Frames are too wide

ivashka · June 24, 2010, 03:32:20 AM

Need help. I have trouble taking out frames out of the hive. Everytime I take it out to check it I can't put it back in there cause it's so wide. I end up trimming it before I put it in there. And everytime I do it it's such a mess, I end up squezzing bees, damaging combs. What would you suggest. Should I move to 9 frames instead of 10?

Michael Bush · June 24, 2010, 04:36:37 AM

A follower board on both ends and nine frames works well. Just nine frames results in MORE thick comb, not less...

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#framespacing

Finski · June 24, 2010, 08:23:12 AM

Sometimes clean the resin from frame shoulders. It take too space.

It should be a proper gap between wall and the comb too -- 8-10 mm.

Hethen57 · June 24, 2010, 01:48:14 PM

I have noticed this same problem. The propolis on the end bars if part of it. The other issue is where they draw one comb a little wide...maybe because you didn't get them together tight enough...(I would swear that the bees push them apart sometimes :?). Then if you don't get that wide one in the exact same puzzle location, the frames don't fit back in. I'm thinking of going through my brood boxes this weekend to take care of a few of those wider combs that make it difficult to fit frames back in and am going to shuffle them up to the outsides of the second brood chamber so they will hopefully fill them with honey and then I can pull them. Either that, or take MB's advice and make some dummy filler frames and go with 9. I may try both solutions, depending on what I find in there.

ivashka · June 24, 2010, 05:11:42 PM

I'm afraid if I'll push them in too tight I'll squeeze the queen. My problem is that I moved from top bar hive to longstraght hive and combs on TBH are way wider. I couldn't squeeze them together from day one.

Hethen57 · June 24, 2010, 09:08:24 PM

In your situation, I'd try what MB mentions....maybe go with one less frame, get the correct spacing between combs and fill the extra space with a solid "spacer" frame, or even just a piece of 1" wood cut to slip inside your hive body to take up the gap at one side. I may try something like that as well.

Michael Bush · June 25, 2010, 01:47:50 AM

Frames should always be tightly together in the brood nest. Just move slowly pushing them together. The queen is faster and smarter than the field bees. Odds are good she will get out of the way if you are slow and gentle.

Hethen57 · June 25, 2010, 02:26:24 AM

Frames tight...but the comb should still have a 3/8 gap from cap to cap...right? I think in my situation, the problem occurred when I tried to open up the brood nest with an empty frame before they had fully drawn a neighboring frame. With the extra room, the bees finished the neighboring frame wider than normal, so it crowded the whole box when they drew out all of the frames. Now you can't push some of the frames tight because it would squish the comb cap to cap.

Michael Bush · June 25, 2010, 08:12:44 AM

>but the comb should still have a 3/8 gap from cap to cap...right

Yes... roughly... 1/4" to 3/8". But if you keep them together and don't rearrange them you will. If you add empty frames and leave them where you added them you still will. Comb is always uneven where the honey is. If it's a big issue you can take a sharp knife with you, shake off the bees and cut the excess off.

The Bix · July 06, 2010, 11:49:23 PM

I've been having the same problem with my deep hive bodies. The drawn comb is very thick on one side and not on the other, very uneven. I've been chopping off the caps where it's a problem... irritates the bees, but is there a way to prevent it from happening in the first place. Sometimes beekeeping seems like trying to herd cats. :)

Michael Bush · July 07, 2010, 03:54:51 AM

>but is there a way to prevent it from happening in the first place.

The tighter they are together the less issues you'll have.

> Sometimes beekeeping seems like trying to herd cats.

You certainly can't make a cat or a bee do anything...

The Bix · July 07, 2010, 10:37:26 AM

Quote from: Michael Bush on July 07, 2010, 03:54:51 AM
>but is there a way to prevent it from happening in the first place.

The tighter they are together the less issues you'll have

I am very meticulous to keep the frames tight. The problem occurs because I'm using new frames, i.e. no drawn comb. The bees draw out the comb too large on one side and too small (or not at all) on the other.

Michael Bush · July 08, 2010, 04:54:18 AM

Anytime they are building honey comb this is an issue. And one you can pretty much do nothing about...