foundationless frame building plans

[orin]

Does anyone have any building plans for medium frames?Im going to be trying foundationless frames this spring and instead of buying all of my frames I think i would like to try building them just to save myself a few bucks.

[Walt Starr]

This guy shows an easy way to make the top and bottom bars for foundationless frames:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osbn69iXJ-0

He has another video with the side bars. He's doing them for deeps, but it's easily translatable to mediums if you follow the plans from beesource and use those measurements for the medium side bars:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baMfumquA0g

[Michael Bush]

About the only good thing about making your own frames is you can make them the right width (1 1/4" instead of 1 3/8")...

[Walt Starr]

About the only good thing about making your own frames is you can make them the right width (1 1/4" instead of 1 3/8")...

That would make it pretty easy to fit nine frames in an eight frame super for brood boxes.

[BeeMaster2]

Good demonstration. If you have one, use a bandsaw to rip the stock into the individual frames. You will bee able to make more of them due to a smaller kerf.
Jim

[Michael Bush]

>That would make it pretty easy to fit nine frames in an eight frame super for brood boxes.

Yes.

[orin]

would anyone know what the dimensions are for 8 frame medium boxes? I picked up all my lumber and materials and just want to be sure on all the dimensions before i start cutting

[Michael Bush]

8 frame boxes vary from 13 3/4" outside width to 14" outside width.  Some compromise and make them 13 7/8".  Other than that they are the same as a ten frame langstroth in other directions.  Mine are all 13 3/4".  That's just what the companies I buy from make them.  14" would be fine too..

[Jim134]

I do know you used to be able to buy this frames at Walter T Kelley . They also sold 1 1/4" end bars for a while .
I also know Walter T Kelley has more products then a show on a website or in that catalog you have to be willing to call them.


               BEE HAPPY Jim  134 :)

[KeyLargoBees]

You also have to have the patience of a saint waiting on orders from then and heaven forbid you have to deal with their nonexistent customer service....with that said I do like their foundation-less frames with no bottom groove

[Jim134]

Over the years I have gotting  my orders from Walter T Kelley in a timely fashion.IMHO you need to be placing your orders around Thanksgiving time to any major Bee supplier.



                BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

[KeyLargoBees]

Jim,

I bashed them for a good bit over this incident last year in another post and am not going to go into it again.....my main beef with them is lack of communication....don't advertise a ship/delivery date and then not keep it and if you don't have the staff to handle online orders and shipping at certain times of year...don't do it...or at least put out a disclaimer of some sort.

It would also help if they paid a little more attention to customer service calls.....and returned voice mail messages...or e-mails. I know my experience was probably an isolated one....but it has left a sour taste in my mouth and I would rather cut and paste strips into a grooved  frame bottom than deal with them again...even if those foundation-less frames are super sweet 

[chux]

If you have the right equipment and enjoy building things, it could be cool to build your own frames. I wouldn't do it just to save a few bucks. I think the only time it would really be worth the savings is if you are building a large quantity for a lot of hives, or for sale. If you only have a few hives, it's not going to be worth the time and effort. Unless you enjoy doing it....If so, have fun. Bee careful. I'd hate to cut off the tip of a finger trying to save ten cent on a bottom bar.

[Jim134]

Bump

[jimineycricket]

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