How can I split from my deep brood frames, into a medium box?

[Qkrwogud]

So I have a friend that just moved into his own place and interested in testing the waters on beekeeping but his wife is a little worried about the bees. I'm looking to put a small split in his yard that I'll look after for now and see how they feel about the bee presence.

I've got a 6 frame deep nuc with a divider that can be used as 2 nucs. What I was planning to do is create a 3 frame split with no queens or cells. Once they grow a little I'll remove the divider so they have 6 frames to work with and later move them to a full box.

But I'm wanting to go into a medium box if possible, what's the best solution to do this? I'm thinking once the divider is removed, add medium frames, then when they move to a medium box I'll just saw off the 3 deep frames to fit. Any issue with doing this or is there a better solution?

[Foxhound]

I've cut down deep frames into medium frames before. It is a real mess, especially when you have to cut through brood. It's best to avoid that because of the mess of cutting through brood, foundation and wires and you have to work quickly as well.

I may be easier to start with medium frames. If and when the bees build excess comb under the frames, you can just cut it off easily. It's not pretty, but would work better then cutting through active deep frames.

[Acebird]

If I were to do it I would put the three frames in the center of two medium boxes and add medium frames on each side as it expands.  The following spring I would trim off the comb below the mediums and go all mediums.

[HillBilly2]

Pain either way, I stack two medium boxes, drop in a deep frame of brood against the side, then a deep comb of honey and another deep comb of brood. Rest is either drawn or foundation mediums. As they get to working hard expanding into the new space, that frame of honey becomes a sort of barrier, so the brood hatches out of that end frame about 3 weeks later. I'll remove it, pull another deep frame of brood to replace it and, slide everything else and add 2 more medium frames on the end.
There will probably bee comb built on the bottom of the deeps. You will need a deep body to set this on while working it. With luck about every 3-4 weeks you pull a deep frame. On the other hand if the flow is booming and this frame gets laid with brood again, Surely I can find a weak hive needing some brood. Just keep pulling the end frame as you can. Eventually you will be all medium frames and ready for supers.

[little john]

I use brood frames which are either 9" or 12" deep. In order to ease the process of transfer - which I try to keep to a minimum - I've made-up some 3" 'frames' (frames without top bars) which are cable-tied underneath the 9" to make into 12". Doing this saves having to cut away the natural comb which would invariably result otherwise.

When drawn, these 3" frames can simply be kept in stock (I usually keep half-a-dozen in the freezer) - or 3 could be cable-tied together underneath a plain top bar to recover brood or stores.

But - much better to keep to one size of frame from the off. (memo to self ...)

LJ