Question about frames

[samuils]

Hi, yesterday I received 2 hives.  I assembled them, then assembled frames.  When I put the frames into the boxes and tried to press them together, there seems to be too much space between the top bars.  To explain: The top bars connect to the "Y" shaped side joints, and the sides of the joints is what makes this space between the top bars.  

Does this seem ok or normal to anyone? What I am asking is not the industry norm but rather the practical norm, considering excess of ventilation, or excess of space, since I am trying to go foundationless.

TY  

[G3farms]

Depending on who's equipment you bought there will be around 1/2" to 3/4" of "extra" space on one side, between the last frame and the side of the box. This will help you to remove the first frame from the box. You will need to push all of the frames together tightly and either to one side or centered up.

[BlueBee]

TY, you need some wiggle room at the ends of your box to pull frames in and out.  It is normal to have about 0.6 to 0.8 of a frame space of slop.  If your top bar spacing is 35mm, then 21mm to an inch would be "normal".  In my custom designs, I make my box width = (# frames + 0.6) x comb width. 

You defiantly don't want to make the fit too tight or it will be a nightmare getting frames out.  You also don't want to leave a gap = to a full frame width or you'll have a real mess as the bees will make comb in that gap. 

Push all the frames together in the middle as G3 says.

[sterling]

If you are asking about the space between each frame there should be a space of about 3/8 inch between the top bars after you pull the bars together tightly with the end bars touching.

[organicfarmer]

The side bars are created to make the frames top bars spaced apart like this. it is normal. How would the bees move upward and down if it was like in a Top Bar Hive where all top bars form a solid 'ceiling'. Difference between a horizontal and vertical hive.
As others also mentioned, you need these 10 (or 8 if you use that equipment) frames to leave you some space within the hive body/super to work comfortably.

[mikecva]

Something to think about: since you do not have the bees in the hive yet, use your hive tool to remove your frames (starting with # 1 or 10 [for a 10 frame box]) with little or no  bumping into adjacent frames. This will help your bees when you go into the hive.  - Mike