Lang Box Help

[ooptec]

hey,

I saw the BeeMax styro hives and immediately thought they would be great for our climate here in SK Canada as stays -20*C for extended periods (months) in winter and can reach +40*C in the summer. It is very dry here so I am not as concerned (misplaced?) w/condensation as the great majority of the rest of the world is.  This season had identical TBH's one out of 3/4 in solid wood and the other 1/4 in ply w/1-1/2 styro all six sides. So far thru the summer/fall season I think the styro hive has outperformed the solid wood one, tho will see after a winter cycle.

Always curious I would like a std. Land style hive to compare.

Following my usual M.O. I stewed over the price (m.o.l.$300) for 2 deeps and 4 mediums w/Dadent Frames, top and bottom so am making my own out of 1/4in. plywood w/box jointed corners and 1-1/2in styro inside. Finished the 100 frames and looking at pics in various places it looks like the boxes have the room for 10 frames plus a blank space that looks to be enuf for another frame. Is it std. to leave that much of a gap in a box?

Thnx in advance

peter

[Michael Bush]

Better to put the Styrofoam on the OUTSIDE.  If it's too soft the bees will chew it up.  The Beemax hives are made of a very dense Styrofoam that reminds of me balsa wood.  Also, you might consider what size you want.  :)

[ooptec]

Hey,

Thnx for reply M.B.

I already have the same thing I am planning in a TBH. That is, the 1/4in ply and styro inside and it has performed marvelously all summer/fall.

I have also already decided on 10 frame boxes, 2 deeps for the brood and 4 meds. for the supers. But my Q. is ..... is the size inside just enough for 10 frames, or is there room for the 10 frames plus extra?

cheers

peter

[Jerrymac]

There is a little extra room. Not quite enough for the eleventh frame. After placing the ten frames in the box tightly together you put equal amounts of space on both sides.

[Paraplegic Racehorse]

Well, going by the measurements of the boxes I received from Western Bee, there is about one additional inch for you to space your frames apart in. This additional space should be unnecessary since the frames are supposedly "self-spacing" and it may violate bee-space, which could explain why we all complain so much about propolis gluing the frames together.

[Jerrymac]

Well, going by the measurements of the boxes I received from Western Bee, there is about one additional inch for you to space your frames apart in. This additional space should be unnecessary since the frames are supposedly "self-spacing" and it may violate bee-space, which could explain why we all complain so much about propolis gluing the frames together.

You push the frames tightly together and equal out the space on the sides..... Thought I said that. That way you don't violate bee space.

[Michael Bush]

The inside dimensions of a ten frame Langstroth box are 14 3/4" by 18 3/8".

The frame rest rabbets should be 5/8" deep and 3/8" wide.