opinion, do better with less space between the frames.

[buzzbee]

Michael,
I just meant an empty box to put the frames in when pulling them from the hives and  carrying them  away.

[Michael Bush]

>I just meant an empty box to put the frames in when pulling them from the hives and  carrying them  away

Sorry, I didn't follow that.  I suppose you can put less frames in a box just to carry them.  But then they sometimes shift around with too few frames in them.