frame manfactureing

[Barnabus]

Hi:
I am located about 150 miles from the closest bee supplies supplier and the cost of shipping is steadly increasing. I would like to try to build the frames for the hives. I already build all my other woodware. Does anyone know where I can get a templete or jig pattern that I can use to manfacture the frames. Maybe someone who builds their own now that would be willing to share their plans.

Thanks
Barnabus

[mark]

beesource.com has some fine diagrams of hive equipment

[Jerrymac]

150 miles  :shock: I don't think there is one within 600 miles of me. Still with frames about .58 cents apiece, I don't see how you can make them any cheaper even with shipping charges added on.

150 miles  :?  I would drive that and not think anything about it :lol:

[latebee]

Unless you are going to make them for the sheer joy of woodworking,the frames are very time consuming to build yourself from scratch. I have done it myself----once---there are about thirty pecise cuts to make in each frame before they can be assembled. If one had access to a complete woodworking shop time could be saved ,but the investment in tooling up for this would be tough to justify. The tools that I used were a tablesaw and a planer and believe me- it takes about 6 hours to make 10 deep frames exactly like the ones you can buy. But hey,if it trips your trigger,by all means go ahead and you may find it very rewarding.

[thegolfpsycho]

Of course, you could go with the topbars only.  Make them beveled or the wedge type and use some starter strips.  There are a bunch of people advocating it.  I think Beth made some when she was short on equipment too.  I don't remember how they worked out for her.

[Miss Chick-a-BEE]

Those top bars I made worked, but they were far from being perfectly made. I'm nowhere near "great" at building things - but can make it do in a pinch. The bees will take to almost anything you give them, but it's all a matter of how easy it is for the PERSON involved to work with. Top bars and natural comb are more work to maintain than frames with foundation.

For a distance of 150 miles, I'm with Jerry, I'd seriously consider driving it. But at the cost of gas, in my car, it would be an almost $20 trip. If shipping was way less than that, I'd have them shipped.

When I made those top bars it was because I just couldn't afford to order the frames and foundation. It was interesting to do, getting natural comb and all, but I hope to never be in that situation again. :) I disliked all the manipulation needed to keep the natural comb from becoming a huge mass - slice a little, trim a little, get the spacing just so. With all the open space the bees have to start out with using top bar frames, they'll really can make some funky twists and turns and straight out pieced with combs occationally. A frame with foundation is like a wall, and they have to build down with that wall. And you have to be more careful when moving comb like this. A little unnoticed bridge comb can rip a large piece of comb off the ajoining frame when trying to move a frame or take it out. Or if you turn the frame wrong - the whole chunk of comb can fall right off if it's heavy with nectar.

Here's some pics.

Average comb after 4 days work by my bees on the top bar.


Top bar frames after 11 days of work.





Sorry for such a long post. :) My answer in the end is the same as they all said - building regular frames are alot of work, top bars will do but take work to maintain, buy frames if at all possible. It's worth the cost.

Beth